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Matthew 15:22 |
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And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Note 1 at Mt 15:22: The land of Canaan in the Old Testament generally referred to all the coastland between Egypt and Asia Minor from the Mediterranean Sea on the west to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea on the east. It was given to Abraham by God as an "everlasting possession" (Ge 17:8).
The Israelites were not successful in driving out the Canaanites, however. The book of Judges relates that "all the Canaanites" (Jdg 3:3) were left to "prove Israel" (Jdg 3:1-5).
The "woman of Canaan," as referred to in this verse, was a term used to clearly distinguish her as non-Jewish and therefore not eligible to receive the "children's bread." A country or district of Canaan did not exist in Jesus' day (see note 3 at Mr 7:26).
