Ezekiel · Chapter 27

V. 2. A lamentation-We ought to mourn for the miseries of other nations, as well as of our own, out of an affection for mankind in general; yea, tho’ they have brought them upon themselves.

Verse 2. 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.

Verses 2-4. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus — This alludes to the mournful lamentations used at funerals, wherein the mourning women recounted every thing that was valuable or praiseworthy belonging to the deceased, and then lamented the loss of him; and say, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea — That art a sea-port, fitted by situation for carrying on trade with many countries: see Isaiah 23:1. Thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty — Thou hast boasted that thou hast every thing to render thee complete, and that there is nothing wanting to thee. Thy borders are in the midst of the seas — Thy dominions are not confined to the land, but extend far into the sea; where thou commandest without control, and sailest from place to place without interruption, to bring home thy riches. Thy builders have perfected thy beauty — Undoubtedly such a city as Tyre, which had store of riches, was built with great magnificence and beauty; but the following verses seem to show, that these words are chiefly to be understood of the builders of their ships, wherein the chief strength and glory of the Tyrians were placed.

2. A lamentation — Rather, dirge. (See also Ezekiel 19:1; 26:17; 28:12; 32:2.) So full of lifelike detail is this “dirge” that Dr. Plumptre can say, “Ezekiel, we must believe, had at some time or other in his life trod the sinful streets of the great city and noted the mingled crowd of many nations, in many costumes that he met there, just as we infer from Dante’s vivid descriptions of the dockyards of Venice (Inferno, 21:7-15) that he had visited that city.”

V. 3. At the entry-Heb. Entrances. She was about four furlongs, or half an English mile from the continent, as it were in the very door of the sea.

Verse 3. 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.

Verses 2-4. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus — This alludes to the mournful lamentations used at funerals, wherein the mourning women recounted every thing that was valuable or praiseworthy belonging to the deceased, and then lamented the loss of him; and say, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea — That art a sea-port, fitted by situation for carrying on trade with many countries: see Isaiah 23:1. Thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty — Thou hast boasted that thou hast every thing to render thee complete, and that there is nothing wanting to thee. Thy borders are in the midst of the seas — Thy dominions are not confined to the land, but extend far into the sea; where thou commandest without control, and sailest from place to place without interruption, to bring home thy riches. Thy builders have perfected thy beauty — Undoubtedly such a city as Tyre, which had store of riches, was built with great magnificence and beauty; but the following verses seem to show, that these words are chiefly to be understood of the builders of their ships, wherein the chief strength and glory of the Tyrians were placed.

3. At the entry — Literally, entries. Tyre was built on an island having a double harbor. A merchant — See note Ezekiel 26:2. I am of perfect beauty — This was the verdict of all antiquity. Travelers tried in vain to describe this princess of the seas. (Compare Nonnus, Dionysiaca, 40:311, etc.) “Greatly Dionysus rejoiced when he saw the city which the ocean god had bound with the liquid girdle of the waves. In shape she was like the crescent moon. As he looked it seemed a double wonder, since Tyre lies in the sea and is bound by the waves and yet belongs to the land. She seemed like a maiden floating motionless, half submerged in the waters.” A letter written in the fourteenth century B.C. reads, “Behold the palace of the city of Tyre: there is no palace of any other governor like unto it.” (For further description of Tyre see notes Ezekiel 26:2; 28:2, 12. Compare Scholar Gypsy, Arnold.)

Verse 4. 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. i. 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,

Antennæque gemant? ac sine funibus

Vix durare carinæ

Possint imperiosius

Æquor! non tibi sunt integra lintea;

Non Di, quos iterum pressa votes malo: Quamvis Pontica pinus,

Sylvæ 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.

Verses 2-4. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus — This alludes to the mournful lamentations used at funerals, wherein the mourning women recounted every thing that was valuable or praiseworthy belonging to the deceased, and then lamented the loss of him; and say, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea — That art a sea-port, fitted by situation for carrying on trade with many countries: see Isaiah 23:1. Thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty — Thou hast boasted that thou hast every thing to render thee complete, and that there is nothing wanting to thee. Thy borders are in the midst of the seas — Thy dominions are not confined to the land, but extend far into the sea; where thou commandest without control, and sailest from place to place without interruption, to bring home thy riches. Thy builders have perfected thy beauty — Undoubtedly such a city as Tyre, which had store of riches, was built with great magnificence and beauty; but the following verses seem to show, that these words are chiefly to be understood of the builders of their ships, wherein the chief strength and glory of the Tyrians were placed.

4. Thy borders — Cornill reads, by a little change, the anchorage. Thy builders have perfected thy beauty — Here begins a most beautiful picture of Tyre as a ship. Compare a very ancient description of a ship, written in Akkadian, which comes from Babylon: — Its helm is of cedar (?) wood,

Its serpentlike oar has a handle of gold,

Its mast is pointed with turquoise,

Its side is of cedar from its forest,

Its awning is the palm (?) wood of Delvan, etc. — Sayce, Hibbert Lectures.

Compare also Iliad, 2:484-770, and Horace, Lib. I, Ode 14.

V. 5. They-The shipwrights. Shipboards-The planks and benches, or transoms for their ships. Fir-trees-Of the best and finest fir-trees. Lebanon-Whose cedars excelled others.

Verse 5. Fir trees of Senir] Senir is a mountain which the Sidonians called Sirion, and the Hebrews Hermon, Deuteronomy 3:9. It was beyond Jordan, and extended from Libanus to the mountains of Gilead.

Verses 5-7. They have made thy ship-boards — The decks of thy ships; of fir-trees of Senir — By these are meant, the fir-trees which grew upon mount Hermon, which was anciently called Shenir, or Senir. They have taken cedars to make masts for thee — Though cedars have a thick, and not a lofty trunk, masts consisting of different parts may be made of different cedars duly sized, or properly shaped if of too large a size. Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars — That they might be strong. The company of the Ashurites — That is, the Assyrians; have made thy benches of ivory — “Perhaps the seats in the cabins of the royal galleys.” Instead of the company of the Ashurites, &c., Bishop Newcome (with R. Salerno, Bochart, Houbigant, and some others, using a different pointing of the Hebrew word so rendered) reads the latter part of the verse thus: Thy benches have they made of ivory, inlaid in box from the isles of Chittim — That is, the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean. In this sense the Chaldee understands the clause. Corsica, with which no doubt the Tyrians traded, was famous for the box-tree; and we may easily allow that the benches of some of the Tyrian ships were adorned with streaks of ivory inlaid in that kind of wood which certainly would appear very beautiful. So Virgil would have thought, who uses such an emblem to set forth the beauty of young Ascanius:

“ — — Quale per artem

Inclusum buxo, aut Oricia terebintho

Lucet ebur.” — — — — ÆN. 10:135.

“Distinguish’d from the crowd he shines a gem

Enchased in gold, or polish’d ivory set

Amidst the meaner foil of sable jet.” — DRYDEN.

Fine linen with broidered work, &c., from Egypt — “Fine linen was one of the principal commodities of Egypt, and was a habit used for persons of the best quality; which shows to what an excess of vanity the Tyrians were come, to use such costly manufactures for sails to their ships. Suetonius, in his Life of Caligula, cap. 37, reckons this among several instances of that emperor’s extravagance, that he furnished his pleasure-boats with costly sails, and other expensive ornaments.” Blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee — “Blue and purple are elsewhere reckoned among those colours which set off the richest attire. The common clothing of the Tyrians was of these kinds, which were brought from the islands of the Ægean sea, particularly Coos, famed for purple among heathen authors. Elishah denotes the countries upon the coast of Greece: a part of Peloponnesus retains the name of Elis among the Greek writers.” — Lowth.

5. Fir trees [or, cypress] of Senir — Senir, or Shenir, was the Amorite name for Mount Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:9). Assyrian, Shaniru. Cedars from Lebanon to make masts — Literally, a mast. The Egyptians and Hebrews, as well as the Phoenicians, depended upon Lebanon for their best timber. (See note Ezekiel 26:2; compare 1 Kings 5:10; 7:2.) The cedar was ordinarily used for houses and fir trees for ships. Only the largest ideal ship — such as the prophet pictures Tyre to be — would need a cedar for a mast.

V. 6. With box-From the isles, and parts about the Ionian, Aegean, and other seas of the Mediterranean, where box-tree is a native, and of great growth and firmness, fit to saw into boards for benches; they were conveyed to Tyre, where their artists inlaid these box boards with ivory, and made them beautiful seats in their ships.

Verse 6. 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.

