Zaanan (Hastings' Dictionary)
A I'liice inentioneil, alon<; with Shaphir and Beth- EZKL in Mic 1", where there is a characteristic word, ijlay : ' tlie inhabitress of ZdiXiidn went {yiiziak) not out' (for fear of the enemy). Za'ftnan i» generally considered to be the same as Zenan (i;y ; B Sewd, A levvin, Luc. Zcvaii) of Jos 15", an unidentilied town in the Shephelah.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Zaanan
Zaanan za'-a-nan (tsa`anan; Sennaar): A place named by Micah in the Shephelah of Judah (1:11). In this sentence the prophet makes verbal play with the name, as if it were derived from yatsa', "to go forth": "The inhabitant (margin "inhabitress") of tsa'anan is not come forth" (yatse'ah). The place is not identical. It is probably the same as ZENAN. ⇒See a list of verses on ZAANAN in the Bible.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Zaanan
Zenan, in the low hill country (shephelah) of Judah (Jos 15:37), meaning "the place of flocks." Playing on its meaning Micah (Mic 1:11) says, "though in name implying thou dost come forth (yatsa), thou camest not forth." Maurer and Pusey construe, "the mourning of Bethezel takes away from you her shelter" (its stay or standing). Though Bethezel be at your side, according to her name, yet as she also mourns under the foe's oppression she cannot give you shelter, or be at your side (as her name might lead you to expect), if you come forth and be intercepted by him from returning to Zaanan. Vatablus better, "Zaanan came not forth (shut herself within her walls), he (the foe) shall receive a check (literally, his standing) by you," brought to a stand before you, in besieging, but only for a time. Zaanan too fell, like Bethezel before her.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia