Ezekiel 27

A prophetical lamentation for Tyrus, with a description of her glory, and accommodation that many nations had had by all manner of commerce and trading from her, verse 1,2,c. and on the contrary, of her terribal fall, as also the loss, astonishment, mourning and hissing that shall be made thereat by the nations and their kings, 26,c.

1. Furthermore, the word of the LORD came unto me saying:

2. Thou then child of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;

3. And say unto Tyrus that dwelleth at the entries of the sea, [That is, whereunto they sail from the sea, and whereupon the sea beateth on every side. See 1 Kings 5 on verse 1.] dealing with the nations [or which is the chiefest among the nations in dealing or exercising merchandise. Heb. Properly the dealer of the nations] in my isles: [see Psalms 72 on verse 10] thus saith the Lord LORD; o Tyrus, thou sayest I am perfect in beauty.

4. Thy borders are in the heart of the sea: [that is, in the midst, (as verse 32) or directly in the sea. Compare Deuteronomy 4 on verse 11. so below verse 25,26,27. and chapter 28.2,8.] thy builders have perfected thy beauty.

5. They have built all thy baths [Heb. Two tables, whereby is meant the hatches of a ship. The Hebrew word is used in the dual number, as hatches of ships are frequently divided into twain, going flopping down on both side] (of) fir-trees of senir: [growing on that mountain. See Deuteronomy 3:9] thy have fetcht] Heb. Taken, that is, taken and brought or fetcht. See Genesis 12 on verse 15 and Jeremiah 37 on verse 17.] cedars [Heb. Cedar. See Judges 9 on verse 15] from Libanon to make mast [Heb. Mast-tree] for thee.

6. They have made thine oars (of) the oaks of Basan: thy boards [Heb. Thy board, or bench; or we may render it, bench-work] have they made (of) well trodden ivory, [Heb. A daughter of steps, or goings; that is, which hath layen long in the ground, and where consequently men have long gone over, which counted the right ivory, Plin, lib 8. cap. 3. see of this phrase Job 5 on verse 7. Isaiah 5 on verse 1. others, thy (ships) benches (whereon they rowed, or whereon the passengers set, for pomp) have those of the company of the Assyrians. See 2 Samuel 2:9 with the Annotat.) made of ivory,c. because the Hebrew word Aschur and Aschar are very like one another. See of the word ivory, 1 Kings 10 on verse 18.] from the isles of the chittites. [See Genesis 10 on verse 4. some understand by these the nations that lay westward from Palestina]

7. Fine linen [see Genesis 41 on verse 42.] with needle-work [or broidered work] from Egypt was thy spreading forth, to be a sail [or ensign, flag] for thee: skie-color, [that is, garments of this color] and purple from the isles of Elisa, [see genesis 10 on verse 4.] was thy covering.

8. The inhabitants of Zidon [see genesis 10 on verse15] and Arvad [see Genesis 10 on verse 18 also verse 11.] where thy rowers: thy wise men, [that were expert, skilful and well versed in navigation, so verse 9.] O tyrus (that) were in thee they thy ship-masters. [or pilots, steermen. So in the sequel]

9. The oldest of Gebal [see 1 Kings 5 on verse 18] and the wise men thereof were in thee, mending thy breaches: [Heb. Breach, split, rent. That is, to repair thy costly buildings and houses: or as some, to stop the holes, to tallow the ships] all the ships of the sea and their sea men were in thee to drive a mutual trade with thee [Heb. To mix thy mixture; that is, to traffick with thee. The Hebrew word being of one root, and used of trading,, trafficking, dealing with one another for any commodity to contract together, to be surety for one another, &c. so in the sequel]

10. Persians and Lydians, [see Genesis 10 on verse 13.] and puteans, see Genesis 10 on verse 6. Heb. Lud and Put] were in thine army, thy shoulders: thy shoulders: [whom thou as well as thy own garrison, as otherwise to help thy friends, and to aw thine enemies, and for pomp, didst most stately maintain in thy service] they hanged up the shield and helmet in thee:] [for pomp and ornament, as is also yet practiced at this day; their fair and beautiful weapons] those thy made thine ornaments, [or brought thine ornament. Heb. Properly gave, have given, that is, they made thee comely, adorned thee, served for thy ornament or beauty]

11. The children of Arvad and thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gemmadites [These are placed some in a country of Phoenicia, or a certain city there called Gammale, by changing the letter d into an l, (see Pli. Lib. 2 chapter 93.) not far from Tyrus, northward. Heb. Gammadin. Some guess that it cometh from the word Gomed, Judges 3:16. signifying an ell or cubit, elbow, from whence also these people had their name as being expect archers, watchmen, guards, that kept the forts, being strong in their elbows, arms and hands and so fit and serviceable for that use, as followeth] were upon their towers: [that is, city-forts and strong holds] they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they made thy beauty perfect.