Verses 5-7. They have made thy ship-boards — The decks of thy ships; of fir-trees of Senir — By these are meant, the fir-trees which grew upon mount Hermon, which was anciently called Shenir, or Senir. They have taken cedars to make masts for thee — Though cedars have a thick, and not a lofty trunk, masts consisting of different parts may be made of different cedars duly sized, or properly shaped if of too large a size. Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars — That they might be strong. The company of the Ashurites — That is, the Assyrians; have made thy benches of ivory — “Perhaps the seats in the cabins of the royal galleys.” Instead of the company of the Ashurites, &c., Bishop Newcome (with R. Salerno, Bochart, Houbigant, and some others, using a different pointing of the Hebrew word so rendered) reads the latter part of the verse thus: Thy benches have they made of ivory, inlaid in box from the isles of Chittim — That is, the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean. In this sense the Chaldee understands the clause. Corsica, with which no doubt the Tyrians traded, was famous for the box-tree; and we may easily allow that the benches of some of the Tyrian ships were adorned with streaks of ivory inlaid in that kind of wood which certainly would appear very beautiful. So Virgil would have thought, who uses such an emblem to set forth the beauty of young Ascanius:

“ — — Quale per artem

Inclusum buxo, aut Oricia terebintho

Lucet ebur.” — — — — ÆN. 10:135.

“Distinguish’d from the crowd he shines a gem

Enchased in gold, or polish’d ivory set

Amidst the meaner foil of sable jet.” — DRYDEN.

Fine linen with broidered work, &c., from Egypt — “Fine linen was one of the principal commodities of Egypt, and was a habit used for persons of the best quality; which shows to what an excess of vanity the Tyrians were come, to use such costly manufactures for sails to their ships. Suetonius, in his Life of Caligula, cap. 37, reckons this among several instances of that emperor’s extravagance, that he furnished his pleasure-boats with costly sails, and other expensive ornaments.” Blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee — “Blue and purple are elsewhere reckoned among those colours which set off the richest attire. The common clothing of the Tyrians was of these kinds, which were brought from the islands of the Ægean sea, particularly Coos, famed for purple among heathen authors. Elishah denotes the countries upon the coast of Greece: a part of Peloponnesus retains the name of Elis among the Greek writers.” — Lowth.

Verse 6. The isles of Chittim. Cilicia, Cyprus, Macedonia, the Greek islands, or Apulia on the shores of Italy. Thus critics take the word in a general sense.

6. The company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim — R.V., “they have made thy benches [deck] of ivory inlaid in boxwood [larch], from the isles of Kittim.” Kittim, or Chittim, is generally connected with Kition in Cyprus and supposed to mean in a general sense “Cyprians.” (Compare Numbers 24:24.) Hommel, however, connects the word with the well-known Kheta, or Hittites, though specially applied to Cilicia or Cyprus; Jensen, with a Phoenician word, Kitti, referring to a people dwelling west of Cyprus; “perhaps the Greeks of Europe in Greece as well as in the regions west of it, perhaps all the other inhabitants of Italy included.” The isles of Chittim “certainly had a broad meaning in later times, being used much as ‘the Indies’ in the time of Elizabeth” (Daniel 11:30). Phoenicia enjoyed a great reputation for its work in ivory (1 Kings 22:39; Psalm 45:8). The “oaks of Bashan” were always celebrated (Isaiah 2:13; Zechariah 11:2).

V. 7. The isles of Elishah-Probably the sea-coast of Aeolis in the lesser Asia, the inhabitants whereof were excellent in the skill of dying wool. Which covered-He speaks of the coverings they used in their ships or galleys: their tilts, as our boat-men call them.

Verse 7. Fine linen] vv 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.

Verses 5-7. They have made thy ship-boards — The decks of thy ships; of fir-trees of Senir — By these are meant, the fir-trees which grew upon mount Hermon, which was anciently called Shenir, or Senir. They have taken cedars to make masts for thee — Though cedars have a thick, and not a lofty trunk, masts consisting of different parts may be made of different cedars duly sized, or properly shaped if of too large a size. Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars — That they might be strong. The company of the Ashurites — That is, the Assyrians; have made thy benches of ivory — “Perhaps the seats in the cabins of the royal galleys.” Instead of the company of the Ashurites, &c., Bishop Newcome (with R. Salerno, Bochart, Houbigant, and some others, using a different pointing of the Hebrew word so rendered) reads the latter part of the verse thus: Thy benches have they made of ivory, inlaid in box from the isles of Chittim — That is, the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean. In this sense the Chaldee understands the clause. Corsica, with which no doubt the Tyrians traded, was famous for the box-tree; and we may easily allow that the benches of some of the Tyrian ships were adorned with streaks of ivory inlaid in that kind of wood which certainly would appear very beautiful. So Virgil would have thought, who uses such an emblem to set forth the beauty of young Ascanius:

“ — — Quale per artem

Inclusum buxo, aut Oricia terebintho

Lucet ebur.” — — — — ÆN. 10:135.

“Distinguish’d from the crowd he shines a gem

Enchased in gold, or polish’d ivory set

Amidst the meaner foil of sable jet.” — DRYDEN.

Fine linen with broidered work, &c., from Egypt — “Fine linen was one of the principal commodities of Egypt, and was a habit used for persons of the best quality; which shows to what an excess of vanity the Tyrians were come, to use such costly manufactures for sails to their ships. Suetonius, in his Life of Caligula, cap. 37, reckons this among several instances of that emperor’s extravagance, that he furnished his pleasure-boats with costly sails, and other expensive ornaments.” Blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee — “Blue and purple are elsewhere reckoned among those colours which set off the richest attire. The common clothing of the Tyrians was of these kinds, which were brought from the islands of the Ægean sea, particularly Coos, famed for purple among heathen authors. Elishah denotes the countries upon the coast of Greece: a part of Peloponnesus retains the name of Elis among the Greek writers.” — Lowth.

7. Fine linen — R.V., “Of fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was thy sail, that it might be to thee for an ensign” (or, “cabin,” Davidson). An ancient sail of this kind, made of separate pieces tied together, and hauling up like a Venetian blind, can now be seen in the Liverpool museum (Wilkinson, 2:213 N.). Cecil Torr (Ancient Ships, 1894) gives pictures of ancient Phoenician ships, 700 B.C., with one mast and one yard carrying a square sail. This sail is formed of many pieces as also in an Athenian ship, 600 B.C. He shows that the sails of this era were generally of linen, though sometimes of the fiber of papyrus or of flax. They were often colored, vermilion being generally the badge of an admiral or monarch. In an Egyptian sail 600 B.C. several different colors are used. These ships had animals carved on the prows for figureheads and quite generally a huge eye “to see her way” says Torr; but more probably to guard her from the evil eye of the demons of the deep. On broidered work, see Ezekiel 16:10. Blue and purple, etc. — R.V., “blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was thine awning.” This awning (literally, covering) may have been a cabin the sides and roof of which were composed of colored linen (Davidson). In the most ancient descriptions of a ship (see note verse 4) there is mention of a cabin. The isles of Elishah must have some close connection with the son of Javan (Genesis 10:4). Movers identifies Elishah with Carthage because of Elissa, its founder. Dillmann locates it in South Italy. Sayce (Hastings’s Dictionary of the Bible, 1898), because of a Tel-el-Amarna letter from the king of Alasia (Egyptian, Alsa), locates it closer to the Mediterranean coast, possibly Cyprus. But this was not the usual name for Cyprus, and Thothmes III includes Alsa among his Syrian conquests. It seems better to say, as the dye was common in many parts of the Mediterranean, that this is probably a term referring to the isles of Greece or some one of its colonies. This dye, which cannot now be obtained, cost one hundred denarii (over twenty dollars) a pound in the last days of the Roman republic.

V. 8. Zidon-An ancient town and haven of Phoenicia, not far from Tyre. Arvad-Or Aradus, an island belonging to Phoenicia, twenty furlongs from the continent. Mariners-Rowers in thy galleys; the rich Tyrians would not employ their own in such servile works, they hired strangers. Wise men-Thy learned men: for navigation was the great study of the Tyrians.

Verse 8. Zidon and Arvad] Or Arad. Two powerful cities on the Phœnician coast, in the neighbourhood of Tyre, from which Tyre had her sailors; and the best instructed of her own inhabitants were her pilots or steersmen.

Verses 8-11. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners — So great was the opulence and pride of the Tyrians, that they hired foreigners to do the more laborious and menial employments, and would do nothing else themselves than steer the vessels, priding themselves on being the most able pilots. Of Zidon, see note on Isaiah 23:4, and of Arvad, on Jeremiah 49:23. The ancients of Gebal, &c., were thy calkers — Thou employedst the inhabitants of Gebal for calking thy ships, as being remarkably skilful in that trade. Concerning Gebal, which was a province of Phenicia, see note on Psalm 83:7. All the ships of the sea were in thee — Ships from all parts came to trade with thee. They of Persia, &c., were in thine army — Thy citizens being all given to trading, thou madest use of foreign soldiers for thine army, when thy city was besieged. Bochart thinks that Lud denotes African Ethiopia; but Michaelis places this people westward in Africa. Both think Lud an Egyptian colony. The former, by Phut, understands the African Nomades: see Nahum 3:9. They hanged the shield and helmet in thee — In thy garrisons, which were kept in time of peace. The men of Arvad, &c., were upon thy walls — They defended thy walls, when they were assaulted by the king of Babylon’s army. And the Gammadims were in thy towers — It is very uncertain what people are here meant by this name. Mr. Fuller and Bishop Newcome think it probable they were a people of Phenicia. The Hebrew word is derived from one which signifies to be contracted, narrowed, &c., and Parkhurst is of opinion that these people were the inhabitants of the country about Tripoli in Syria, formerly called the Agkwn, or Elbow, of Phenicia, from its being narrowed, and projecting into the sea in that form. Ludolphus conjectures they were Africans; the Chaldee paraphrase takes them to be Cappadocians. Dr. Spencer denominates them, “Parvula simulacra, plerumque cubitalia, in dominus aut turribus ethnicorum in earum tutelam, aut præsidium, collocata,” Little images, generally a cubit in length, placed upon the houses, or towers of the heathen, for their protections, or defence.

