THANACH (also Ta'anakh or Ta'nakh; Septuagint Thanach). — A ruined city in Palestine, identified with Tell Ta'anakh, on the southern edge of the Plain of Esdraelon, 11 km west of Jenin and 8 km southeast of Megiddo (q.v.) or Tell el-Mutesellim.
Occupied by Thutmose III, it passed under Egyptian sovereignty; in the mid-15th century its governor Rewassa controlled the territory of the Plain of Esdraelon as far as Beisan. During the Amarna period (letter 248,14) there were hostile movements in the city against Egypt. At the time of the Israelite conquest, Joshua defeated and killed its king (Jos. 12:21), but the city remained in Canaanite hands.
Declared a Levitical city (ibid. 21:25), it was reduced to tribute for the tribe of Manasseh (Judg. 1:27). Near Thanach the war was fought between the army of Sisera and Barak (ibid. 5:19). Incorporated into the Davidic kingdom, it became the capital of the 5th Solomonic district (1 Kgs. 4:17).
Archaeological excavations carried out partially in 1901–1904 uncovered the ruins of the city from the Bronze Age II and III, including a massive wall, a fortress, a place of worship, and underground chambers of uncertain dating. Twelve cuneiform tablets were found, revealing the interesting ethnic and linguistic complex ruling at Thanach in the 15th century BC. Most of the objects recovered show Egyptian influence. Two fortresses, one from the 10th century BC and another from the 8th century BC, protected its northern side. Among the cult objects, noteworthy is an incense altar adorned with lion heads, dating to the 8th century BC. Evidence from the Hellenistic period is scarce.
THANH-HOA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF ST.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Thanh-Hoa is located in Vietnam and comprises the Annamite province of Thanh-Hoa and the Laotian province of Samnua or Hua-phanh, with a total area of 21,000 sq km and a population of 1,700,000.
It was erected on 26 April 1932 by separation from the Apostolic Vicariate of Phat-Diem and entrusted to the Paris Foreign Missions Society. The principal ethnic group is Annamite. Other, less numerous groups include the Mong, Tay, Man, Mao, Kha, and Laotians. The Annamites practice ancestor and spirit worship. The Laotians are Buddhists attached to their bonzes. They are less industrious than the Annamites, more careless, and readily migrate from place to place. For these reasons, evangelization in the Laotian region (Hua-phanh) is more arduous and slower; neophytes are less ready to learn and practice the Christian faith. Despite this, progress has not been lacking. Throughout the vicariate there are small groups of Protestants, numbering a few hundred.
On 19 March 1627, Fr. Alexandre de Rhodes, S.J., arrived with Fr. Pedro Marques at the port of Cua-bang (now within the vicariate of Thanh-Hoa), which he named the Port of St Joseph, since it was the feast of the saint. Speaking to the crowd eager to see the goods brought by the Portuguese, the missionary preached on the true path to happiness, and even before disembarking, two persons had decided to receive baptism. Two months later, Fr. de Rhodes had already baptized two hundred pagans. Today there are 60,443 Catholics, with 6,162 catechumens; 54 native priests and 48 foreign priests; 17 native brothers; 67 native sisters and 17 foreign sisters; 26 major seminarians; 54 elementary schools; one middle school; 8 hospitals; 6 dispensaries; 11 orphanages; and one leper hospital.
At present, the entire Annamite province (Thanh-Hoa) is under Vietminh control, while the Laotian province (Sam-nua), being cut off from the jurisdiction of the ordinary of Thanh-Hoa, is governed by an administrator *ad tempus*.