SIDDIM, Vale of. See p. 48. supra. SIDON, or Zidon, a very antient and celebrated city, founded by Sidon the eldest son of Canaan. The name Sidon is commonly derived from the Hebrew or Tyrian word 773 (TSαDеH) which signifies to fish. Joshua (xi. 8.) calls it Sidon the Great, by way of eminence; whence some have taken occasion to say, that in his time there were two Sidons, a greater and a lesser: but no geographer has mentioned any other Sidon than Sidon the Great. Joshua assigned Sidon to the tribe of Asher (Josh. xix. 28.), but this tribe could never get possession of it. (Judg. i. 31.) It is situated on the Mediterranean, in a fine country, one day's journey from Paneas, or from the fountains of Jordan, and has a fine harbour. Abulfeda | places it sixty-six miles from Damascus. This city has been always famous for its great trade and navigation. Its inhabitants were the first remarkable merchants in the world, and were very early celebrated on account of their luxury; for, in the days of the judges of Israel, the inhabitants of Laish are said to have dwelt careless and secure after the manner of the Zidonians. | (Judg. xviii. 7.) The men of Sidon being great shipwrights, were particularly eminent, above all other nations, for hewing and polishing timber, there being none who were skilled how to hew timber like the Sidonians. (1 Kings v. 6.) This place is now called Seide or Saide. The city, as it exists at present, rises immediately from the strand; and, when seen from a slight distance, presents a rather imposing appearance. The interior, however, is most wretched and gloomy. Some faint traces are still discoverable of the antient lustre of Sidon, in the broken columns and architectural ornaments, which lie neglected at a little distance from the modern walls.1 SIHOR, River. See p. 36. supra. SILOAM, Fountain or Pool of. See p. 40. supra. SIMEON, Canton of the tribe of. p. 12. supra. See fire in a bush; this Horeb is therefore called Sinai by Saint Stephen. (Acts vii. 30.) See HOREB, p. 532. supra. SMYRNA, a city of Asia Minor, was situated between forty and forty-five miles to the north of Ephesus, of which city it was originally a colony. It is now celebrated chiefly for the number, wealth, and commerce of the inhabitants. Of its population, which is estimated at one hundred and forty thousand persons, about twenty-six thousand are Christians in communion with the Greek church; five thousand are Roman Catholics, and one hundred and forty are Protestants. The Christians here are in better condition than in any other of the seven churches. The angel of the church of Smyrna, addressed in the second apocalyptic epistle, is supposed to have been Polycarp, the disciple of Saint John, by whom he was appointed bishop of Smyrna. As he afterwards suffered much, being burnt alive at Smyrna, A. D. 166, the exhortation in Rev. ii. 10. would be peculiarly calculated to support and encourage him. SODOM, the chief of the Pentapolitan cities, or five cities of the plain, gave the name to the whole land. It was burnt with three other cities, by fire from heaven, for the unnatural lusts of their inhabitants, the truth of which is attested by numerous heathen writers. See pp. 69-72. supra. SYRIA, properly so called, was a country of Asia, comprehended between the Euphrates on the east, the Mediterranean on the west, Cilicia on the north, Phoenicia, Judæa, and Arabia Deserta, on the south. It was divided into various provinces or cantons, which derived their names from their situation with respect to particular rivers or cities. Thus, 1. Syria of the two rivers, or Mesopotamia of Syria, or Aram Naharaim (Hebrew), was comprehended between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates. 2. Syria of Damascus, that of which Damascus was the capital, extended eastward along Mount Libanus. Its limits varied according as the princes that reigned at Damascus were more or less powerful. SINAI, Desert of. See p. 53. supra. SINAI, a mountain in Arabia Petræa, where the law was given. It had two tops; the one lower, called Horeb, or the Mount of God (Exod. iii. 1.), when he appeared to Moses in a flame of teresting account of the antiquities of Shechem. See also Mr. Jolliffe's Letters from Palestine, pp. 44-48. 