12. Tharsis [see genesis 10 on verse 4.] traded with thee: [or was thy dealer. So verse 16.18.] by reason of the maltitude of all kinds of goods; [Heb. All, c. That is, all manner of riches, substance, goods: as verse 33. so verse 18.22] with silver, iron, tin and lead they traded [or set themselves, composed themselves. Heb. They gave or have given. And so often in the sequel] (in) [this word is here inserted from verse 16 and 19. so in the 1 verse following] thy fairs.

13. Javan, Tubal andMesich, [that is, theposterity of these three. See Genesis 10 on verse 2.] they were thy merchants: [or traders, factors, dealers] they draw a mutual trade with thee with the souls of men, [that is, the persons or men themselves. See Genesis 12 on verse 5 and Revelations 18.13 meaning to sell them for slaves, or otherwise to trade with them] and copper vessels.

14. Of the house [That is, family or people] of Togarma, [see Genesis 10 on verse 3.] they delivered [or they brought and horsemen and mules in (thy) fairs.

15. The children [That is, the posterity] of Dedan [See Genesis 10 on verse 7. Jeremiah 25 on verse 23.] were thy merchants; many isles were isles were the merchandise of thine hand, [that is, which thou hadth for thy merchandise and wares ready at hand, or wherewith thou didst trade in buying and selling, wherein the giving of the hand or striking of hands was a thing usual in concluding or making up of the bargain; as also in other mutual translations. Compare below verse 21.] They gave thee again (for) a present [or brought, c. Heb. They brought again thy present; that is, thee for a present: or (as some) in payment] horns of ivory and ebony-wood.

16. Syria [Heb. Aram. See Genesis 10 on verse 22. Meaning the Syrians] traded with thee because of the multitude of thy works: [or makings; that is, all manner of wares that are made in thee to traffique or trade withal. So verse 18.] with Emeraulds, purple and needlework, [or broidered work] and silk, and Ramoth, [see Job 28 on verse 18] and Cadkod; [see Isaiah 54:12.] on thy markets did they trade.

17. Juda and the land of Isaiah they were thy merchants; [Compare 1 Kings 5:9. Acts 12:20] they drave a mutual trade with thee with wheat of Mimmith, [See Judges 11:33.] and Pannag, [which some conceive to be balm, others, Phenira] hony and oil and balm. [compare 1 Kings 5:9. Acts 12:20. Of Balm see Genesis 37:25 and Jeremiah 8:22.]

18. Damascus [see Genesis 14 on verse 15 and Samuel 8 on verse 5] traded with thee for [Or, within] the multitude of thy works, [as above verse 16.] because of the maltitude of all manner of goos, [as above verse 12.] with wine of Chalboa, [wich someone conceive to be Charlibon in Syrian] and white wooll.

19. Dan [The prosperity of Dan, dwelling at Dan, by mount Libanon, see Judges 18:29] also and Jaavan, [see Genesis 10 on verse 2.] the traveler [Heb. Muzzal; that is, he is done, that is, is driven to travel to and fro, he that is chafed about, driven about, to wit, out of a desire of gain, as merchants and traders are. Some conceive it to be the proper name of a nation] delivered [or, traders, as verse 12.] in thy markets; smooth iron, Cassia and Calamus was in thy mutual merchandise.

20. Dedan [That is, pofterity of Dedan. See Genesis 25:3] dealt with thee with precious vesture [Heb. Clothes of liberty, or freedom, that is, which free men, and not servants or bond-men use; that is rich, costly apparel] for charets: [Or, riding-furniture, faddle-furniture]

21. Arabia, [That is, the Arabians] and all the Prince of Kedar, [so Genesis 23 on verse 13. Jeremiah 2 on verse 10.] they were the merchants of thine hand; [see above verse 15.] with lams and rams and goats, therewith did they trade with thee.

