104 – Who Were the Sidonians?

104. Who Were the Sidonians?

These people were descendants of Sidoa, a son of Canaan, and were formerly a part of the Phoenician nation (Mat_15:21-22; Mar_7:24, Mar_7:26). They dwelt on the sea-coast in the cities of Zidon and Zarephath (Jos_11:8; 1Ki_17:9; Luk_4:26), and were governed by kings. In character they were careless, idolatrous, superstitious, wicked and unpenitent (Jdg_18:7; 1Ki_11:5; Jer_27:3-9; Mat_11:21-22). Their business was commerce and of course they were skillful sailors (Isa_23:2; Eze_27:8). They supplied the Jews with timber, who in turn supplied them with provisions (1Ch_22:1-19; 1Ch_21:1-30; 1Ch_20:1-8; 1Ch_19:1-19; 1Ch_18:1-17; 1Ch_17:1-27; 1Ch_16:1-43; 1Ch_15:1-29; 1Ch_14:1-17; 1Ch_13:1-14; 1Ch_12:1-40; 1Ch_11:1-47; 1Ch_10:1-14; 1Ch_9:1-44; 1Ch_8:1-40; 1Ch_7:1-40; 1Ch_6:1-81; 1Ch_5:1-26; 1Ch_4:1-43; Act_12:20; Eze_27:17). Although they were hostile and oppressive to God's people, Solomon and Abijah intermarried with them, and Israel followed the Sidonian idolatry (Jdg_10:12; Eze_28:22-24; 1Ki_11:1, 1Ki_16:31).

Source: 555 Difficult Bible Questions Answered