CHAP. in. PRECIOUS METALS. 123 



scribed in the poetic language of Ezekiel 1 may 

 be applied to the whole of Phoenicia as " having 

 by its great wisdom gotten gold and silver into 

 its treasuries, and great riches," but as being pro- 

 tected by hired troops against foreign nations. 

 Phoenicia was, however, naturally an unproductive 

 country. A great part of its narrow territory 

 was then covered with the forests of Lebanon, 

 and yielded only those trees which furnished 

 timber for constructing their dwellings and their 

 ships. The more level parts on the sea-shore 

 were too contracted for the dense population ; 

 and the chief pursuits of that population had 

 no tendency towards agricultural improvement. 

 They were thus the natural allies of the Hebrews, 

 who, amidst their offensive wars on all the other 

 surrounding nations, do not appear to have exer- 

 cised any hostile acts towards the Phoenicians, 

 though they were as grossly idolatrous as the 

 other 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 two 

 people, much must have subsisted : but we learn 

 that the governments exchanged productions ; 

 that Solomon sent yearly to Tyre 2 " twenty thou- 



1 Ezekiel, cap. xxvii. This chapter contains an accurate 

 and general view of the state of the trade of Tyre before its 

 conquest. 



" 1 Kings, cap. v. v. 1 1. 



