of Enon. Some suppose it was the same with Shalem or Sychem, but that is not placed near Enon by any geographers. Probably Melchizedec was king of one of these places, and not of Jerusalem, as some have maintained.
Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Zoar were five cities of the Canaanites. In the days of Abraham they had each a king. The Dead Sea now covers the site of these cities.—(Jude 7.) The Scripture account of the overthrow of these cities is corroborated by the accounts of Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, Tacitus, Solinus, &c.
Sidon, a great commercial city, and the capital of the Phoenicians. It was built soon after the flood, by Sidon, the eldest son of Canaan. Tyre, 25 miles south of it, was built by a colony from this city. Both cities lay within the lot of Asher; but that tribe never expelled the people. Indeed, at one time the Sidonians overcame all Israel; and in the days of Ahaz they drove a great commerce in exporting the Jews for slaves.—(Joel iii. 4.) The gospel was at the first proclaimed here, and flourishing churches continued for many ages. After being lost and won in the crusades, the Saracens finally made themselves masters of it, A. J). 1289. Some Christians are yet found here. It now contains 16,000 inhabitants, and is called Saide.
Sarepta, (Luke iv. 26,) or Zarephath, (1 Kings xvii. 9.) A Gentile town, lying on the shores of the Mediterranean, between Tyre and Sidon, and belonging to the latter. Its modern name is Zarpha, or Zarphant. Though there were many widows in Israel, distressed with the prevailing famine, Elijah was not sent to them, but to a Zidonian widow in Sarepta. Messrs. Fisk and King passed the place in the summer of 1823.
Tadmor, a noble city in the north of Canaan. Its immediate vicinity was exceedingly fertile, though at a little distance all was a sandy desert. It was probably built by Solomon, to facilitate his commerce with the East. It submitted to Rome, A. D. 130. About 150 years afterward, the Saracens took it. Here lived Longinus. It is now famous, but only for its ruins. About 30 poor families constitute its population. The modern name of the town is Palmyra.
