From that "firstborn" of Canaan sprung the great Phœnician family:—for upon the authority of Justin, an earthquake compelled a portion of the family of Canaan to leave the country they had first settled in, and they took up their residence upon the border of the Assyrian Lake:—but which they afterwards vacated, and journeyed to the Sea-coast, [2178 B. C.] where the leader of that portion,—viz., Sidon,—built a city bearing his name, and he thus became the founder of the great maritime Nations of the Mediterranean; and being divided from their brethren, the Sidonians became a separate and independent people.
1689 B. C.] In the deathbed blessing of Jacob upon Zebulun, the country of Sidon is mentioned. [Genesis xlix. 13.]
"Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships: and his border shall be unto Sidon."
1451 B. C.] Moses wrote of them as a Nation in more than one instance.—
"And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar unto Gaza." [Genesis x. 19.]
"—* * * from the river of Arnon unto Mount Hermon, (which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites [Canaanites] call it Shenir)." [Deut. iii. 8,9.]
In the last quotation the Sidonians are distinctly stated to be a separate nation from the other branches of the Canaanites.
1444 B. C.] Joshua, also, defines them to be so, and a powerful one.
"And the Lord delivered them [the Canaanites] into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Sidon," &c. [Joshua xi. 8.]