22. the merchants of Scheba and Raama, [see of these two, Genesis 10 on verse 7.] they were thy merchants: they escaped in the markets with all head-spices, [That is, all sorts of the chiefest and most excellent spices. So in the sequel. Compare above verse 12.] and with a ll precious stones and gold.

23. Haran, [see Genesis 11 on verse 31.] and Canna, [some conceive this to be Calne, Genesis 10:10] and Eden, [see Genesis 2 on verse 8] the merchants of Scheba, [some hold this to be Seka in desert Arabia, by Mesopotamia. See Job 1 on verse 15.] Assur, [That is the Assyrians. See Genesis 10 on verse 22.] (and) Kilmad [Some hold this to be a country lying in the uppermost part of Media, between Aflyria and Parthia d aleth with thee.

24. These were thy merchants with perfect adornings, [see above chapter 23.12. Or, all sorts (of things), or, in gross. Heb. Perfections, accomplishments] with packs [Or, Bales, folded pieces. Heb. As if one should say, foldings, wrappings up: Others, cloaks, coats, gowns] of skie-color, c of skie-color and needle-work [Or, broidered work] and with treasure-chests [or, coffers] of beautiful garment bound with cords, and pack in cedar, [Heb, cedared, that is, put, laid, or packt up in chests of cedar, or in chests made of cedar, or, cedar chests] among the merchandise. [Or, upon thine exchange]

25. The ships [That is, the sea-fearing men, or the passengers] of Tharsis, or the Ocean sea. See 1 kings 10 on verse 22.] Sung of thee, (because of) the mutual trading with thee: [or, (in) thy markets] and thou wast replenished, [to wit, with all manner of riches] and exceedingly glorified in their heart of the seas. [as above verse 4 and in the sequel]

26. They that rowe thee, [That is, thy Rulers and the Princes that are thy leaders, that are like the rowers in the ships] have carried thee into great [or, mighty] waters: [that is, have brought thee into great peril and danger of shipwreck. Compare 2 Samuel 22 on verse 17. Or, thou art come to such a great height, that thy fall shall be the greater; whereunto thou hat given occasion by thy great and intolerant pride, as ships in great large waters carried with main high sails, are the sooner tossed aside and broken in pieces by a storm, as followeth] the east-wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas. [see Exodus 10 on verse 13. Job 27 on verse 21. Psalms 48:8 and above chapter 17.10.]

27. Thy goods and thy market wares, thy mutual trading, thy sea-men, and thy pilot they ruined thy breaches, and they that drive a mutual trade with thee, and all thy souldiers that are in thee, even with all the congregation which is in the midst of thee, shall fall unto the heart of the seas, in the day of thy fall.

28. The suburbs [Others, the tossed waves of the sea] shall tremble at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.

29. And all that handle the oar, seamen, (and) all ship-masters of the sea, shall come down from their ships: they shall stay upon the land.

30. And they shall cause their voices to be heard against thee, and cry bitterly: and they shall cast [Heb. Cause to come up, bring up, cast up] dust upon their heads, [see 2 Samuel 1 on verse 2] they shall wallow themselves in the ashes [as Jeremiah 6:26]

31. And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, [Heb, properly baldness or, make themselves bald with baldness. See Jeremiah 16 on verse 6.] and gird or sacks; [see Genesis 37 on verse 34] and shall weep for thee with bitterness of soul, [That is, bitter grief of heart] and bitter-wailing.

32. And in the morning they shall take up a lamentation for thee. [Others, their children shall, &c] and lament over thee, (saying): who hath been like Tyrus, like the destroyed [To wit, city] in the midst of the sea.

33. When the market-wares come forth out of the seas, thou didst satisfie many nations; with the multitude of thy goods, and thy mutual traffick hath thou enriched the Kings of the earth.

34. In the time when thou broken by the seas in the depths f the waters, are thy mutual trading and all thy congregation fallen in the midst of thee.

35. All the inhabitants are astonished by thee; [compare above chapter 29 on verse 15.] and the hairs of their kings’ hair stand on end [As below chapter 32 verse 10] they are amazed in countenance. [Showing great dismayness and affraightment in their countenance]

36. The traders among the nations whistle at thee; [Or, over thee. See 1 Kings on verse 8 and jeremiah 18 on verse 16] thou art become a great terrour; Heb. Terrours. So, below chapter 28.19.] and shalt be no (more) for ever. Compare above chapter 26.14 with the Annotat.]