8. Zidon and Arvad — For Zidon see Ezekiel 28:21. Arvad (Genesis 10:18; 1 Chronicles 1:16) is often mentioned in the Tel-el-Amarna tablets. It was the most northern Phoenician port, very populous, and with magnificent artificially constructed harbors and a living spring which secured the inhabitants a water supply in case of invasion or siege. The “ships of the land of Arvad” are celebrated in the Assyrian texts. It is evident that at this time both Zidon and Arvad were dependents of Tyre. Mariners — R.V., “rowers.” For the need of wise pilots see note, Ezekiel 26:2.

V. 9. The ancients-Old experienced workmen. Gebal-A town of Phoenicia near the sea. The wise men-Skilful in their trades. Were in thee-Who dwelt in Tyre for gain. All the ships-Ships from all parts of the sea, full of mariners, not only to manage the ships at sea, but to offer their service to the Tyrians for bringing in, or carrying out their wares.

Verse 9. The ancients of Gebal] This was a city of Phœnicia, near Mount Libanus, Joshua 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.

Verses 8-11. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners — So great was the opulence and pride of the Tyrians, that they hired foreigners to do the more laborious and menial employments, and would do nothing else themselves than steer the vessels, priding themselves on being the most able pilots. Of Zidon, see note on Isaiah 23:4, and of Arvad, on Jeremiah 49:23. The ancients of Gebal, &c., were thy calkers — Thou employedst the inhabitants of Gebal for calking thy ships, as being remarkably skilful in that trade. Concerning Gebal, which was a province of Phenicia, see note on Psalm 83:7. All the ships of the sea were in thee — Ships from all parts came to trade with thee. They of Persia, &c., were in thine army — Thy citizens being all given to trading, thou madest use of foreign soldiers for thine army, when thy city was besieged. Bochart thinks that Lud denotes African Ethiopia; but Michaelis places this people westward in Africa. Both think Lud an Egyptian colony. The former, by Phut, understands the African Nomades: see Nahum 3:9. They hanged the shield and helmet in thee — In thy garrisons, which were kept in time of peace. The men of Arvad, &c., were upon thy walls — They defended thy walls, when they were assaulted by the king of Babylon’s army. And the Gammadims were in thy towers — It is very uncertain what people are here meant by this name. Mr. Fuller and Bishop Newcome think it probable they were a people of Phenicia. The Hebrew word is derived from one which signifies to be contracted, narrowed, &c., and Parkhurst is of opinion that these people were the inhabitants of the country about Tripoli in Syria, formerly called the Agkwn, or Elbow, of Phenicia, from its being narrowed, and projecting into the sea in that form. Ludolphus conjectures they were Africans; the Chaldee paraphrase takes them to be Cappadocians. Dr. Spencer denominates them, “Parvula simulacra, plerumque cubitalia, in dominus aut turribus ethnicorum in earum tutelam, aut præsidium, collocata,” Little images, generally a cubit in length, placed upon the houses, or towers of the heathen, for their protections, or defence.

Ver. 9. Gebal, a district of Phœnicia, adjacent to Tyre. The city was of the same name. Pliny writes it Gabala.

9. Gebal (Gu-ub-li) — or, Byblos (Psalm 83:7; Joshua 13:5; 1 Kings 5:18) — A celebrated city lying a little to the south of Arvad but north of Tyre and Sidon, constantly mentioned in the campaigns of the Assyrian kings from the ninth to the seventh centuries B.C. It is also supposed to be prominent in the Tel-el-Amarna letters, cir. 1400 B.C., under the form Gubla — though this may refer to another coast city, Gabula (Petrie, History, ii, p. 314). It was celebrated throughout the whole world for its worship of the goddess Ishtar (Ashteroth). The prophet represents the wisest men and officers (ancients, that is, elders) of this distinguished city serving on the great ship Tyre in inferior positions. All the ships of the sea… were in thee — The bold figure of Tyre as a ship gives place to a more realistic description of the harbor and city, especially of the city bazaars. Occupy thy merchandise — Carry on thy trade. — Kautzsch.

V. 10. Lud-Lydians, not those Cresus was king over, but those that dwelt in Egypt about the lake Maraeolis. Phut-Lybians, a people of Africa; these were their hired soldiers. Hanged the shield-In time of peace. They set forth-These stout, expert, well armed guards, were an honour to thee.

Verse 10. They of Persia] Lud, the Lydians; Phut, a people of Africa, see Genesis 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.

Verses 8-11. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners — So great was the opulence and pride of the Tyrians, that they hired foreigners to do the more laborious and menial employments, and would do nothing else themselves than steer the vessels, priding themselves on being the most able pilots. Of Zidon, see note on Isaiah 23:4, and of Arvad, on Jeremiah 49:23. The ancients of Gebal, &c., were thy calkers — Thou employedst the inhabitants of Gebal for calking thy ships, as being remarkably skilful in that trade. Concerning Gebal, which was a province of Phenicia, see note on Psalm 83:7. All the ships of the sea were in thee — Ships from all parts came to trade with thee. They of Persia, &c., were in thine army — Thy citizens being all given to trading, thou madest use of foreign soldiers for thine army, when thy city was besieged. Bochart thinks that Lud denotes African Ethiopia; but Michaelis places this people westward in Africa. Both think Lud an Egyptian colony. The former, by Phut, understands the African Nomades: see Nahum 3:9. They hanged the shield and helmet in thee — In thy garrisons, which were kept in time of peace. The men of Arvad, &c., were upon thy walls — They defended thy walls, when they were assaulted by the king of Babylon’s army. And the Gammadims were in thy towers — It is very uncertain what people are here meant by this name. Mr. Fuller and Bishop Newcome think it probable they were a people of Phenicia. The Hebrew word is derived from one which signifies to be contracted, narrowed, &c., and Parkhurst is of opinion that these people were the inhabitants of the country about Tripoli in Syria, formerly called the Agkwn, or Elbow, of Phenicia, from its being narrowed, and projecting into the sea in that form. Ludolphus conjectures they were Africans; the Chaldee paraphrase takes them to be Cappadocians. Dr. Spencer denominates them, “Parvula simulacra, plerumque cubitalia, in dominus aut turribus ethnicorum in earum tutelam, aut præsidium, collocata,” Little images, generally a cubit in length, placed upon the houses, or towers of the heathen, for their protections, or defence.

10. Persia… Lud… Phut — The Persians appear for the first time in Ezekiel’s century as a national power (Toy). (See notes Daniel 5:28.) They were probably near relatives of the Medes, with whom they had a close alliance, and were at this time the enemies of Assyria. Toy, because of the parallel list (Ezekiel 30:5), changes Persia (Paras) to Cush. Lud originally came from Egypt (Genesis 10:13), and was her warm ally (Jeremiah 46:9) and suffered in her downfall (Ezekiel 30:5), though Genesis 10:22, points to a Semitic origin. A prehistoric migration into the Nile Delta might account for this divergence of statement. Jensen believes the people referred to are not the Lydians (Assyrian, Lu-ud-di) as has been commonly assumed, but some nomadic tribe of the Syrian desert living between Aram and Uz on one side and Babylonia on the other (Sunday School Times, February 11, 1899). George Adam Smith and many others believe them to have been Libyans (as LXX.). Put, or Phut, was of Hamitic origin and a close relative of the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and Canaanites (Phoenicians, Genesis 10:6). The nation appears in many places as a close ally of Egypt (Ezekiel 30:5; Jeremiah 46:9; Nahum 3:9). It also appears in the army of Gog (Ezekiel 38:5). Scholars have generally identified these people with various African nations, as the Nubians or Libyans. A text of Nebuchadnezzar states that in his thirty-seventh year in a campaign against Egypt he defeated “the soldiers of the city of Pudhu-yavan, a distant land which is within the sea,” from which Sayce draws the conclusion that “Phut of the Ionians” may have been Kyrene, or Pelusium, or some other settlement of the Greek mercenaries in Egypt. However, the names of towns migrate rapidly, and the use of the “yavan” as a descriptive term may indicate that there was an original Phut which was not “Phut of the Ionians.” Edward Glaser believes that he has found a Phut (Puta) in Southwest Arabia (Acad., 40:76), at which place, close to the base of the Gala Mountains, Mr. W. Bent has found an ancient harbor resembling closely that which is pictured on the Egyptian monuments as that of Punt, the land of incense. (See note verse 21.) Naville, however, is sure that Punt was on the African coast of the Red Sea (Deir el Bahari, 3:1898). It is at any rate plain that Tyre formed her army largely of mercenaries, and it is very natural that she should choose allies of Egypt in her defense against the aggressions of Assyria. Hanged the shield and helmet in thee — So the walls were adorned (See verse 11 and Song of Solomon 4:4).

