Sidon(zidon)
“Fishing or fishery”
Summary
An ancient Phoenician maritime city north of Tyre, known for commerce, skilled craftsmen, and visited by Jesus during his earthly ministry.
☩Location and Antiquity
Sidon (also called Zidon) was one of the oldest maritime cities of Phoenicia, located about 25 miles north of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. Called 'Great Sidon' in Joshua, it was the firstborn of Canaan and historically preceded Tyre in importance. 'Sidonian' became a general term for Phoenicians in early literature.
☩Prosperity and Commerce
Sidon was renowned for its seafaring merchants, elaborate embroidery, metalwork, glass production, and skilled craftsmen. The Sidonians' skill in timber work was proverbial—Solomon acknowledged 'there is not any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.' Their self-indulgent ease became proverbial, as they dwelt 'after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure.'
☩Relations with Israel
Sidon lay within the territory allotted to Asher but was never conquered by Israel. Solomon married Sidonian women who led him to worship Ashtoreth, 'the goddess of the Sidonians.' Ahab married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. The prophets pronounced judgment against Sidon for selling Israelites as slaves.
☩Jesus and Sidon
Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where he healed the daughter of a Syro-Phoenician woman. People from Sidon came to hear Jesus and be healed. Jesus declared that Tyre and Sidon would receive a more tolerable judgment than the Galilean cities that rejected him despite witnessing his miracles.
Related Verses43 mentions
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Sidon," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sidon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).