Bible Dictionary
Zidonians
The inhabitants of Sidon, a Phoenician people associated with trade, timber work, and worship of foreign gods including Ashtoreth and Baal.
Definition
Zidonians were the inhabitants of Zidon, a Phoenician people associated with Canaan and the coastal region near Lebanon. They were skilled in hewing timber and were employed in obtaining cedar for David and Solomon.
Biblical Usage
The Zidonians oppressed Israel and are presented as idolaters who worshiped Ashtoreth and Baal. Their influence also appears in Israel through Solomon’s association with them and through the worship of their gods.
Historical Background
Colonies or settlements of Zidonians extended into the hill country from Lebanon. They lived a luxurious and reckless life according to the supplied account, and their king was associated with the name of Baal.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
the inhabitants of Zidon. They were among the nations of Canaan; left to give the Israelites practice in the art of war, (Judges 3:3) and colonies of them appear to have spread up into the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephothmaim, (Joshua 13:4,6) whence in later times they hewed cedar trees for David and Solomon. (1 Chronicles 22:4) They oppressed the Israelites on their first entrance into the country, (Judges 10:12) and appear to have lived a luxurious, reckless life. (Judges 18:7) They were skillful in hewing timber, (1 Kings 5:8) and were employed for this purpose by Solomon. They were idolaters, and worshipped Ashtoreth as their tutelary goddess, (1 Kings 11:5,33; 2 Kings 23:13) as well as the sun-god Baal from whom their king was named. (1 Kings 16:31)