II. SIDON, or Zidon, a very ancient and famous City, founded by Sidon the eldest Strabo, l. 16.Son of Canaan. Strabo places Sidon four hundred Stadia from Berytus, and two hundred from Tyre.
,צידהPiscari. Josh. xi. 8.The Name Sidon is commonly deriv’d from the Hebrew or Syrian Word Zada, which signifies to fish. Joshua calls it Sidon the Great, by way of Eminence. From whence some1 have taken Occasion to say, that in his Time there were two Sidons, a Greater and a Lesser. But no Geographer has made mention of any other Sidon, distinguished from Sidon the Great. Joshua Josh. xix. 28. Judg. i. 31.assign’d Sidon to the Tribe of Asher ; but this Tribe could never get Possession of it. It is situate upon the Mediterranean, in a fine Country, one Day’s Journey from Paneas, or from2 the Fountains of Jordan : It has a fine Harbour. Abulfeda places it sixty-six Miles, or twenty-two Leagues, from Damascus. This City has been always famous for its great Trade and Navigation. At present it is call’d Zaide. There are extant some ancient Medals of Sidon, whereon are seen ancient Phenician Characters, which are the same as the Hebrew Characters which the Jews made use of before the Captivity of Babylon. The principal Deities of the Sidonians were Baal and Astarte, or the Sun and Moon : They also worshipp’d Hercules. The Hebrews have often fall’n into the Idolatry of the Phenicians, especially after Ahab King of Israel marry’d Jezebel the Daughter of Eshbaal King of 1 Kings xvii. 31.the Zidonians. There is often mention made of this City in the Scriptures.
Mearah of the SIDONIANS, Maarah Sidoniorum, Josh. xiii. 4. a City probably very near Sidon. Others think it to be a ,מערה Mearah, Caverna.Cavern ; for Mearah, in Hebrew, may signify a Cavern.
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