With an expanding population, they had to gain more resources - by conquest or trade. They chose trade.
Phoenicians were known for their maritime trade culture living in the east coast of Mediterranean Sea where today the states of Syria, Lebanon and Israel/ Palestine are.
the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea.
The Phoenicians adorned their ships' front portion with huge shapes of sea monsters and other fearsome looking mythical creatures, that the people of those days believed could endanger their lives. The sight of such creatures in the middle of the sea had the other sea travelers sailing away for their lives.
The Phoenicians.
The Phoenicians?
phoenicians chose the sea for trading because phoenicia's overland trade routes were blocked by mountains and hostile neighbors.
sea-fairing phoenicians
The Mediterranean Sea.
Throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
Trading around the Mediterranean Sea.
Not all of the Israelite tribes, but some of them engaged in fishing and sea-trade, as did the Phoenicians.