Ezekiel 27 — LXXSB

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27And the word of the Lord came to me saying,^{Verse 2}And you, son of man, take up a lamentation against Sor;^{Verse 3}and you shall say to Sor that dwells at the entrance of the sea, to the mart of the nations coming from many islands, Thus says the Lord to Sor; You have said, I have clothed myself with my beauty.^{Verse 4}In the heart of the sea your sons have put beauty upon you for Beelim.^{Verse 5}Cedar in Senir was employed for you in building: boards of cypress timber were taken out of Libanus, and wood to make you masts of fir.^{Verse 6}They made your oars of wood out of the land of Basan; your sacred utensils they made of ivory, your shady houses of wood from the isles of Chetiim.^{Verse 7}Fine linen with embroidery from Egypt supplied the couch, to put honour upon you, and to clothe you with blue and purple from the isles of Elisai; and they became your coverings.^{Verse 8}And your princes were the dwellers in Sidon, and the Aradians were your rowers: your wise men, O Sor, who were in you, these were your pilots.^{Verse 9}The elders of the Biblians, and their wise men, who were in you, these helped your counsel: and all the ships of the sea and their rowers traded for you to the utmost west.^{Verse 10}Persians and Lydians and Libyans were in your army: your warriors hung in you shields and helmets; these gave you your glory.^{Verse 11}The sons of the Aradians and your army were upon the walls; there were guards in your towers: they hung their quivers on your battlements round about; these completed your beauty.^{Verse 12}The Carthaginians were your merchants because of the abundance of all your strength; they furnished your market with silver, and gold, and iron, and tin, and lead.^{Verse 13}Greece, both the whole world, and the adjacent coasts, these traded with you in the persons of men, and they gave as your merchandise vessels of brass.^{Verse 14}Out of the house of Thogarma horses and horsemen furnished the market.^{Verse 15}The sons of the Rhodians were your merchants; from the islands they multiplied your merchandise, even elephants' teeth: and to them that came in you did return your prices,^{Verse 16}even men as your merchandise, from the multitude of your trading population, myrrh and embroidered works from Tharsis: Ramoth also and Chorchor furnished your market.^{Verse 17}Juda and the children of Israel, these were your merchants; in the sale of corn and ointments and cassia: and they gave the best honey, and oil, and resin, to your trading population.^{Verse 18}The people of Damascus were your merchants by reason of the abundance of all your power; wine out of Chelbon, and wool from Miletus; and they brought wine into your market.^{Verse 19}Out of Asel came wrought iron, and there is the sound of wheels amongst your trading population.^{Verse 20}The people of Daedan were your merchants, with choice cattle for chariots.^{Verse 21}Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, these were your traders with you, bringing camels, and lambs, and rams, in which they trade with you.^{Verse 22}The merchants of Sabba and Ramma, these were your merchants, with choice spices, and precious stones: and they brought gold to your market.^{Verse 23}Charra, and Chanaa, these were your merchants: Assur, and Charman, were your merchants:^{Verse 24}bringing for merchandise blue, and choice stores bound with cords, and cypress wood.^{Verse 25}Ships were your merchants, in abundance, with your trading population: and you were filled and very heavily loaded in the heart of the sea.^{Verse 26}Your rowers have brought you into great waters: the south wind has broken you in the heart of the sea.^{Verse 27}Your forces, and your gain, and that of your traders, and your rowers, and your pilots, and your counsellors, and they that traffic with you, and all your warriors that are in you: and all your company in the midst of you shall perish in the heart of the sea, in the day of your fall.^{Verse 28}At the cry of your voice your pilots shall be greatly terrified.^{Verse 29}And all the rowers and the mariners shall come down from the ships, and the pilots of the sea shall stand on the land.^{Verse 30}And they shall wail over you with their voice, and cry bitterly, and put earth on their heads, and spread ashes under them.^{Verse 32}And their sons shall take up a lament for you, even a lamentation for Sor, saying,^{Verse 33}How large a reward have you gained from the sea? you have filled nations out of your abundance; and out of your mixed merchandise you have enriched all the kings of the earth.^{Verse 34}Now are you broken in the sea, your traders are in the deep water, and all your company in the midst of you: all your rowers have fallen.^{Verse 35}All the dwellers in the islands have mourned over you, and their kings have been utterly amazed, and their countenance has wept.^{Verse 36}Merchants from the nations have hissed at you; you are utterly destroyed, and shall not be any more for ever.

Commentary

Introduction

This chapter may be considered as the second part of the prophecy concerning Tyre. The prophet pursues his subject in the manner of those ancient lamentations or funeral songs, in which the praeficiae or mourning women first recounted whatever was great or praiseworthy in the deceased, and then mourned his fall. Here the riches, glory, and extensive commerce of Tyre are enlarged upon, vv. 1-25. Her downfall is then described in a beautiful allegory, executed in a few words, with astonishing brevity, propriety, and perspicuity, Eze 27:26; upon which all the maritime and commercial world are represented as grieved and astonished at her fate, and greatly alarmed for their own, Eze 27:27-36. Besides the view which this chapter gives of the conduct of Providence, and the example with which it furnishes the critic and men of taste of a very elegant and highly finished piece of composition, it likewise affords the antiquary a very curious and interesting account of the wealth and commerce of ancient times. And to the mind that looks for "a city that hath foundations," what a picture does the whole present of the mutability and inanity of all earthly things! Many of the places mentioned in ancient history have, like Tyre, long ago lost their political consequence; the geographical situation of others cannot be traced; they have sunk in the deep waters of oblivion; the east wind hath carried them away.

