Ezekiel 27

REVIEW QUESTIONS

List five specific predictions made against Tyre. How was each fulfilled?

Who does Ezekiel name specifically as an agent of Tyre’s destruction?

What damage did Alexander the Great inflict upon Tyre?

Has the prediction about Tyre never being rebuilt been fulfilled literally?

What effect would the fall of Tyre have on her trading allies?

To what does Ezekiel liken Tyre in his allegorical dirge song?

What comparison is made between Daniel and the king of Tyre?

Why did the king of Tyre consider himself deity?

What comparison is made between the king of Tyre and Adam?

Why do some scholars think that the fall of Satan is being described in Ezekiel 28:11-19?

In what sense did the king of Tyre dwell in the garden of God? In what way could he be compared to a cherub?

What was the mountain of the gods in pagan mythology?

What was the bloody fate of Sidon?

In contrast to the destiny of Tyre and Sidon, what did Ezekiel foresee for the people of God?

How did Tyre and Sidon figure in the ministry of Jesus?

Ezekiel 27:1-11

A. The Ship Prepared for Sailing 27:1-11

TRANSLATION

(1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) NOW as for you, son of man, take Up a lamentation over Tyre, (3) and say to Tyre, who dwells beside the entrances of the sea, merchant of the peoples unto many coastlands, Thus says the Lord GOD: O Tyre, you have said, I am perfect in beauty. (4) Your borders are in the heart of the sea, your builders have perfected your beauty. (5) With fir trees from Senir they have constructed all the planks; cedars from Lebanon they have taken to make the most for you. (6) With oaks of Bashan they have fashioned your oars; your deck they made of ivory inlaid in boxwood from the coastlands of Cypress. (7) Of exquisitely embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, which served as your ensign; purple and blue from the coastlands of Elishah was your awning. (8) The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your skilled men, O Tyre, were on board as pilots. (9) The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were on board as repairmen;[393] all the ships of the sea with their sailors were on board in order to barter for your merchandise. (10) Persia, Lud and Put were in your army, your men of war; shield and helmet they hung on you, they enhanced[394] your splendor. (11) The sons of Arvad and your army were upon your walls round about, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields upon your walls round about; they perfected your beauty.

[393] Lit., *the strengtheners of your breach.

[394]* Lit., gave forth.

COMMENTS

In Ezekiel 26:16 f. the princes of the sea take up a lament over the fall of Tyre. Here Ezekiel is told to join them by lifting up[395] a lament. Two phrases describe Tyre, the object of this lament. Tyre is addressed first as she who dwells beside the entrances of the sea. The plural entrances probably refers to the two sections of the harbor which were known respectively as the Sidonian and the Egyptian because of the directions which they faced. The second address to Tyre refers to her as the merchant of the people unto many isles. The far-flung trading colonies of the Phoenician city-states are one of the marvels of ancient history.

[395] This verb is always used in connection with a lamentation because it was uttered in a loud voice.

Tyre was a proud city. She boasted of her perfect beauty (Ezekiel 27:3). The boast was not without foundation. However, such national arrogance was the root of her downfall.

Because of her situation on a Mediterranean island, and because of her sea-faring enterprises, Tyre is likened to a ship which roams the seas. Her borders were in the midst of the sea.[396] The builders had spared nothing to make that ship of state a magnificent vessel (Ezekiel 27:4).

[396] The Assyrians referred to the Tyrians as those who dwelt in the midst of the sea. Prichard, ANET. pp. 296f.

The construction was sound. Planks of fir from Senir (Mt. Hermon, Deuteronomy 3:9), masts of Lebanon Cedar, oars of Bashan[397] oak, the decking material was made of boxwood (from Cyprus) inlaid with ivory (Ezekiel 27:5-6). The sails were of the most costly Egyptian linen embroidered with distinctive colors so as to serve as an ensign for the ship. Her deck awning was of two shades of purple from Elishah.[398]

[397] Bashan was east of Jordan. The region was famous for its oaks (Isaiah 2:13; Zechariah 11:2).

