“Jesus left that place.
He went away
To the district
Of Tyre
And Sidon.”
Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος.
Mark, chapter 7:24, has something similar but only mentions Tyre, not Sidon. Jesus left the area (Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς) around the Sea of Galilee. He went to the district of Tyre and Sidon (ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος). Tyre was a Phoenician coastal island city that still exists in southern Lebanon. Known for its maritime trade and purple dye, it was actually originally in the Israelite territory of Asher. The Mediterranean ports at both Sidon and Tyre. were commercial trading partners. Tyre was a great ancient city with many merchant princes, while Sidon was also a maritime Phoenician city about 25 miles north of Tyre, mostly known for its fishing and trade. Sidon was also the name of the grandson of Noah, and thus older than Tyre. Traditionally, Isaiah, chapter 23, and the other prophets were against these two wealthy coastal towns. It is not clear why Jesus went to this coastal region, except that the Pharisees were not there.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 