There are no islands near to Palestine. Cyprus is the nearest, and that is about seventy miles from the nearest point of Syria, far north. So that the term 'the isles' may be used at times indefinitely for places or nations far off. We read of 'the isles which are beyond the sea,' 'the isles afar off,' and 'isles of the Gentiles.' Genesis 10:5 , etc.; Jeremiah 25:22; Jeremiah 31:10 , etc. It is thought that in some places in the prophets the sea-coasts or maritime countries are intended. Definite islands are also mentioned, especially in the N.T. when Paul began his missionary journeys.