[398] Opinions differ on the location of Elishah. Some argue for a site on Cyprus; others for a Syrian location.

The crew on board the good ship Tyre were also the finest in the world. The rowers hailed from Sidon and the island Arvad a hundred miles north of Sidon; the wisest men of Tyre[399] were at the helm[400] (Ezekiel 27:8); skilled craftsmen from Geba1[401] served as ship-carpenters (KJV, talkers; lit., repairers of the seams). Furthermore, all the navies of the world assisted her in the transference of her cargo (Ezekiel 27:9). The marines on board the ship were mercenaries from distant lands attracted, no doubt, by the handsome wages offered by the wealthy merchants of Tyre. They came from Persia[402] to the east, Lud (Lydia) in Asia Minor, and Put (Punt) on the western coast of the Red Sea, The colorful shields and helmets of these soldiers were hung in awesome array along the sides of the good ship Tyre (Ezekiel 27:10). Add to this the presence of yet other armed personnel the men of Arvad (see on Ezekiel 27:8), and the Gammadim, a people not elsewhere mentioned in the Bible. These soldiers, as well as the army[403] of Tyre itself, would hang their shields on the ship’s sides to further enhance the splendor of the vessel.

[399] RSV has corrected the Hebrew text to read Zemer, a city associated with Arvad. Such arbitrary alterations of the text are unnecessary, and unwarranted. [400] Pilots, lit., rope pullers or sailors.

[401] Gebal (modern Byblos) supplied skilled craftsmen for work on Solomon’s Temple (cf. 1 Kings 5:18).

[402] Persia is mentioned here for the first time in the Bible. [403] Your army (NASB; KJV) is made a proper name in the RSV, Helech which is thought to be Cilicia. Such a rendering involves a change in the vowel points of the word in question.

Ezekiel 27:1-36

II. THE LAMENTATION OVER TYRE 27:1-36

Chapter 27 consists of an allegorical dirge song artistically interrupted by a prose section. Tyre is pictured as a beautiful ship superbly fitted out and manned by a skilled crew (Ezekiel 27:3-11). In the prose section the ship is said to stop at various ports to collect her cargo (Ezekiel 27:12-25 a). The ship becomes so laden with merchandise that she sinks into the depths of a stormy sea (Ezekiel 27:25 b - Ezekiel 27:36). This exquisite composition stresses the abiding truth that worldly wealth is transitory and ultimately self-defeating to those who worship it.

Ezekiel 27:12-25

B. The Ship in her Ports of Call 27:12-25a

TRANSLATION

(12) Tarshish was your client because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; silver, iron, tin and lead they traded for your wares. (13) Javan, Tubal and Meshech were your trading partners; persons of men and vessels of bronze they traded for your merchandise. (14) Those from Beth-togarmah traded horses, war horses and mules for your wares. (15) The children of Dedan were your trading partners. Many coastlands were your market; horns of ivory and ebony they brought as your gift. (16) Aram was your client because of the abundance of your works; emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies they traded for your wares. (17) Judah and the land of Israel were your trading partners; the wheat of Minnith, cakes[404] honey, oil and balm they have traded for your merchandise. (18) Damascus was your client because of the multitude of your works, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth, with the wine of Helbon and white wool. (19) Vedan and Javan traded for your wares from Uzal; iron, cassia and calamus were among your merchandise. (20) Dedan was your trading partner in saddle-cloths for riding. (21) Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your clients; in lambs, rams, and goats, for these were they your clients. (22) The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your trading partners; the best of all kind of spices, and all kinds of precious stones, and gold they traded for your wares. (23) Haran, Canneh, Eden and the traders of Sheba, Assyria (and) Chilmad were your trading partners. (24) These were your trading partners in gorgeous fabrics, in cloth of blue and embroidered work and chests[405] of rich apparel, bound with cords and cedar-lined, among your merchandise (Ezekiel 27:25 a). The ships of Tarshish were the carriers for your merchandise.

