Along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine lay the ancient land of Phoenicia, whose chief cities were the ports of Tyre and Sidon. The Bible rarely uses the name Phoenicia, preferring to refer to the country by the names of its chief cities, either separately or together (1 Kings 5:1; Ezra 3:7; Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 28:2; Ezekiel 28:21; Zechariah 9:2; Mark 7:24; Luke 6:17; Acts 12:20). Other Phoenician towns along the Mediterranean coast were Zarephath and Byblos (1 Kings 17:9).
The Phoenicians were among the great sailors of the ancient world and had large shipping fleets working the trade routes of the Mediterranean Sea (Isaiah 23:5; Isaiah 23:7). This brought much wealth to Phoenicia, particularly to Tyre, since it was the chief port (Ezekiel 27:3; Ezekiel 27:25). But with wealth came arrogance, and this brought judgment from God (Ezekiel 28:5; Ezekiel 28:9; Ezekiel 28:16). The judgment on Phoenicia was usually pictured in the overthrow of Tyre or the downfall of its king (Ezekiel 27:2; Ezekiel 28:2; Ezekiel 28:12). (For map and other details of Tyre, including its important rulers, commercial power and colourful history, see PHOENICIA.)