In biblical times, coastlines were significant geographical features that often marked the boundaries of territories and were crucial for trade, travel, and cultural exchange. The term "coastline" in the Bible typically refers to the land along the sea, particularly the Mediterranean Sea, which was central to the ancient Near Eastern world.

Biblical References:

1. Territorial Boundaries:
The coastline often served as a natural boundary for the tribes of Israel and other nations. For instance, the tribe of Asher was allotted territory along the Mediterranean coast. In Joshua 19:24-31, the inheritance of Asher is described, which includes "Carmel on the west" (Joshua 19:26), indicating its coastal location.

2. Trade and Commerce:
Coastal cities were hubs of trade and commerce due to their access to maritime routes. Tyre and Sidon, mentioned frequently in the Bible, were prominent Phoenician cities known for their wealth and trade. Ezekiel 27 provides a detailed account of Tyre's extensive trade network, highlighting its importance as a coastal city.

3. Prophetic Significance:
The coastlines are often mentioned in prophetic literature, symbolizing the reach of God's judgment or blessing. For example, Zephaniah 2:5-7 pronounces judgment on the Philistine cities along the coast, yet also promises restoration: "The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah."

4. Cultural Interactions:
The coastlines facilitated interactions between different cultures and peoples. The Philistines, who settled along the southern coast of Canaan, frequently interacted and conflicted with the Israelites. This is evident in the narratives of Samson (Judges 13-16) and David (1 Samuel 17).

5. Symbolic Imagery:
In biblical poetry and prophecy, coastlines can symbolize the vastness of God's creation and the extent of His dominion. Psalm 72:8 declares, "May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth," using the imagery of coastlines to express the expansive reign of the Messiah.

Historical and Archaeological Context:

The ancient coastlines of the Near East were dotted with significant cities and ports that played crucial roles in the history of Israel and its neighbors. Archaeological discoveries in places like Ashkelon, Jaffa, and Caesarea have provided insights into the maritime activities and cultural exchanges that occurred along these coasts.

Theological Implications:

The coastlines in the Bible often serve as reminders of God's sovereignty over all creation, including the seas and the lands that border them. They also illustrate the interconnectedness of nations and the spread of God's purposes beyond the land of Israel to the "islands and coastlands" (Isaiah 42:4), indicating the universal scope of His salvation plan.

In summary, the biblical concept of the coastline encompasses a range of themes, from territorial boundaries and trade to prophetic imagery and theological symbolism, reflecting its multifaceted role in the biblical narrative.1366. gebul -- border, boundary, territory
... unused word Definition border, boundary, territory NASB Word Usage area (1), barrier
(1), border (144), borders (10), boundary (13), coastline (3), districts (1 ...
/hebrew/1366.htm - 6k

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... The continual deposit of alluvial soil at the mouths of the rivers had greatly altered
the coastline from the earliest historic times downwards. ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

Joseph and Nicodemus
... The whole level of morality has been heaved up, as the coastline has sometimes been
by hidden fires slowly working, by the imperceptible, gradual influence of ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/joseph and nicodemus.htm

Chapter xlix
... the east and swept westward over a big portion of the Plain of Esdraelon, it yet
went only two-thirds of the way to the Mediterranean coastline, having Asher ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

Coastline (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Coastline (3 Occurrences). Numbers 34:6 "'For
the western border, you shall have the great sea and the ...
/c/coastline.htm - 7k

Graecia
... With an area, therefore, considerably less than that of Portugal, Greece has a
coastline exceeding in length that of Spain and Portugal combined. ...
/g/graecia.htm - 21k

Coast-line (2 Occurrences)
Coast-line. Coastline, Coast-line. Coasts . Multi-Version Concordance
Coast-line (2 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Coastline, Coast-line. Coasts . Reference
/c/coast-line.htm - 6k

Coastlands (29 Occurrences)

/c/coastlands.htm - 14k

Wadi (11 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and
its villages; to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline. ...
/w/wadi.htm - 9k

Settlements (27 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages;
to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline. (See NIV). ...
/s/settlements.htm - 13k

Ashdod (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages;
to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline. ...
/a/ashdod.htm - 17k

Surrounding (78 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages;
to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline. (See NIV). ...
/s/surrounding.htm - 30k

Villages (106 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages;
to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline. ...
/v/villages.htm - 38k

Gaza (22 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages;
to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea with its coastline. ...
/g/gaza.htm - 19k

Coastline: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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