V. 11. With-Mixed with other hired soldiers. The Gammadim-Probably men of Gammade, a town of Phoenicia.

Verse 11. The Gammadims were in thy towers] Some think these were a people of Phœnicia; others, that tutelar images are meant; others, that the word expresses strong men, who acted as guards. The Vulgate reads Pygmæi, the pygmies, who were fabled to be a little people of a cubit in height, from dmg gomed. a cubit; and are 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 Phœnicia 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.

Verses 8-11. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners — So great was the opulence and pride of the Tyrians, that they hired foreigners to do the more laborious and menial employments, and would do nothing else themselves than steer the vessels, priding themselves on being the most able pilots. Of Zidon, see note on Isaiah 23:4, and of Arvad, on Jeremiah 49:23. The ancients of Gebal, &c., were thy calkers — Thou employedst the inhabitants of Gebal for calking thy ships, as being remarkably skilful in that trade. Concerning Gebal, which was a province of Phenicia, see note on Psalm 83:7. All the ships of the sea were in thee — Ships from all parts came to trade with thee. They of Persia, &c., were in thine army — Thy citizens being all given to trading, thou madest use of foreign soldiers for thine army, when thy city was besieged. Bochart thinks that Lud denotes African Ethiopia; but Michaelis places this people westward in Africa. Both think Lud an Egyptian colony. The former, by Phut, understands the African Nomades: see Nahum 3:9. They hanged the shield and helmet in thee — In thy garrisons, which were kept in time of peace. The men of Arvad, &c., were upon thy walls — They defended thy walls, when they were assaulted by the king of Babylon’s army. And the Gammadims were in thy towers — It is very uncertain what people are here meant by this name. Mr. Fuller and Bishop Newcome think it probable they were a people of Phenicia. The Hebrew word is derived from one which signifies to be contracted, narrowed, &c., and Parkhurst is of opinion that these people were the inhabitants of the country about Tripoli in Syria, formerly called the Agkwn, or Elbow, of Phenicia, from its being narrowed, and projecting into the sea in that form. Ludolphus conjectures they were Africans; the Chaldee paraphrase takes them to be Cappadocians. Dr. Spencer denominates them, “Parvula simulacra, plerumque cubitalia, in dominus aut turribus ethnicorum in earum tutelam, aut præsidium, collocata,” Little images, generally a cubit in length, placed upon the houses, or towers of the heathen, for their protections, or defence.

11. Arvad — See verse 8. The Gammadim — R.V., margin, “valorous men.” No land or city of Gammad is known. Perhaps, as has been suggested, this was a technical term for the select corps of the Tyrian army — like the “Immortals” of the Persians or the “Old Guard” of Napoleon.

Verse 12. 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.

Verses 12-15. Tarshish was thy merchant — Trafficked with thee. Of Tarshish, see note on Isaiah 2:16, and 23:1. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech — By Javan is to be understood Greece, in which sense Alexander is styled king of Javan, or Greece, Daniel 8:21. So the LXX. translate it here, and in that place of Daniel. And all Greece, except Peloponnesus, was anciently called Ionia. Tubal and Meshech are names usually joined together in Scripture. Two of Japhet’s sons are so called, Genesis 10:2. Bochart and Bishop Newcome, with others, suppose them to be the people afterward called Tibareni and Moschi, who are generally mentioned together, and were situated near the Euxine sea. They traded the persons of men — In buying and selling slaves in the markets. Bochart observes, that Pontus, to which the Tibareni extended themselves, was remarkable for slaves, and that the Grecian slaves were the most valuable of any. And vessels of brass in thy market — The Hebrew word tvjn here, generally translated brass, likewise signifies steel, and is so rendered by our interpreters, Psalm 18:34. And we may very well understand it so here; for the Chalybes, a people so called from their steel manufactures, lived in the neighbourhood of the Tibareni and Moschi, for which reason steel is called the northern iron, Jeremiah 15:12. By Togarmah, Bochart supposes Cappadocia is meant. Michaelis, however, prefers Armenia, which abounded in horses, and among the inhabitants of which a tradition prevailed, that they were descended from Thorgom. By Dedan, the above-mentioned critics, with Bishop Newcome, understand a city in the Persian gulf, now called Daden. To this place the inhabitants of the eastern isles, or seacoasts, brought their wares. Many isles were, or rather, had, the merchandise of thy hand — That is, many isles took thy manufactures, or bought commodities of thee; and, by way of return for them, brought thee in ivory, and other rarities from India, whither they traded. They brought these by way of present, says our translation; but it was rather by way of price, or return, for the commodities exported, and so it is rendered in some versions.

Ver. 12. Tarshish. It is matter of doubt whether this word signifies Cadiz, Tartessus, or ocean. See Isaiah 23:6. Yet we read of “the kings of Tarshish,” Psalm 72:10; and they cannot reign on the sea. Perhaps Tremellius did not fully weigh this text when he affirmed Tarshish to be the ocean. The LXX both here and in Isaiah 23:6, render the word Carthage. But Tyre is there called the daughter of Tarshish, and Carthage was a daughter or colony of Tyre. Now it would seem impossible for the LXX to make repeated mistakes concerning Tarshish, as neither Cadiz nor Carthage could have more than one king. Tarshish may signify the remoter coasts of Africa, to which Europe might also be joined in idea, after ships had passed the pillars of Hercules, now Gibraltar and Cetua. The curious reader may collate the following passages. 1 Kings 9:26. 10:22. 22:48. 2 Chronicles 8:17. 20:36. Jonah 1:3. The ships of Tarshish went to Ophir or Africa.

12. Tarshish was thy merchant — Josephus identifies Tarshish with Tarsus in Cilicia, and this view is still held by reputable Greek scholars, one of whom recently pointed out that from Ramses III to Ibrahim Pasha the Egyptian rulers sought timber for their navies in the Taurus, which would naturally explain why these great vessels were called “ships of Tarshish” (B.S.A., 16:300). Le Page Renouf has argued that Tarshish could not be philologically connected with Tartessus, but must have been a general name for Phoenicia, “the ships of Tarshish” always meaning in Scripture simply Phoenician ships. He quotes Psalm 48:7; Isaiah 23, where Tyre is called the “daughter of Tarshish,” and other biblical passages to sustain this conjecture (B.S.A., 16:138). Conder thinks it possible that there were several localities named Tarshish, one on the Asia Minor coast and another in Arabia, but thinks that Solomon’s trade with Tarshish (1 Kings 22:48) certainly could not refer to a Spanish port, since Carthage introduced Phoenician trade to Spain, and Carthage was not founded until several centuries after Solomon. He points out that trade with some point in Asia Minor in gold, silver, copper, and bronze (which supposes the existence of tin) is mentioned in the Tel-el-Amarna tablets about 1400 B.C. (The Bible and the East, 1896, p. 163). Semitic scholars are, however, almost unanimous in identifying Tarshish with Tartessus in Spain, which point was celebrated in ancient times for the productions mentioned in this verse. A “ship of Tarshish” does not mean that the ship or its timbers came from Tarshish, but that it traded with Tarshish (compare our East Indiaman, Australian clipper, American liner), and finally, since Tarshish was the extreme western limit of Mediterranean travel, all great merchant-men, whatever seas they sailed, came to be known as “ships of Tarshish” (verse 25; 1 Kings 22:48; Isaiah 2:16). See Sayce, High. Crit., 138; Brown, Hebrew and English Lexicon; Gesenius, last edition; Classical Review, 1895, p. 265. Traded in thy fairs — Rather, traded for thy wares, or, brought as thy wares. Davidson says: “The representation is that all things brought to Tyre were hers; the nations offered them to her as tribute (verse 15). Spain was famous for the metals mentioned. (Compare for silver Jeremiah 10:9.) Probably Tarshish served as an entrepot for such products found farther north, as in the Cassiterides (Scilly Islands) and Cornwall.” For extended proof of ancient commerce see Introduction to Daniel, III, 2.

V. 13. Javan-The Grecians, particularly the Ionians. Tubal-The Asiatic Iberians, and the Albanians toward the Caspian sea. Meshech-The Cappadocians. They traded-Brought men to sell for slaves.

Verse 13. 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.

Verses 12-15. Tarshish was thy merchant — Trafficked with thee. Of Tarshish, see note on Isaiah 2:16, and 23:1. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech — By Javan is to be understood Greece, in which sense Alexander is styled king of Javan, or Greece, Daniel 8:21. So the LXX. translate it here, and in that place of Daniel. And all Greece, except Peloponnesus, was anciently called Ionia. Tubal and Meshech are names usually joined together in Scripture. Two of Japhet’s sons are so called, Genesis 10:2. Bochart and Bishop Newcome, with others, suppose them to be the people afterward called Tibareni and Moschi, who are generally mentioned together, and were situated near the Euxine sea. They traded the persons of men — In buying and selling slaves in the markets. Bochart observes, that Pontus, to which the Tibareni extended themselves, was remarkable for slaves, and that the Grecian slaves were the most valuable of any. And vessels of brass in thy market — The Hebrew word tvjn here, generally translated brass, likewise signifies steel, and is so rendered by our interpreters, Psalm 18:34. And we may very well understand it so here; for the Chalybes, a people so called from their steel manufactures, lived in the neighbourhood of the Tibareni and Moschi, for which reason steel is called the northern iron, Jeremiah 15:12. By Togarmah, Bochart supposes Cappadocia is meant. Michaelis, however, prefers Armenia, which abounded in horses, and among the inhabitants of which a tradition prevailed, that they were descended from Thorgom. By Dedan, the above-mentioned critics, with Bishop Newcome, understand a city in the Persian gulf, now called Daden. To this place the inhabitants of the eastern isles, or seacoasts, brought their wares. Many isles were, or rather, had, the merchandise of thy hand — That is, many isles took thy manufactures, or bought commodities of thee; and, by way of return for them, brought thee in ivory, and other rarities from India, whither they traded. They brought these by way of present, says our translation; but it was rather by way of price, or return, for the commodities exported, and so it is rendered in some versions.

13. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech — Javan, brother of Tarshish (Genesis 10:2), is the well-known name for Ionian or Greek. The Tel-el-Amarna tablets, 1400 B.C., mention a Yivana who had been sent on a mission to Tyre by the Egyptian king. Cyprus was called the “island of the Ionians” by the Assyrians, and Sayce thinks Cyprus is meant when Javan is referred to by Ezekiel (Races, p. 46. For extent and character of the early Greek commerce see Introduction to Daniel, III, 2.) It is possible, however, that at this period the name had a wider application, being perhaps a racial term, which was beginning to be specifically used of the Greeks of the mainland. Tubal and Meshech are generally mentioned together in the Scriptures (Ezekiel 32:26; 38:2; 39:1), and appear in the Assyrian inscriptions as Tabali, Tubla, and Muska. They were famous as archers and were probably located in the interior of Asia Minor on the coast of the Black Sea. Professor Smith says: “Beyond Yavan were the coasts of Elisha, that was perhaps Sicily, and Tarshish, the great Phoenician colony in Spain. To all of these ships traded from Tyre and Sidon and Accho and Joppa. Their outward cargoes were Syrian wheat, oil, balm, with oriental wares, and they brought back cloth, purple and scarlet, silver, iron, tin, lead, and brass. Sometimes they carried west Hebrew slaves (Amos 1:9; Joel 4:6) and outlaws (Jonah 1:3), forerunners of the great Dispersion” (Historical Geography, p. 136).

V. 14. Of the house-Of the country. Togarmah-Armenia the lesser, Phrygia, Galatia, or Cappadocia. Horsemen-It is likely they might sell grooms, as best able to manage, and keep those horses.

Verse 14. Togarmah] The Sarmatians. Some think Cappadocia. With these they dealt in horses, mules, and horsemen; or probably draught horses and war horses are intended.

Verses 12-15. Tarshish was thy merchant — Trafficked with thee. Of Tarshish, see note on Isaiah 2:16, and 23:1. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech — By Javan is to be understood Greece, in which sense Alexander is styled king of Javan, or Greece, Daniel 8:21. So the LXX. translate it here, and in that place of Daniel. And all Greece, except Peloponnesus, was anciently called Ionia. Tubal and Meshech are names usually joined together in Scripture. Two of Japhet’s sons are so called, Genesis 10:2. Bochart and Bishop Newcome, with others, suppose them to be the people afterward called Tibareni and Moschi, who are generally mentioned together, and were situated near the Euxine sea. They traded the persons of men — In buying and selling slaves in the markets. Bochart observes, that Pontus, to which the Tibareni extended themselves, was remarkable for slaves, and that the Grecian slaves were the most valuable of any. And vessels of brass in thy market — The Hebrew word tvjn here, generally translated brass, likewise signifies steel, and is so rendered by our interpreters, Psalm 18:34. And we may very well understand it so here; for the Chalybes, a people so called from their steel manufactures, lived in the neighbourhood of the Tibareni and Moschi, for which reason steel is called the northern iron, Jeremiah 15:12. By Togarmah, Bochart supposes Cappadocia is meant. Michaelis, however, prefers Armenia, which abounded in horses, and among the inhabitants of which a tradition prevailed, that they were descended from Thorgom. By Dedan, the above-mentioned critics, with Bishop Newcome, understand a city in the Persian gulf, now called Daden. To this place the inhabitants of the eastern isles, or seacoasts, brought their wares. Many isles were, or rather, had, the merchandise of thy hand — That is, many isles took thy manufactures, or bought commodities of thee; and, by way of return for them, brought thee in ivory, and other rarities from India, whither they traded. They brought these by way of present, says our translation; but it was rather by way of price, or return, for the commodities exported, and so it is rendered in some versions.

14. Togarmah — Most scholars locate it in Armenia, which was noted in the ancient world for its horses and mules. The Armenians are said to call themselves “the house of the Thorgom” (Orelli). Delitzsch, however, thought it to refer to Cappadocia — which was called by Armenian writers, Gamir. It furnished soldiers for the army of Gog (Ezekiel 38:6), and was almost certainly an Indo-European race, closely related to the Gimirre, or Kimmerians, a tribe well known to the Assyrians (Genesis 10:2).

V. 15. Isles-In the Indian seas, and in the Red-sea traded with thee. Horns-Elk’s horns, or wild goats. Ebony-Is a very solid, heavy, shining, black wood, fit for many choice works.

Verse 15. The men of Dedan] Dedan was one of the descendants of Abraham by Keturah, and dwelt in Arabia, Genesis 25:3. Ivory and ebony might come from that quarter. By way of distinction ivory is called both in Hebrew שנ shen, and in Arabic [Arabic] shen, the TOOTH, as that beautiful substance is the tooth of the elephant.

Verses 12-15. Tarshish was thy merchant — Trafficked with thee. Of Tarshish, see note on Isaiah 2:16, and 23:1. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech — By Javan is to be understood Greece, in which sense Alexander is styled king of Javan, or Greece, Daniel 8:21. So the LXX. translate it here, and in that place of Daniel. And all Greece, except Peloponnesus, was anciently called Ionia. Tubal and Meshech are names usually joined together in Scripture. Two of Japhet’s sons are so called, Genesis 10:2. Bochart and Bishop Newcome, with others, suppose them to be the people afterward called Tibareni and Moschi, who are generally mentioned together, and were situated near the Euxine sea. They traded the persons of men — In buying and selling slaves in the markets. Bochart observes, that Pontus, to which the Tibareni extended themselves, was remarkable for slaves, and that the Grecian slaves were the most valuable of any. And vessels of brass in thy market — The Hebrew word tvjn here, generally translated brass, likewise signifies steel, and is so rendered by our interpreters, Psalm 18:34. And we may very well understand it so here; for the Chalybes, a people so called from their steel manufactures, lived in the neighbourhood of the Tibareni and Moschi, for which reason steel is called the northern iron, Jeremiah 15:12. By Togarmah, Bochart supposes Cappadocia is meant. Michaelis, however, prefers Armenia, which abounded in horses, and among the inhabitants of which a tradition prevailed, that they were descended from Thorgom. By Dedan, the above-mentioned critics, with Bishop Newcome, understand a city in the Persian gulf, now called Daden. To this place the inhabitants of the eastern isles, or seacoasts, brought their wares. Many isles were, or rather, had, the merchandise of thy hand — That is, many isles took thy manufactures, or bought commodities of thee; and, by way of return for them, brought thee in ivory, and other rarities from India, whither they traded. They brought these by way of present, says our translation; but it was rather by way of price, or return, for the commodities exported, and so it is rendered in some versions.

15. Dedan — This Dedan is perhaps different from the one mentioned in connection with Edom. (See note Ezekiel 25:13). Here Dedan appears not with Edom, but with the “isles,” or “coasts,” and it is, perhaps, better to read, with the Greek version, “Rhoda.” A famous colony of the Phoenicians existed at Rhodes. The people named seem to have brought to Tyre for a present (literally, for payment, or tribute) elephant tusks and ebony, which they doubtless had obtained from Ethiopia or India.

V. 16. The multitude-The abundance of the Tyrian manufactures.

Verse 16. Syria] These were always a mercantile people. For the precious stones mentioned here see Clarke’s notes on “Exodus 28:17”.

Verses 16-20. Syria was thy merchant, &c. — From what is said here, we may conclude that the inhabitants of Tyre were exceedingly industrious, skilful in arts, and politic; for here almost all nations are described as bringing their respective commodities to Tyre, to give in exchange for the wares or manufactures of that place; which shows to what a vast height they carried their manufactures, and what immense profits they must have gained, since, it seems, they were able to purchase all kinds of precious stones, and the richest commodities of the world, with their own manufactures. Judah and Israel were thy merchants — Both the kingdom of the two tribes, and that of the ten. They traded in thy market wheat of Minnith — Minnith was a place belonging to the Ammonites, Judges 11:33, and was noted for excellent wheat, great quantities of which the Jews brought to Tyre, the Tyrians having none of their own growth, but being supplied therewith by the Jews and Israelites, from the growth of their own or the neighbouring countries: see 1 Kings 5:9-11; Ezra 3:7; Acts 12:20. And Pannag — This is a word not elsewhere to be found, supposed by some to be the name of a place; by others, more probably, taken for some rich ointment, or gum. The Vulgate translates it balsam. In the wine of Helbon — Helbon is supposed to be that part of Syria which is called Chalybonitis by Ptolemy; and white wool — Bochart understands this to be wool of a bright purple colour. The LXX. and Chaldee render it, wool from Miletus, a place famous for that commodity. Dan also, &c. — Grotius thinks that Dan in the kingdom of Israel can scarcely be meant here; and finds that a city called Dana is placed by Ptolemy in the island of Ceylon. Dedan, &c., in precious clothes for chariots — Either these were rich coverings which were flung over the horses when harnessed to chariots, or else coverings for the seats of the chariots.

