Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
MER'CHANTS. The earliest mode of commerce was by caravans. The commerce with India was carried on in this way by the merchants of Arabia and Egypt, and it was to the merchants of an Egyptian caravan that Joseph was sold. There was, however, considerable intercourse between many countries by water. The Phoenicians held the first rank in this respect, and their fleet passed through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic. " Gen 23:10; Gen 37:28; Eze 27:21, Eze 23:36; 1 Kgs 10:28; 2 Chr 1:16; Prov 31:14; Isa 23:2.