Sidon

Sidon in Fausset's Bible Dictionary. ("fishing town"); SIDON or ZIDON. Genesis 10:9; Genesis 10:15; Joshua 11:8; Joshua 19:28; Judges 1:31. Sidon was in Asher (Isaiah 23:2; Isaiah 23:4; Isaiah 23:12). An ancient mercantile city of Phoenicia, in the narrow plain between Lebanon and the Mediterranean, where the mountains recede two miles from the sea; 20 miles N. of Tyre. Now Saida. Old Sidon stands on the northern slope of a promontory projecting a few hundred yards into the sea, having thus "a fine naturally formed harbour" (Strabo)... Joel reproves Sidon and Tyre for selling children of Judah and Jerusalem to the Grecians, and threatens them with a like fate, Judah selling their sons and daughters to the Sabeans. So Ezekiel (Ezekiel 28:22-24) threatens Sidon with pestilence and blood in her streets, so that she shall be no more a pricking brier unto Israel. Jesus went once to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21). Paul touched at Sidon on his voyage from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:3); by Julius' courteous permission Paul there "went unto his friends to refresh himself." Tyre and Sidon's doom shall be more tolerable in the day of judgment than that of those who witnessed Christ's works and teaching, yet repented not (Matthew 11:21-22). On a coin of the age of Antiochus IV Tyre claims to be "mother of the Sidonians," being at that time the capital city.
https://free-bible.com/faussets/S/Sidon/   

Sidon
Saida. Chief city of Phoenicia. Sidonians were referred to as not merely the people of Sidon but the Phoenicians. Phoenicia had two capitals, at different time periods, Tyre and Sidon. Sidon also known as Zidon or "Great Zidon" was the mother city, and said to have been built by Noah's great-grandson, therefore the name, Zidon. Sidon was one the most important ancient Phoenician cities. It was situated in the narrow fertile plain between the mountains of Lebanon and Mediterranean 25 miles north of Tyre.

Sidon was the first Phoenician city to send ships in to the open seas, and at that time they navigated using the stars. They were a wealthy community and a commercial city, famous for their gold and silver and their manufactures of embroidery, dies, metals, but especially glass. They found many commercial colonies along the shores of the Mediterranean. A famous ancient proverb about the prosperity of the people of Sidon was, "dwell carelessly, after the manner of the Sidonians."

Although Sidon was barely within the limits of the Promised Land, it was never possessed by the Israelites. The tribe of Asher, to whom it belonged, were unwilling to drive out their wealthy neighbors. During the time of the Judges, Israel was oppressed by the Sidonians. The prophets declared judgments against Sidon, and they were all literally fulfilled when the Assyrian rulers campaigned against it. When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Sidon more than half of its inhabitants died of a plague. Artaxerxes III of Persia annihilated Sidon in 352 B.C. Under Alexander the Great they enjoyed peace for a little while, but when he died the Ptolemies and Seleucids became a thorn in their side and finally in 64 B.C. Sidon was taken by Pompey.

It is interesting that Jezebel, whom king Ahab had married, was the daughter of the king of Sidon. It was Jezebel who had introduced certain new cults into Israel.

During the first century A.D. a Syro-Phoenician woman came to Jesus when he was at "the borders of Tyre," in the district which Solomon gave to king Hiram, to which he gave the name Cabul, or Gabul, "the off scourings," of his dominions. Jesus cured the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman because she showed faith in him (Matt 15: 21 -28; Mk 7:24 -30). While Paul was on his way to Rome as a prisoner he was allowed to visit his friends in this city (Acts 27:1,3).

Judg. 1:31; 1 Kgs. 17:9; Isa. 23:2, 4:12; Joel 3:48; Matt. 11:21; Acts 27:3.

Click on the Map

Sidon in Bible Cities
More about Ancient Sidon

Israel in the First Century

More About Ancient Sidon

Sidon Scriptures

Acts 12:20 - And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's [country]. 

Genesis 10:19 - And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. 

Luke 10:13 - Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 

Matthew 11:21 - Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre andSidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 

Mark 3:8 - And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and [from] beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. 

Mark 7:31 - And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 

Luke 6:17 - And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 

Acts 27:3 - And the next [day] we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave [him] liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. 

Luke 4:26 - But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, [a city] of Sidon, unto a woman [that was] a widow. 

Mark 7:24 - And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know [it]: but he could not be hid. 

Genesis 10:15 - And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 

Matthew 15:21 - Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 

Matthew 11:22 - But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 

Luke 10:14 - But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.