Take up a lamentation for Tyrus - This is a singular and curious chapter. It gives a very circumstantial account of the trade of Tyre with different parts of the world, and the different sorts of merchandise in which she trafficked. The places and the imports are as regularly entered here as they could have been in a European custom-house.

The entry of the sea - Tyre was a small island, or rather rock, in the sea, at a short distance from the main land. We have already seen that there was another Tyre on the main land; but they are both considered as one city.

Thy builders have perfected thy beauty - Under the allegory of a beautiful ship, the prophet, here and in the following verses, paints the glory of this ancient city. Horace describes the commonwealth of Rome by the same allegory, and is as minute in his description, Carm. lib. 1. Od. xiv: - O navis, referent in mare te novi Fluctus? O quid agis? Fortiter occupa Portum. Nonne video, ut Nudum remigio latus, Et malus celeri saucius Africo, Antennaeque gemant? ac sine funibus Vix durare carinae Possint imperiosius Aequor! non tibi sunt integra lintea; Non Di, quos iterum pressa votes malo: Quamvis Pontica pinus, Sylvae filia nobilis, Jactes et genus, et nomen inutile Nil pictis timidus navita puppibus Fidit. Tu, nisi, ventis Debes ludibrium, cave. Unhappy vessel, shall the waves again Tumultuous bear thee to the faithless main? What, would thy madness thus with storms to sport? Cast firm your anchor in the friendly port. Behold thy naked decks, the wounded mast, And sail-yards groan beneath the southern blast. Nor, without ropes, thy keel can longer brave The rushing fury of the imperious wave: Torn are thy sails; thy guardian gods are lost, Whom you might call, in future tempests tost. What, though majestic in your pride you stood, A noble daughter of the Pontic wood, You now may vainly boast an empty name, Of birth conspicuous in the rolls of fame. The mariner, when storms around him rise, No longer on a painted stern relies. Ah! yet take heed, lest these new tempests sweep, In sportive rage, thy glories to the deep. Francis. I give this as a striking parallel to many passages in this chapter.

Fir trees of Senir - Senir is a mountain which the Sidonians called Sirion, and the Hebrews Hermon, Deu 3:9. It was beyond Jordan, and extended from Libanus to the mountains of Gilead.

Of the oaks of Bashan - Some translate alder, others the pine. The company of the Ashurites - The word אשרים asherim is by several translated boxwood. The seats or benches being made of this wood inlaid with ivory. Isles of Chittim - The Italian islands; the islands of Greece; Cyprus. Calmet says Macedonia is meant.

Fine linen - שש shesh, cotton cloth. In this sense the word is generally to be understood. To be thy sail - Probably the flag - ensign or pennant, is meant. Blue and purple from the isles of Elishah - Elis, a part of the Peloponnesus.

Zidon and Arvad - Or Arad. Two powerful cities on the Phoenician coast, in the neighborhood of Tyre, from which Tyre had her sailors; and the best instructed of her own inhabitants were her pilots or steersmen.

The ancients of Gebal - This was a city of Phoenicia, near Mount Libanus, Jos 13:5. It was called Biblos by the Greeks. Thy calkers - Those who repaired their vessels; paying, as it is termed, pitched hemp into the seams, to prevent the water from oozing through. To occupy thy merchandise - That is, to be thy agents or factors.

They of Persia - Lud, the Lydians; Phut, a people of Africa, see Gen 10:6. From these places they had auxiliary troops; for as they traded with the then known world, were rich, and could afford to give good pay, they no doubt had soldiers and sailors from every part. Skilful and desperate men will go any where after their price.

The Gammadims were in thy towers - Some think these were a people of Phoenicia; others, that tutelar images are meant; others, that the word expresses strong men, Who acted as guards. The Vulgate reads Pygmaei, the pygmies, who were fabled to be a little people of a cubit in height, from גמד gomed. a cubit; and are told that this little people were celebrated for their wars with the cranes; but nothing of this kind can enter into this description. Probably a people inhabiting the promontories of Phoenicia are here intended; and their hanging their shields upon the walls is a proof that soldiers are meant, and persons of skill and prowess too.

Tarshish was thy merchant - After having given an account of the naval and military equipment of this city, he now speaks of the various places and peoples with whom the Tyrians traded, and the different kinds of merchandise imported from those places. By Tarshish some understand the Carthaginians; some think Tartessus, near the straits of Gibraltar, is meant; others, Tharsis in Cilicia. The place was famous for all the useful metals, silver, iron, tin, and lead. All these they might have had from Britain.