[404] The Hebrew is of uncertain meaning. [405] RSV and NAAB and BV render carpets; KJV renders chests.

COMMENTS

The cities which traded with Tyre are given in geographical order in three groupings. The first group of cities consists of those which lie along the Mediterranean trade route. The list begins with Tarshish at the western end of the sea. Tarshish, a mining district in southern Spain,[406] was attracted by the wealth of Tyre to become one of her trading partners. They traded valuable metals for the export products of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:12). Javan is Greece; Tubal and Meshech were tribes in Asia Minor. With these regions Tyre trafficked in slaves (Ezekiel 27:13; cf. Joe 3:6) and copper ore[407] (Ezekiel 27:13). From Beth-togarmah (probably Armenia) Tyre secured horses, war horses,[408] and mules (Ezekiel 27:14). Dedan (island of Rhodes)[409] traded with Tyre too. Many other islands were part of Tyre’s commercial network (the mart of your hand). Vessels of ivory and ebony were paid as tribute to Tyre for the privilege of belonging to this commercial community (Ezekiel 27:15). These products would come from the African interior via the Phoenician traders on the coast of North Africa.

[406] Others have suggested that Tarshish may have been the Phoenician name for the ancient city of Nora in Sardinia. [407] The Hebrew nechoshet may refer to either copper, bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) or brass (alloy of copper and zinc). See .NBD, p. 825.

[408] Parashim frequently means horsemen. In some passages the word refers to the horses used with war chariots. Cf. Isaiah 28:28; Jeremiah 46:4; Joe 2:4.

[409] Dedan in Ezekiel 27:15 obviously is not the same as the Arabian Dedan mentioned in Ezekiel 27:20. The Septuagint (Greek version) preserves the tradition that this Dedan is the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean. Some think that a port on the Persian Gulf is meant.

Aram[410] (Syria) provided Tyre with precious stones and beautiful fabrics (Ezekiel 27:16). Judah exported agricultural products to Tyre wheat,[411] cakes,[412] honey, oil and balm. Damascus supplied Tyre with the finest wine, the wine of Helbon, and white[413] wool (Ezekiel 27:18). Vedan[414] was probably an Arab city. Javan here in Ezekiel 27:19 may refer to a Greek colony in Arabia. Both cities are said to export the trading merchandise from Uzzal[415] iron bars,[416] perfume (cassia) and sweet cane (calamus).[417] The entire nineteenth verse is difficult to translate and opinions differ widely on its meaning. From Arabian Dedan, Tyre received saddle-cloths (Ezekiel 27:20). The nomadic Arabs and the princes of Kedar were famous for their flocks (cf. Isaiah 60:7). They supplied Tyre with livestock (Ezekiel 27:20). Sheba in southwest Arabia and Raamah, thought to be along the Persian Gulf, were famous trading people (cf. Job 6:19). Gold, precious stones and aro-matics were among the items these traders bartered with Tyre (v.22).

[410] Some Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint read Edom. In Hebrew, only a small curve in one letter makes the difference between Arum and Edom

[411]* Minnith* was an Amrnonite town (cf. Judges 11:33) which apparently sent wheat as tribute to Judah (cf. 2 Chronicles 27:5).

[412] The Hebrew word pannag occurs only here and is of doubtful meaning. It has been rendered Pannag (KJV), early figs (BV, RSV): and cakes (NASB). Some kind of foodstuff is intended.

[413] Exact translation uncertain. [414] Could also be translated Dan. Vedan has conjecturally been identified with Aden or W-‘addan near the Arab city of Medina.

[415] Several Hebrew manuscript and the Septuagint support this translation [416] Again the exact meaning is uncertain. KJV has bright iron.

[417]Cassia and Calamus were ingredients of anointing oil (cf. Exodus 30:23 f.)

