Cane

Cane in Scripture refers to an aromatic reed (qaneh in Hebrew), likely a species of fragrant grass or reed imported from distant lands and used in the preparation of the sacred anointing oil and incense. Isaiah rebukes Israel for failing to bring sweet cane as an offering to God (Isaiah 43:24), and Jeremiah associates it with costly imports (Jeremiah 6:20). The same Hebrew word is used for the measuring rod or reed and for reeds along riverbeds (Job 40:21; Isaiah 19:6), but in the spice context it denotes the aromatic plant Calamus aromaticus or a related species. It was among the luxury imports that flowed through Tyre and the ancient Near Eastern trade networks.