A Note on Χαναναίους in Hos 4:18a LXX

I propose to relate the puzzling rendering of סָבְאָם as Χαναναίους in Hos 4:18a LXX to the only other occurrence of סֹבֶא »strong drink, wine, or beer«, Isa 1:22, where the term is translated in the LXX as οἱ κάπηλοι »retailers«. Given that כְּנַעֲנִי »Canaanite« functioned as a designation for »trader«, I argue that both verses ultimately reflect the same underlying interpretation of the root sbˀ in the sense »to sell wine«, which is well documented in other Semitic languages. It is plausible that the LXX translators recognised this meaning within Biblical Hebrew or derived it from Aramaic, their native linguistic milieu.