CHAP. III.

PRECIOUS METALS.

123

scribed in the poetic language of Ezekiel 1 maybe applied to the whole of Phoenicia —as “ havingby its great wisdom gotten gold and silver intoits treasuries, and great riches,” but as being pro-tected by hired troops against foreign nations.Phoenicia was, however, naturally an unproductivecountry . A great part of its narrow territorywas then covered with the forests of Lebanon ,and yielded only those trees which furnishedtimber for constructing their dwellings and theirships. The more level parts on the sea-shorewere too contracted for the dense population;and the chief pursuits of that population hadno tendency towards agricultural improvement.They were thus the natural allies of the Hebrews,who, amidst their offensive wars on all the othersurrounding nations, do not appear to have exer-cised any hostile acts towards the Phoenicians ,though they were as grossly idolatrous as theother tribes who were exterminated.

We have no accounts of the intercourse be-tween individuals of Phoenicia and Judea , though,from the character and circumstances of the twoPeople, much must have subsisted : but we learnthat the governments exchanged productions;that Solomon sent yearly to Tyre 2 “ twenty thou-

1 Ezekiel , cap. xxvii. This chapter contains an accurateand general view of the state of the trade of Tyre before itsc °nquest.

' 1 Kings, cap. v. v. 11.