Javan, Tubal, and Meshech - The Ionians, the Tybarenians, and the Cappadocians, or Muscovites. They traded the persons of men - That is, they trafficked in slaves. The bodies and souls of men were bought and sold in those days, as in our degenerate age. With these also they traded in brazen vessels.

Togarmah - The Sarmatians. Some think Cappadocia. With these they dealt in horses, mules, and horsemen; or probably draught horses and war horses are intended.

The men of Dedan - Dedan was one of the descendants of Abraham by Keturah, and dwelt in Arabia, Gen 25:3. Ivory and ebony might come from that quarter. By way of distinction ivory is called both in Hebrew ש shen, and in Arabic shen, the Tooth, as that beautiful substance is the tooth of the elephant.

Syria - These were always a mercantile people. For the precious stones mentioned here see the notes on Exo 28:17 (note).

Judah, and the land of Israel - traded in thy market wheat - The words have been understood as articles of merchandise, not names of places. So the Jews traded with the Tyrians in wheat, stacte, balsam, honey, oil, and resin.

Damascus wine of Helbon - Now called by the Turks Haleb, and by us Aleppo. White wool - Very fine wool: wool of a fine quality. Some think Milesian wool is meant.

Dan also and Javan - It is probable that both these words mean some of the Grecian islands. Going to and fro - They both took and brought - imported and exported: but מאוזל meuzal, from uzal, may be a proper name. What place is signified I cannot tell, unless it be Azal, a name, according to Kamoos, of the capital of Arabia Felix.

Dedan - Possibly the descendants of Dedan, son of Raamah, see Gen 10:7. In precious clothes for chariots - Either fine carpets, or rich housings for horses, camels, etc., used for riding.

Arabia, and all the princes of Cedar - Arabia Deserta, on the confines of the Dead Sea. The Kedarenes inhabited the same country. These brought lambs, rams, and goats for the consumption of the city.

Sheba and Raamah - Inhabitants of Arabia Felix, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, who were famous for their riches and spices.

Haran - In Mesopotamia; well known in Scripture. Canneh - Or Chalane, see Gen 10:10. It is supposed to be a cape or port of Arabia Felix, on the Indian Sea. Eden - Equally famous: supposed to have been situated near the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates. Sheba - Different from that in Gen 10:22. This was probably near the country of the Edomites. Asshur - Perhaps the Assyrians. Chilmad - Possibly Cholmadora, on the Euphrates. Ptol. lib. v.. cap. 15. For several of these places, and the persons from whom they derived their names, see Genesis 10 (note), and the notes there; and see Calmet.

These were thy merchants in all sorts of things - The above people traded with the Tyrians in a great variety of the most valuable merchandise: blue or purple cloth, boxes of cedar, covered with skins, and bound with silken cords, and sealed with an engraved seal, finely cut, etc. See the Chaldee.

The ships of Tarshish - The ships of Tharsis, in Cilicia, were the chief of those which traded with thee.

Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters - Tyre is still considered under the allegory of a ship; and all the vessels of different nations trading with her are represented as towing her into deep waters - bringing her into great affluence. But while in this state, a stormy east wind, or a destructive wind, meaning the Chaldeans, arises, and dashes her to pieces! See the ode from Horace, already quoted on Eze 27:4 (note).

Thy riches - This vast ship, laden with all kinds of valuable wares, and manned in the best manner, being wrecked, all her valuables, sailors, officers, etc., went to the bottom.

The cry of thy pilots - When the ship was dashed against the rocks by the violence of the winds and the waves, and all hope of life was taken away, then a universal cry was set up by all on board. I have heard this cry, and nothing more dismal can be imagined, when the ship by a violent tempest is driving among rocks on a lee shore. Then "All lost! cut away the boat!" is more dreadful than the cry of fire at midnight.

Shall cry bitterly - All that were on the land, seeing this dreadful sight, a gallant ship perishing with all her men and goods, are represented as setting up a dismal cry at this heart-rending sight. But what must they have felt who were on board? Reader, wert thou ever shipwrecked? Wert thou ever in a hurricane on a lee rocky shore, where the helm had lost its power, and the sails were rendered useless? Dost thou remember that apparently last moment, when the ship drove up to the tremendous rocks, riding on the back of a mountainous surge? Then what was the universal cry? Hast thou ever heard any thing so terrific? so appalling? so death and judgment-like? No. It is impossible. These are the circumstances, this is the cry, that the prophet describes; disorder, confusion, dismay, and ruin. And this is a scene which the present writer has witnessed, himself a part of the wretched, when all hope of life was taken away, the yawning gulf opened, and nothing presented itself to support body or soul but that God who gave to both their being, and ultimately rescued him and his forlorn companions from one of the worst of deaths, by heaving the ship from the rocks by the agency of a tremendous receding wave. My soul hath these things still in remembrance, and therefore is humbled within me.

What city is like Tyrus - This, to the end of the chapter, is the lamentation.

Shall hiss at thee - שרקו shareku, shall shriek for thee. This powerfully expresses the sensation made on the feelings of the spectators on the shore when they saw the vessel swallowed up.

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