Meaning
Zidonians 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, (Josh 13:4; Josh 13:6) whence in later times they hewed cedar trees for David and Solomon. (1Chronicles 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, (1Kings 5:8) and were employed for this purpose by Solomon. They were idolaters, and worshipped Ashtoreth as their tutelary goddess, (1Kgs 11:5; 1Kgs 11:33; 2Kings 23:13) as well as the sun-god Baal from whom their king was named. (1Kings 16:31)