3. Syria of Zobah, or Soba, or Sobal, as it is called by the Septuagint, was probably Cole-Syria, or Syria the 1 Jolliffe's Letters from Palestine, pp. 7-9. hollow. Its capital was Zobah, a city | his own city, and territories. David unknown, unless it be Hoba or Hobal, 5. Syria of Rohob or Rehob, was that part of Syria of which Rehob was the capital. But Robob was near the northern frontier of the land of promise (Numb. xiii. 21.), on the way or pass that leads to Emath or Hamath. It was given to the tribe of Asher, and is contiguous to Aphek, which was in Libanus. (Josh. xix. 28. 30. and xxi. 31.) Laish, otherwise called Dan, situate at the fountains of Jordan, was in the country of Rohob. (Judg. i. 31.) Hadadezer, king of Syria of Zobah, was son of Rehob or Rohob, or perhaps a native of the city of this name. (2 Sam. viii. 3. 12.) The Ammonites called to their assistance against David, the Syrians of Rehob, of Zoba, of Maachah, and of Ish-tob. (2 Sam. x. 6. 8.) subdued them about a. M. 2960, B. C. 1044 (2 Sam. viii. 16.), on occasion of his war against the Ammonites, to whom the Syrians gave assistance. (2 Sam. x. 6. 8. 13. 18, 19.) They continued in subjection till after the reign of Solomon, when they shook off the yoke, and could not be reduced again till the time of Jeroboam II. king of Israel, A. M. 3179. Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, having declared war against Ahab, king of Judah, this prince found himself under the necessity of calling to his assistance Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, who put Rezin to death, took Damascus, and transported the Syrians out of their country beyond the Euphrates. From that time Syria continued in subjection to the kings of Assyria. Afterwards it came under the dominion of the Chaldæans; then under that of the Persians; lastly, it was reduced by Alexander the Great, and was subject to all the revolutions that happened to the great empires of the East. SYRO-PHENICIA, is Phoenicia pro6. Syria of Tob, or of Ishtob, or of perly so called, of which Sidon, or the land of Tob, or of the Tubieni, as Zidon was the capital; which having they are called in the Maccabees, was by right of conquest been united to the in the neighbourhood of Libanus, kingdom of Syria, added its old name the northern extremity of Palestine. | Phoenicia to that of Syria. The Ca(Judg. xi. 3. 5. 1 Mac. 5. 13. 2 Mac. naanitish woman is called a Syrophoxii. 17.) When Jephthah was banish-nician (Mark vii. 26.), because she was ed by his brethren from Gilead, he of Phoenicia, which was then consiwithdrew into the land of Tob. dered as making part of Syria. St. Matthew calls her a Canaanitish woman (Matt. xv. 22. 24.), because this country was really peopled by the Canaanites, Sidon being the eldest son of Canaan. (Gen. x. 15.) 7. Syria of Emath, or Hamath, that of which the city Hamath, on the Orontes, was the capital. 8. Syria without any other appellation, stands for the Kingdom of Syria, of which Antioch became the capital after the reign of the Seleucidæ. 9. CELO-SYRIA, or Cale-Syria, or the Lower Syria, occurs in several places of the Maccabees. (1 Macc. x. 69. 2 Macc. iii. 5. 8. iv. 4. viii. 8.) The word Cole-Syria, in the Greek, signifies Syria-cava, or Syria the hollow, or deep. It may be considered, says Strabo, either in a proper and restrained sense, as comprehending only the tract of land between Libanus and Antilibanus: or in a larger signification, and then it will comprehend all the country in obedience to the kings of Syria, from Seleucia or Arabia and Egypt. Syria at first was governed by its own kings, each of whom reigned in TABOR, or Thabor, Mount. See p. 46. supra. TARSUS, the metropolis of Cilicia (Acts xxi. 39.), was celebrated for being the place whither Jonah designed to fly, and where St. Paul was born. It was a very rich and populous city, and had an academy, furnished with men so eminent, that they are said to have excelled in all arts of polite learning and philosophy; even those of Alexandria, and Athens, and Rome itself, were indebted to it for their best professors. TEKOAH, Wilderness of. See p. 53. supra. THESSALONICA, a large and popu lous city and sea-port of Macedonia, the capital of one of the four districts | into which the Romans divided that country after its conquest by Paulus Æmilius. It was situated on the Thermian Bay, and was antiently called Therma; but, being rebuilt by Philip the father of Alexander, after his victory over the Thessalians, it then received the name of Thessalonica. At the time of writing the Epistle to the Thessalonians, Thessalonica was the residence of the pro-consul who governed the province of Macedonia, and of the quaestor who had the charge of the imperial revenues. Besides being the seat of government, this port carried on an extensive commerce, which caused a great influx of strangers from all quarters; so that Thessalonica was remarkable for the number, wealth, and learning of its inhabitants. The Jews were extremely numerous here. The modern name of this place is Salonichi: it is the chief port of modern Greece, and has a population of sixty thousand persons, twelve thousand of whom are Jews. According to Dr. Clarke, who has given a very interesting account of the antiquities, present state, and commerce of Thessalonica, this place is the same now it was then; a set of turbulent Jews constituted a very principal part of its population: and, when Saint Paul came hither from Philippi, where the Gospel was first preached, to communicate the "glad tidings" to the Thessalonians, the Jews were sufficient in number to set all the city in an uproar." THYATIRA, a city of Asia Minor, was a considerable city in the road from Pergamos to Sardis, and about 48 iniles eastward of the former. It is called by the Turks Ak-hisar: and the number of Christians here is about as great as at Bergamo or Pergamos. salem, this city became eminent for its Academy, over which a succession of Jewish doctors presided until the fourth century. The modern population of Tiberias is from fifteen hundred to two thousand: it is principally inhabited by Jews, who are said to be the descendants of families resident there in the time of our Saviour. Dr. Clarke conjectures that they are a remnant of refugees who fled hither after the capture of Jerusalem by the Romans. Tiberias is about ninety miles distant from Jerusalem: the modern town stands close to the lake upon a small plain surrounded by mountains, and is celebrated for its hot baths, which are much frequented.1 TRACHONITIS. See p. 16. supra. TYRE, a celebrated city and sea-port of Phoenicia, that boasted of a very early antiquity, which is recognised by the prophet Isaiah (xxiii. 7.), but is variously estimated by profane writers, whose discordant accounts this is not the place to adjust and determine. Even in the time of Joshua, it was strongly fortified; for it is called the strong city of Tyre. (Josh. xix. 29.) Tyre was twofold, insular and continental. Insular Tyre was certainly the most antient; for this it was which was noticed by Joshua: the continental city, however, as being more commodiously situated, first grew into consideration, and assumed the name of Palatyrus, or Old Tyre. Want of sufficient attention to this distinction, has embarrassed both the Tyrian chronology and geography. Insular Tyre was confined to a small rocky island, eight hundred paces long and four hundred broad, and could never exceed two miles in circumference. But Tyre, on the opposite coast, about half a mile from the sea, was a city of vast extent, since many centuries after its demolition by Nebuchadnezzar, the scattered ruins measured nineteen miles round, as we learn from Pliny and Strabo. Of these, the most curious and sur TIBERIAS (John vi. 1-23, xxi. 1.), a city of Galilee, which was built by Herod the Great, and so called in honour of the emperor Tiberius. The privileges conferred upon its inhabit-prising are, the cisterns of Ras-el-Ain, ants by Herod, caused it in a short time to become a place of considerable note: it was situated in a plain near the Lake of Gennesareth, which is thence termed the Lake or Sea of Tiberias. After the destruction of Jeru | designed to supply the city with water; of which there are three still entire; about one or two furlongs from the sea, so well described by Maundrell, for their curious construction and solid masonry. "The fountains 1 Dr. Clarke's Travels, vol. iv. pp. 219-233. 8vo. Capt. Light's Travels in Egypt, &c. &c. p. 203. Mr. Jolliffe's Letters from Palestine, pp. 32-34. Mr. Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, &c. pp. 320-330. of five months. Pococke observes, that "there are no signs of the antient city; and as it is a sandy shore, the face of every thing is altered, and the great aqueduct is in many parts almost buried in the sand." (Vol. ii. p. 81.) Thus has been fulfilled the prophecy of Ezekiel: Thou shalt be built no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again! (xxvi. 21.) The fate of Insular Tyre has been no less remarkable: when Alexander stormed the city, he set fire to it. This circumstance was foretold: of these waters," says he, after the description, "are as unknown as the contriver of them. According to common tradition, they are filled from a subterraneous river which king Solomon discovered by his great sagacity; and he caused these cisterns to be made as part of his recompense to king Hiram, for the materials furnished by that prince towards building the temple at Jerusalem. It is certain, however, from their rising so high above the level of the ground, that they must be brought from some part of the mountains, which are about a league distant; and it is as certain" Tyre did build herself a strong hold, that the work was well done at first; seeing it performs its office so well, at so great a distance of time; the Turks having broken an outlet on the west side of the cistern, through which there issues a stream like a brook, driving four corn mills between it and the sea." From these cisterns there was an aqueduct which led to the city, supported by arches, about six yards from the ground, running in a northerly direction, about an hour, when it turns to the west, at a small mount, where antiently stood a fort, but now a mosque, which seems to ascertain the site of the old city; and thence proceeds over the isthmus that connects insular Tyre with the main, built by Alexander, when he besieged and took it. and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea, and she shall be devoured with fire." (Zech. ix. 3, 4.) After this terrible calamity, Tyre again retrieved her losses. Only eighteen years after, she had recovered such a share of her antient commerce and opulence, as enabled her to stand a siege of fourteen months against Antigonus, before he could reduce the city. After this, Tyre fell alternately under the dominion of the kings of Syria and Egypt, and then of the Romans, until it was taken by the Saracens, about a. D. 639, retaken by the Crusaders, a. D. 1124; and at length sacked and rased by the Mamelukes of Egypt, with Sidon, and other strong towns, that they might no longer harbour the Christians, A. D. 1289.1 The following description of the modern town of Surat, by a recent intelligent traveller, will give the read Old Tyre withstood the mighty Assyrian power, having been besieged, in vain, by Shalmaneser, for five years, although he cut off their supplies of water from the cisterns, which they remedied, by digging wells, within the city. It afterwards held out for thir-er a lively idea of the splendour of teen years against Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and was at length taken: but not until the Tyrians had removed their effects to the insular town, and left nothing but the bare walls to the victor, which he demolished. What completed the destruction of the city was, that Alexander afterwards made use of these materials to build a prodigious causeway, or isthmus, above half a mile long, to the insular city, which revived as the phoenix, from the ashes of the old, and grew to great power and opulence, as a maritime state; and which he stormed after a most obstinate siege antient Tyre in the days of her commercial prosperity, as delineated by the prophet Ezekiel (xxvii. 3.): “The bazaars, filled with costly merchandise, picturesque and interesting groups of natives on elephants, camels, horses, and mules: strangers from all parts of the globe, in their respective costume; vessels building on the stocks, others navigating the river; together with Turks, Persians, and Armenians, on Arabian chargers: European ladies in splendid carriages, the Asiatic females in hackeries drawn by oxen; and the motley appearance of the English and nabob's troops on the fortifications, remind us 1 Dr. Hales's Analysis, vol. i. pp. 442-444. 1 Forbes's Oriental Memoirs, vol. i. p. 247. ages, the broken aqueduct, and the ruins which appear in its neighbourhood, exist, as an affecting monument of the fragile and transitory nature of earthly grandeur."9 ZAREPHATH. See SAREPTA, p. 548. ZEBULUN, Canton of the tribe of. See pp. 12, 13. ZIDON. See SIDON, p. 549. 2 Jowett's Christian Researches in the Mediterranean, Appendix, p. 422. See other Testimonies of modern travellers relative to the actual state of Tyre, in vol. i. pp. 329, 330. supra. |