The next three ports mentioned were located in Mesopotamia. Haran, a stopping point in Abram’s migration (Genesis 12:4) was an important commercial center on the main trade route from Babylon to Syria. Canneh is probably to be identified as Calneh (Genesis 10:10) otherwise called Calno (Isaiah 10:9), a city in Babylonia. Eden is known on Assyrian inscriptions as Bit-Adini which occupies both sides of the Euphrates river due south of Haran. Through these trading centers the merchandise of Sheba (see previous verse), Asshur (Assyria) and Chilmad (location unknown) moved toward Tyre (Ezekiel 27:23). The Mesopotamian trading partners brought to Tyre gorgeous fabrics (lit., things perfected), cloaks of blue and richly woven work, and beautiful cedar chests containing other kinds of luxurious wearing apparel (Ezekiel 27:24). The list concludes with a reference to the ships of Tarshish (see Ezekiel 27:12) which brought their dues to Tyre, the queen of the merchant marine (Ezekiel 27:25 a).

Ezekiel 27:25-36

C. The Ship Sinking Beneath the Waves 27:25b-36

TRANSLATION

(25b) So you became full and very heavy[418] in the heart of the seas. (26) Into great waters your rowers have brought you; the east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. (27) Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise, your sailors, your pilots, your repairmen and your merchant men, all your men of war which were on board, with all your company that is in your midst, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your collapse. (28) At the sound of the cry of your pilots the countryside will shake. (29) All who handle the oar, the sailors, all the pilots of the sea shall come down from their ships, shall stand upon the land, (30) and shall cause their voice to be heard over you, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast dust upon their heads, wallow in ashes; (31) and they shall make themselves bald because of you, and gird themselves with sackcloth; and they shall weep over you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning. (32) Moreover in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for you, and they shall lament over you: Who is like Tyre, like she that is silent in the midst of the sea. (33) When your wares went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with the multitude of your wealth and your merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth. (34) Now you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your company have fallen in your midst. (35) All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled over you, and their kings are horribly afraid; they are troubled in their countenance. (36) The merchants among the people whistle in astonishment over you; you have become a terror, and you will be no more.

[418] NASB, very glorious.

COMMENTS

Through all this commercial activity the good ship Tyre became overloaded in the midst of the sea, in the very place where she was thought to be supreme (Ezekiel 27:25 b). Into the deep and dangerous open sea the sailors have rowed the vessel. There she would meet disaster. The east wind (cf. Psalms 48:7) stirred up the waves and battered the ship until it broke apart under the pressure (Ezekiel 27:26). All was lost the merchandise, and all the individuals associated with transporting and protecting it (Ezekiel 27:27). The countryside[419] (KJV, suburbs) which had supplied so many of the personnel on board would shake at the desperate cries of Tyre’s crew sinking beneath the waves (Ezekiel 27:28). Worldwide shipping would come to a halt as sailors paused on land to express sympathy for the departed Queen of the Seas (Ezekiel 27:29). The lament would be bitter, and accompanied by all the outward signs of mourning which were customary in the ancient world dust on the head, baldness, sackcloth (Ezekiel 27:30-31).

[419] Literally, the open spaces.

Ezekiel 27:32 introduces a rather unusual lament within a lament (cf. Ezekiel 27:2). What other city could be compared to Tyre that now lies silent in a watery grave (Ezekiel 27:32). In their lament the sailors emphasize the benefits which Tyre had brought to the kings of the earth (Ezekiel 27:33). Her exports along the shipping lanes had contributed to international wealth. But now the sea had rebelled against her mistress, and the good ship Tyre with crew and cargo had gone to the bottom (Ezekiel 27:34). Other seafaring peoples now feared for their own future. The outward signs of sympathy for Tyre were but a mask to conceal the selfish fears that they too might experience a similar fate (Ezekiel 27:35). Merchants throughout the world would express their astonishment by hissing (whistling; Ezekiel 27:36).