16. Syria — Hebrews, Aram. Many expositors follow the Peshito, “Edom;” but there is no good reason for leaving the Hebrew. Aram-Naharim was the ancient name for a very wide region, embracing at least western Mesopotamia and northern Syria, and is constantly mentioned in the Assyrian texts. The Aramaeans are now known to have been the controlling element in Syria and Arabia as well as Mesopotamia, though the Assyrians did not call the populations west of the Euphrates Aramaeans, but Hittites or Amorites. Certainly the products named were widely scattered. Emeralds (or, carbuncles), coral (perhaps, pearls), and agate (or, ruby), would naturally be Edomite (compare Job 28:16, 19); the purple, and broidered work might be the wrought garments for which Babylon was famous (Ezekiel 23:6; Joshua 7:21), while the fine linen might be the Syrian byssus. The Syrians probably learned how to make this fine gauze from the Greeks. The Greeks called it karpasov (Esther 1:6), and probably from its manufacture one town in Cyprus was called Karpaseia. (Compare Hastings’s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1.)

V. 17. Minnith-The name of an excellent wheat country. Pannag-Some obscure place, which now is forgotten.

Verse 17. 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.

Verses 16-20. Syria was thy merchant, &c. — From what is said here, we may conclude that the inhabitants of Tyre were exceedingly industrious, skilful in arts, and politic; for here almost all nations are described as bringing their respective commodities to Tyre, to give in exchange for the wares or manufactures of that place; which shows to what a vast height they carried their manufactures, and what immense profits they must have gained, since, it seems, they were able to purchase all kinds of precious stones, and the richest commodities of the world, with their own manufactures. Judah and Israel were thy merchants — Both the kingdom of the two tribes, and that of the ten. They traded in thy market wheat of Minnith — Minnith was a place belonging to the Ammonites, Judges 11:33, and was noted for excellent wheat, great quantities of which the Jews brought to Tyre, the Tyrians having none of their own growth, but being supplied therewith by the Jews and Israelites, from the growth of their own or the neighbouring countries: see 1 Kings 5:9-11; Ezra 3:7; Acts 12:20. And Pannag — This is a word not elsewhere to be found, supposed by some to be the name of a place; by others, more probably, taken for some rich ointment, or gum. The Vulgate translates it balsam. In the wine of Helbon — Helbon is supposed to be that part of Syria which is called Chalybonitis by Ptolemy; and white wool — Bochart understands this to be wool of a bright purple colour. The LXX. and Chaldee render it, wool from Miletus, a place famous for that commodity. Dan also, &c. — Grotius thinks that Dan in the kingdom of Israel can scarcely be meant here; and finds that a city called Dana is placed by Ptolemy in the island of Ceylon. Dedan, &c., in precious clothes for chariots — Either these were rich coverings which were flung over the horses when harnessed to chariots, or else coverings for the seats of the chariots.

Ver. 17. Minnith, a region of Ammon. Judges 11:33. Yet others regard Minnith and Pannag, not as places, but as the names of goods sold in trade.

17. Minnith, and Pannag — The Minnith mentioned here is probably not the Amorite town mentioned in Judges 11:33 (vs. Bertholet, etc.), but may be the thing after which the town was named. (Compare note verse 16.) What it was no one knows. The Syrian translates “millet;” LXX., “ointment,” while many scholars would suggest “spices,” because these are prominent in other lists of the productions of the land of Canaan. (Compare Genesis 43:11.) It is possible that it was the technical name for a species of wheat — which was the greatest necessity supplied by Judah to Tyre (1 Kings 5:9-11; Acts 12:20). As R.V. suggests (margin), following the Mishna, pannag may be a species of confection, or Cornill may be right in reading donag (wax), but nothing is certain. The prophets did not like their countrymen to imitate the habits of the Canaanites (Old Hebrews, “traders”) in leaving the quiet simple life of agriculture for the more speculative, luxurious, and often dissolute career of the “traveling men” who were engaged in trade.

Verse 18. 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.

Verses 16-20. Syria was thy merchant, &c. — From what is said here, we may conclude that the inhabitants of Tyre were exceedingly industrious, skilful in arts, and politic; for here almost all nations are described as bringing their respective commodities to Tyre, to give in exchange for the wares or manufactures of that place; which shows to what a vast height they carried their manufactures, and what immense profits they must have gained, since, it seems, they were able to purchase all kinds of precious stones, and the richest commodities of the world, with their own manufactures. Judah and Israel were thy merchants — Both the kingdom of the two tribes, and that of the ten. They traded in thy market wheat of Minnith — Minnith was a place belonging to the Ammonites, Judges 11:33, and was noted for excellent wheat, great quantities of which the Jews brought to Tyre, the Tyrians having none of their own growth, but being supplied therewith by the Jews and Israelites, from the growth of their own or the neighbouring countries: see 1 Kings 5:9-11; Ezra 3:7; Acts 12:20. And Pannag — This is a word not elsewhere to be found, supposed by some to be the name of a place; by others, more probably, taken for some rich ointment, or gum. The Vulgate translates it balsam. In the wine of Helbon — Helbon is supposed to be that part of Syria which is called Chalybonitis by Ptolemy; and white wool — Bochart understands this to be wool of a bright purple colour. The LXX. and Chaldee render it, wool from Miletus, a place famous for that commodity. Dan also, &c. — Grotius thinks that Dan in the kingdom of Israel can scarcely be meant here; and finds that a city called Dana is placed by Ptolemy in the island of Ceylon. Dedan, &c., in precious clothes for chariots — Either these were rich coverings which were flung over the horses when harnessed to chariots, or else coverings for the seats of the chariots.

Ver. 18. Helbon. Chalybonis, or Chalsis, now Aleppo.

18. Damascus — This city, the wonder of the ancient world, still remains great because of its three highways — running to Egypt, Arabia, and Persia. It has been from the dawn of history the capital and chief city of Syria, and celebrated because “of the multitude of all kinds of riches” (R.V.). Schrader gives several texts in which the wine of Helbon is mentioned. Nebuchadnezzar brought his wine from the “country of Helbon” (Hi-il-bu-nu), and Strabo mentions that this was the favorite wine of the Persian kings. The locality has been identified with Halbun, very near Damascus, a place still celebrated for the finest vineyards in Syria.

V. 19. Javan-In the isle of Meroe, in Egypt.

Verse 19. 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 lzwam 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.

Verses 16-20. Syria was thy merchant, &c. — From what is said here, we may conclude that the inhabitants of Tyre were exceedingly industrious, skilful in arts, and politic; for here almost all nations are described as bringing their respective commodities to Tyre, to give in exchange for the wares or manufactures of that place; which shows to what a vast height they carried their manufactures, and what immense profits they must have gained, since, it seems, they were able to purchase all kinds of precious stones, and the richest commodities of the world, with their own manufactures. Judah and Israel were thy merchants — Both the kingdom of the two tribes, and that of the ten. They traded in thy market wheat of Minnith — Minnith was a place belonging to the Ammonites, Judges 11:33, and was noted for excellent wheat, great quantities of which the Jews brought to Tyre, the Tyrians having none of their own growth, but being supplied therewith by the Jews and Israelites, from the growth of their own or the neighbouring countries: see 1 Kings 5:9-11; Ezra 3:7; Acts 12:20. And Pannag — This is a word not elsewhere to be found, supposed by some to be the name of a place; by others, more probably, taken for some rich ointment, or gum. The Vulgate translates it balsam. In the wine of Helbon — Helbon is supposed to be that part of Syria which is called Chalybonitis by Ptolemy; and white wool — Bochart understands this to be wool of a bright purple colour. The LXX. and Chaldee render it, wool from Miletus, a place famous for that commodity. Dan also, &c. — Grotius thinks that Dan in the kingdom of Israel can scarcely be meant here; and finds that a city called Dana is placed by Ptolemy in the island of Ceylon. Dedan, &c., in precious clothes for chariots — Either these were rich coverings which were flung over the horses when harnessed to chariots, or else coverings for the seats of the chariots.

