Bible Geography · Phoenicia (modern Lebanon) · c. 3000 BC – Present
Sidon
Description
Sidon is one of the world's oldest cities, identified as the firstborn son of Canaan in Genesis 10:15. It was the mother city of Phoenician civilization and a major trading and maritime power known for its glass-making, purple dye production, and skilled craftsmen.
Significance
Sidon appears across both Testaments as a symbol of Gentile territory beyond Israel's borders. Jesus deliberately traveled to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where he healed the Syrophoenician woman's daughter—a foretaste of the gospel's reach to all nations. The city was also the home of Jezebel's father.
Key Events
Jezebel, daughter of the Sidonian king Ethbaal, married Ahab and introduced Baal worship (1 Kings 16:31); Elijah at Zarephath near Sidon (1 Kings 17); Jesus healing the Syrophoenician woman's daughter near Sidon (Mark 7:24–30); Paul stopping at Sidon on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:3).
Modern Context
Sidon survives as the modern city of Saida, Lebanon's third-largest city located about 40 kilometers south of Beirut. The Crusader Sea Castle and the Temple of Eshmun are notable landmarks. The ancient harbor still functions for fishing today.