Zidon in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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What is Zidon?
ZI'DON
(hunting; Heb. Tsidon). "Sidon," the Greek form, is found in Gen 10:15, Acts 1:19, in the Apocrypha generally, and in the N.T. Zidon was a rich and ancient Phoenician city. Situation. - It was situated on the Mediterranean coast, on the northern slope of a small promontory which juts out from a low plain, less than 2 miles broad, between the Lebanon and the sea. The city was 25 miles south of the modern Beirut, 25 miles north of Tyre, and 123 miles in a direct line north-west of Jerusalem. Its latitude is 33? 34' north. Scripture References. - Zidon is one of the most ancient cities of the world. The person after whom it is named was the "first-born" of Canaan, the grandson of Noah. Gen 10:15; 1 Chr 1:13. This was b.c. 2218. In Joshua's time it was "great Zidon," Josh 11:8; Gen 19:28, and seems to have been the metropolis of Phoenicia. Zidon was one of the limits of the tribe of Asher, Josh 19:28, but was never possessed by the Israelites. Jud 1:31; Heb 3:3. In fact, the Zidonians oppressed Israel, Jud 10:12, seeming themselves to be secure from all attacks and living "careless." Jud 18:7, Acts 20:28. Tyre was one of the colonies - a "virgin daughter." Isa 23:12 - of Zidon, but subsequently became the more important town. The two names frequently recur together as denoting not only the cities, but the adjacent country; but the name of Zidon alone was sometimes used to denote the Phoenicians in general. Jud 3:3. The Zidonians were famous for commerce, manufactures, and arts. Their sailors and workmen were noted. Zidonians assisted in the work of building the temple. 1 Chr 22:4; 1 Kgs 5:6; Eze 27:8. From Zidon also came idolatrous abominations to corrupt Israel. 1 Kgs 11:5, 1 Kgs 11:33; 2 Kgs 23:13. The city was mentioned frequently in prophetic threatenings. but with much less severity than Tyre. Isa 23:2, Ex 6:4, Jud 4:12; Jer 25:22; 1 Sam 27:3; Jer 47:4; Eze 27:8; Eze 28:21-22; Eze 32:30; Joel 3:4; Zech 9:2. In N.T. times Zidon (called "Sidon") was visited by Jesus, Matt 15:21; Mark 7:24; Luke 4:26, although the "coasts" of Tyre and Sidon denoted the adjacent region as well as the cities themselves, and some think that the Saviour did not enter the cities. Hearers from among those people were drawn to his preaching. Mark 3:8; Luke 6:17; comp. Matt 11:22; Luke 10:14. Herod's displeasure with this region is noted. Acts 12:20. The apostle Paul touched at Zidon on his way to Rome, and visited the Christians there. Acts 27:3. Secular History. - Homer makes special mention of the skill of the Zidonian workmen. The embroidered robes of Andromache, the silver bowl given as a prize by Achilles at the games in honor of Patrocles, the bowl which Menelaus gave Telemachus, the purple of fierce Achilles, were specimens of Zidonian handicraft. Zidonian ships were present at the siege of Troy, and Herodotus declares that the Zidonian ships in the fleet of Xerxes were the best and the most renowned of the famous armada. Xerxes sat in a Zidonian ship, and the king of Zidon sat near to him in council. Zidon flourished under the Chaldiean and Persian dominion. It revolted against the Persians in the time Zidon (After Cassas.) of Artaxerxes III. Ochus, but was subdued, and 40,000 of its citizens perished in the conflagration of the city, the fire being kindled by the people themselves. The gates of the city were willingly opened to Alexander the Great after the battle of Issus, b.c. 333. During the Roman period it had its own archons, senate, and national council. A bishop of Zidon attended the council of Nicea, a.d. 325. After the conquest of Syria by the Muslims, a.d. 636, Zidon surrendered to these new masters. During the crusades it experienced terrible vicissitudes. Baldwin I. took it, after a six weeks' siege, in a.d. 1111; Saladin razed the town and its fortifications in 1187; the Crusaders again gained possession of it in 1197, but could not retain the town, which was once more destroyed. It was rebuilt and razed, refortified and again devastated. In 1291 it became the permanent possession of the Muslims, and was destroyed. For several centuries it was neglected, but gradually revived in the seventeenth century, and still continues to exist. Present Condition. - The site of ancient Zidon is occupied by the modern Saida, beautifully situated on a promontory in front of which lies an island. The northern harbor, protected by a ledge of rocks, is now used; the southern one is abandoned. The anchorage is bad, and the trade of the city is unimportant. Around the island are the remains of quays built of large hewn stones. The ruins of the ancient castle are approached by a causeway. The burying-grounds are extensive, and many curious sarcophagi have been discovered. One was the sarcophagus of King Ashmanezer; it has been placed in the Museum at Paris, and antiquarians fix its date at from b.c. 300 to b.c. 1000. The ancient ruins are few. There are fragments of marble and granite columns, mosaic pavement, pottery, etc. In its situation and surroundings Zidon is one of the most picturesque cities in Syria. The gardens and orchards environing it are charming and afford a great variety of fruits, such as oranges, lemons, citrons, bananas, and dates. The oranges of Zidon are very famous and better than those of Jaffa. The population is estimated at 10,000, of whom about 7000 are Muslims and the rest Greeks, Catholics, Maronites, and Jews. There are nine mosques in the town. The American Presbyterian Board has established a flourishing Protestant mission there.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'zidon' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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