19. Dan… and Javan… fairs — R.V. reads, “Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares.” For Javan see note verse 13. Kautzsch renders “Wedan and Javan of Uzal [Genesis 10:27] furnished thy wares.” Uzal would be identified with Sana in Arabia. There are iron mines in central Arabia (Doughty), and the steel of Sana is still held in high repute; but according to this interpretation the “Javan” seems out of place. MacPherson (Hastings’s Dictionary of the Bible, 1898) identifies this with the Dedan of verse 15, which he believes to be the same mentioned Ezekiel 25:13; but this makes this place too conspicuous among the countries bringing tribute to Tyre. The text is very difficult, but Halevy seems to have offered the best suggestion. He changes one letter and identifies Dan with Rodan (Revue Semitique, April, 1894. Compare note verse 15). This would join Rhodes and Cyprus (verse 13) or Rhodes and the Greeks of Asia Minor as traders with Tyre. Bright iron — R.V., margin, “wrought iron.” Rhodes was famous from ancient times for its artificers, its ships, and its arms. At this very period the isles of Greece were capturing from Phoenicia the commerce of the world. (See Introduction to Daniel, III, 2.) Halevy believes the words translated bright… cassia, and calamus are technical terms for iron in the triple form of cakes (pig iron), flexible plates, and bars (Journal Asiatique and Revue Semitique).

V. 20. Dedan-The posterity of Abraham by Keturah, who dwelt in Arabia, and were sheep-masters. Clothes-With which they lined their chariots.

Verse 20. Dedan] Possibly the descendants of Dedan, son of Raamah, see Genesis 10:7.

In precious clothes for chariots.] Either fine carpets, or rich housings for horses, camels, &c., used for riding.

Verses 16-20. Syria was thy merchant, &c. — From what is said here, we may conclude that the inhabitants of Tyre were exceedingly industrious, skilful in arts, and politic; for here almost all nations are described as bringing their respective commodities to Tyre, to give in exchange for the wares or manufactures of that place; which shows to what a vast height they carried their manufactures, and what immense profits they must have gained, since, it seems, they were able to purchase all kinds of precious stones, and the richest commodities of the world, with their own manufactures. Judah and Israel were thy merchants — Both the kingdom of the two tribes, and that of the ten. They traded in thy market wheat of Minnith — Minnith was a place belonging to the Ammonites, Judges 11:33, and was noted for excellent wheat, great quantities of which the Jews brought to Tyre, the Tyrians having none of their own growth, but being supplied therewith by the Jews and Israelites, from the growth of their own or the neighbouring countries: see 1 Kings 5:9-11; Ezra 3:7; Acts 12:20. And Pannag — This is a word not elsewhere to be found, supposed by some to be the name of a place; by others, more probably, taken for some rich ointment, or gum. The Vulgate translates it balsam. In the wine of Helbon — Helbon is supposed to be that part of Syria which is called Chalybonitis by Ptolemy; and white wool — Bochart understands this to be wool of a bright purple colour. The LXX. and Chaldee render it, wool from Miletus, a place famous for that commodity. Dan also, &c. — Grotius thinks that Dan in the kingdom of Israel can scarcely be meant here; and finds that a city called Dana is placed by Ptolemy in the island of Ceylon. Dedan, &c., in precious clothes for chariots — Either these were rich coverings which were flung over the horses when harnessed to chariots, or else coverings for the seats of the chariots.

Ver. 20. Dedan. The isle of Rhodes, which is mentioned after Javan, or the Grecian coasts. So the LXX read, but some will have it Dedan, the grandson of Abraham.

20. Dedan — See verse 15 and Ezekiel 25:13. Precious cloths for chariots — R.V., “for riding;” saddlecloths. (See R.V., Judges 5:10.)

Verse 21. Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar] 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.

Verses 21-24. Arabia, &c., occupied with thee — Hebrew, yrjs ˆdy, were the merchants of thy hand; that is, they took off thy manufactures (see verse 15) in exchange for cattle, in which their substance chiefly consisted. Of Kedar and its flocks, see notes on Isaiah 21:16, 17, and 60:7. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah — These were people of Arabia Felix, dwelling near the Persian gulf. They traded in the rich products of their own country, namely, spices, precious stones, and gold, in which it abounded: see note on 1 Kings 10:1, 10. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden — By Haran here, it seems, the place is meant where Abraham dwelt when he came out of Ur of the Chaldees, (see Genesis 11:31,) called Charræ by the Romans, and noted for the defeat of Crassus. Canneh some suppose to be the same place that is called Calneh, Amos 6:2, or Calno, Isaiah 10:9, a city near the Euphrates. Others take it for Ctesiphon, a noted city situate upon the river Tigris. Eden is joined with Haran, 2 Kings 19:12, as it is here. The merchants of Sheba — There were two Shebas, as there were two Dedans; one descended from Raamah. (Genesis 10:7,) the other from Jokshan, Abraham’s son, Genesis 25:3 Genesis

21. Arabia — It is only recently that Arabia has been explored and its inscriptions examined. The result shows us why this country occupied such an important place in the ancient world. Two great kingdoms have been revealed in South Arabia: one, that of Saba (Sheba), reaching back to Solomon’s time, while the Minaean probably precedes it by many centuries (Glaser, Hommel). The inscriptions prove that this people had rather a high civilization, lived in walled towns, built magnificent temples, carried on agriculture, mining, and manufactures, had an elaborate code of civil law, honored women, who could even rule as queens, cultivated the fine arts, and enjoyed an extended commerce. Incense was the chief export and the basis of the nation’s wealth. Mr. Bent has discovered that it is still produced at Dhofar at the rate of nine thousand hundredweight annually and myrrh also in large quantities (Nineteenth Century, October, 1895). Gold was another leading export, the mines being located in central Arabia. (Compare verse 22.) Kedar — a nomadic tribe in northern Arabia (Psalm 120:5; Song of Solomon 1:5) famous for its flocks, yet possessing “villages” (Isaiah 42:11.) In Assyrian inscriptions this tribe is located between Babylon and the Gulf of Akaba. (Compare Jeremiah 2:10; Isaiah 60:7; Jeremiah 49:28.) It may have been the king of these “Arabs” that Cambyses had to conciliate before crossing the desert. The term “Arab” in the Assyrian, as in the Bible writings, had a limited application and did not refer to the entire Sinaitic peninsula (Herodotus, 3:5).

V. 22. Sheba-A country in Arabia Felix. Raamah-Another people of the same Arabia.

Verse 22. Sheba and Raamah] Inhabitants of Arabia Felix, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, who were famous for their riches and spices.

Verses 21-24. Arabia, &c., occupied with thee — Hebrew, yrjs ˆdy, were the merchants of thy hand; that is, they took off thy manufactures (see verse 15) in exchange for cattle, in which their substance chiefly consisted. Of Kedar and its flocks, see notes on Isaiah 21:16, 17, and 60:7. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah — These were people of Arabia Felix, dwelling near the Persian gulf. They traded in the rich products of their own country, namely, spices, precious stones, and gold, in which it abounded: see note on 1 Kings 10:1, 10. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden — By Haran here, it seems, the place is meant where Abraham dwelt when he came out of Ur of the Chaldees, (see Genesis 11:31,) called Charræ by the Romans, and noted for the defeat of Crassus. Canneh some suppose to be the same place that is called Calneh, Amos 6:2, or Calno, Isaiah 10:9, a city near the Euphrates. Others take it for Ctesiphon, a noted city situate upon the river Tigris. Eden is joined with Haran, 2 Kings 19:12, as it is here. The merchants of Sheba — There were two Shebas, as there were two Dedans; one descended from Raamah. (Genesis 10:7,) the other from Jokshan, Abraham’s son, Genesis 25:3 Genesis

Ver. 22. Sheba was at the entrance of the Red sea.

22. Sheba — See note on “Arabia,” verse 21; Genesis 10:7, 28; 1 Kings 10:2, 10; Isaiah 60:6; Job 6:19; Jeremiah 6:20; Psalm 72:10, 15. In their inscriptions the Sabaeans distinguished themselves from the nomadic Arabs. Raamah — The tribe is named in Genesis 10:7. Glaser thinks it was located on the Persian Gulf (at Regma); Cornill by a slight change instead of the merchants of reads “Havilah” (Genesis 2:11), which Glaser identifies with a district in central and Northeast Arabia. Precious stones — Such as onyx, jasper, rubies, agate, and carnelians. (See also 1 Kings 10:2.)

V. 23. Haran-In Mesopotamia, where Abraham dwelt. Canneh-This is supposed to be the same with Calneh, Genesis 10:10, afterwards Ctesiphon, a pleasant city on Tigris. Ashur-Assyria. Chilmad-A country between Assyria and Parthia.

Verse 23. Haran] In Mesopotamia; well known in Scripture. Canneh] Or Chalane; see Genesis 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 Tygris and Euphrates.

Sheba] Different from that in Ezekiel 27:22. 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 10:1-32, and the notes there; and see Calmet.

Verses 21-24. Arabia, &c., occupied with thee — Hebrew, yrjs ˆdy, were the merchants of thy hand; that is, they took off thy manufactures (see verse 15) in exchange for cattle, in which their substance chiefly consisted. Of Kedar and its flocks, see notes on Isaiah 21:16, 17, and 60:7. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah — These were people of Arabia Felix, dwelling near the Persian gulf. They traded in the rich products of their own country, namely, spices, precious stones, and gold, in which it abounded: see note on 1 Kings 10:1, 10. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden — By Haran here, it seems, the place is meant where Abraham dwelt when he came out of Ur of the Chaldees, (see Genesis 11:31,) called Charræ by the Romans, and noted for the defeat of Crassus. Canneh some suppose to be the same place that is called Calneh, Amos 6:2, or Calno, Isaiah 10:9, a city near the Euphrates. Others take it for Ctesiphon, a noted city situate upon the river Tigris. Eden is joined with Haran, 2 Kings 19:12, as it is here. The merchants of Sheba — There were two Shebas, as there were two Dedans; one descended from Raamah. (Genesis 10:7,) the other from Jokshan, Abraham’s son, Genesis 25:3 Genesis

Ver. 23. Haran. Genesis 28:10. Canneh or Ctesiphon, near Bagdad. Eden, in the vicinity of Babylon. Genesis 13. Asshur, or Assyria. Chilmad, the remoter parts of Media. See the Map.

