The name "Sidon" is nearly as familiar to Bible readers as is Jericho or Bethlehem, yet most know little about it. This seminal book was a study devoted to what is known of ancient Sidon. Since the city is still occupied, exploration of Sidon generally has to be done in the library or by surface surveys. Eiselen begins with preliminary issues such as the topography, name, and antiquity of the city. The main body of the monograph concerns the political history of Sidon from its founding, through the el-Amarna period, to its destruction by Esarhaddon and again by Artaxerxes Ochus. To complete this historical survey, Eiselen examines the Crusades and the continuation of the city up until the beginning of the twentieth century. Sidon was notable for its influence on the culture of its world, and Eiselen takes the reader through an examination of Sidon’s colonies, commerce, industries, and religious history. After describing the antiquities and inscriptions that have survived from this well-spring of civilization, the study concludes with lists of the kings of the city, and the coins and antiquities found there.

Frederick Carl Eiselen (1872-1937) was an avid writer on topics related to the Hebrew Bible and the Christian understanding of it. He was an editor of the Abingdon Bible Commentary and he served as president of the Garrett Biblical Institute (now Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary).