One of his first acts was to ally himself with Ahab, King of Israel, by giving him his daughter, Jezebel, in marriage,[14112] thus strengthening his land dominion, and renewing the old relations of friendship with the Hebrew people.

Another act of vigour assigned to him is the foundation of Botrys, on the Syrian coast, north of Gebal, perhaps a defensive movement against Assyria.[14113] Still more enterprising was his renewal of the African colonisation by his foundation of Aueza in Numidia,[14114] which became a city of some importance.

Ithobal's reign lasted, we are told, thirty-two years.

He was sixty-eight years of age at his death, and was succeeded by his son, who is called Badezor, probably a corruption of Balezor, or Baal-azar[14115]--the name given by Hiram to his son and successor.

Of Badezor we know nothing, except that he reigned six years, and was succeeded by his son Matgen, perhaps Mattan,[14116] a youth of twenty-three.
With Matgen, or Mattan, whichever be the true form of the name, the internal history of Tyre becomes interesting.