23. Haran, etc. — Was this a swift glance at far-away districts: Haran (Genesis 11:31; 24:10; 29:4) standing for Mesopotamia; Canneh (Calneh or Calno, Genesis 10:10; Amos, 6:2; Isaiah 10:9), located near Eridu (Eden); Babylonia and Asshur for Assyria? Or were these localities lying near Arabia; Eden being the modern Aden, and Asshur referring, as often in the Old Testament, to the wilderness of Shur; the other places being so far not identified? (Hommel.) Further light is needed. Mez reads, “Haran and the Edenites, Asshur and all the Medes were thy merchants” (Polychrome Bible). The merchants of Sheba — LXX., they were thy dealers.

Verse 24. 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, &c. See the Chaldee.

Verses 21-24. Arabia, &c., occupied with thee — Hebrew, yrjs ˆdy, were the merchants of thy hand; that is, they took off thy manufactures (see verse 15) in exchange for cattle, in which their substance chiefly consisted. Of Kedar and its flocks, see notes on Isaiah 21:16, 17, and 60:7. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah — These were people of Arabia Felix, dwelling near the Persian gulf. They traded in the rich products of their own country, namely, spices, precious stones, and gold, in which it abounded: see note on 1 Kings 10:1, 10. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden — By Haran here, it seems, the place is meant where Abraham dwelt when he came out of Ur of the Chaldees, (see Genesis 11:31,) called Charræ by the Romans, and noted for the defeat of Crassus. Canneh some suppose to be the same place that is called Calneh, Amos 6:2, or Calno, Isaiah 10:9, a city near the Euphrates. Others take it for Ctesiphon, a noted city situate upon the river Tigris. Eden is joined with Haran, 2 Kings 19:12, as it is here. The merchants of Sheba — There were two Shebas, as there were two Dedans; one descended from Raamah. (Genesis 10:7,) the other from Jokshan, Abraham’s son, Genesis 25:3 Genesis

24. All sorts of things — Rather, fabrics of beauty. R.V., “choice wares.” Blue clothes — R.V., “wrappings [bales] of blue.” (Compare Ezekiel 23:12.) The description is so vivid as to give the impression that Ezekiel had seen the merchants of Sheba unloading their camels and bringing out their treasures as they arrived at Tyre (Plumptre). Davidson translates chests by “treasures,” and shows that the term corresponding to rich apparel is used by the Assyrians of fabrics woven of different colored materials. In this case the “cords twined and durable” (bound with cords, and made of cedar) would be one of the articles of commerce. (See Ezekiel 16:10; 23:6; Esther 1:6; Joshua 7:21.) Toy translates “strangely bound skeins.”

V. 25. The ships-The ships from all parts of the sea. Did sing-Had their songs to commend thy state.

Verse 25. The ships of Tarshish] The ships of Tharsis, in Cilicia, were the chief of those which traded with thee.

25:3. As the 22d verse is explained of the former, so the latter may be understood here: they were both in Arabia. And Chilmad — Both the Chaldee and LXX. explain this by Carmania. In chests of rich apparel, &c. — The rich apparel here spoken of was carefully packed up in chests of cedar, to give these clothes a fine scent, and preserve them from putrefaction.

Verse 25. The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee, &c. — Ships of Tarshish signify sometimes in Scripture any trading or merchant ships; and in this general sense the expression seems to be used here: the prophet, having already reckoned up the principal countries which traded with Tyre, now adds, in comprehensive terms, that all merchants, or traders, sung or spake great things of her riches: see note on Isaiah 2:16. In the midst of the seas — Through all the islands of the sea, the sea-coasts, and from one part to another.

25. Ships of Tarshish — See note verse 12. Did sing of thee — Several versions have “served thee.” R.V., “were thy caravans.” Glorious — LXX., heavy. The ship Tyre was laden to the water’s edge with treasure.

V. 26. Thy rowers-Thy governors and counsellors. Great waters-Dangers and difficulties. The east wind-The king of Babylon with his army. Hath broken-As surely will, as if he had already done it. In the midst-Where thou thoughtest thyself impregnable.

Verse 26. 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 Ezekiel 27:4.

Verse 26. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters — The prophet here begins to change the subject, and now, in metaphorical language, speaks of the danger into which the rulers and statesmen of Tyre had brought her by their pride and ill-concerted measures. He compares her to a ship, impelled by its own rowers into a very tempestuous sea, by which is meant their war with the Chaldeans. See a similar comparison Isaiah 33:23. Great troubles are frequently signified by great waters. The east wind hath broken thee — By this is signified the Chaldean army coming from the east: as if he had said, As the violence of the east wind occasions many shipwrecks in the sea, so the army of thy enemies, coming upon thee, shall ruin thy strength and glory, and leave thee like a wreck cast upon the shore. “This is a proper allegory,” says Bishop Warburton, “with only one real sense; and it is managed by the prophet with that brevity and expedition which a proper allegory demands, when used in the place of a metaphor.” Grotius refers to Horace, lib. 1. ode 14, as an allegory very similar to this of the prophet.

26, 27. The heavily laden ship is broken by the Euroclydon (Psalm 68:7; Acts 27:14) “in the heart of the seas” (R.V.), and her crew, her passengers, and all her wares (not “fairs”) sink into the sea. In all thy company — Omit “in” (LXX.). Occupiers of thy merchandise — R.V., margin, “exchangers.”

V. 27. All thy company-All that are men fit for war, in the multitudes of people that are in thee. Shall fall-These all shall fall together.

Verse 27. 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, &c., went to the bottom.

Verses 27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas — Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea-fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. — The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships — Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land — Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1, 12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee — Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly — For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads — Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes — As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee — Another expression of public sorrow. And — They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth — According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart — Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee — The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17, 18. Saying, What city is like Tyrus — Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea — Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.

26, 27. The heavily laden ship is broken by the Euroclydon (Psalm 68:7; Acts 27:14) “in the heart of the seas” (R.V.), and her crew, her passengers, and all her wares (not “fairs”) sink into the sea. In all thy company — Omit “in” (LXX.). Occupiers of thy merchandise — R.V., margin, “exchangers.”

V. 28. The suburbs-The suburbs, which are nearest the sea, shall first hear the out-cries of pilots, and mariners.

Verse 28. 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.

Verses 27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas — Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea-fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. — The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships — Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land — Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1, 12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee — Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly — For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads — Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes — As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee — Another expression of public sorrow. And — They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth — According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart — Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee — The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17, 18. Saying, What city is like Tyrus — Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea — Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.

28. The suburbs — Or adjoining coast lands. R.V., margin, “waves.”

V. 29. Shall come down-In the allegory of a miserable shipwreck, the prophet sets forth the fall of Tyre; and in this verse he represents them all shifting out of the sinking ship, in great confusion.

Verses 27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas — Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea-fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. — The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships — Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land — Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1, 12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee — Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly — For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads — Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes — As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee — Another expression of public sorrow. And — They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth — According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart — Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee — The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17, 18. Saying, What city is like Tyrus — Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea — Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.

29-31. All those who have charge of other ships (nations) shall “hiss” in dismay (Davidson, compare 1 Kings 9:8) and lament over (not “against”) her, regretting their loss of trade, and perhaps fearing for themselves a like destruction. For the signs of mourning see 7:18; Joshua 7:6; Job 2:12; Jeremiah 6:26; 25:34. Professor Morris Jastrow, Jr., has shown that the custom of putting earth or dust upon the head is a very ancient custom among the Semites and is the survival of an act which originally formed part of the burial rites. He reproduces one of the oldest monuments of Babylon in which the corpses of the enemy are seen lying exposed to the vultures, the greatest misfortune that could befall a dead person (compare Appendix, chap. 32), while the dead soldiers of the victorious army are arranged in symmetrical rows beneath a funeral mound of earth. Those who were building the mound (the mourning comrades or relatives) had thrown off all their clothing, excepting a loin girdle of sackcloth, and carried upon their heads their baskets of earth. This custom led in after ages to the tearing or tearing off the garments of the mourners and the placing dust or earth upon their heads. The ashes so often mentioned were probably from the funeral expiatory sacrifice (Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 20:1899).

V. 30. Wallow themselves in ashes-As men use to do in their greatest mournings.

Verse 30. 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.

Verses 27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas — Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea-fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. — The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships — Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land — Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1, 12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee — Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly — For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads — Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes — As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee — Another expression of public sorrow. And — They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth — According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart — Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee — The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17, 18. Saying, What city is like Tyrus — Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea — Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.

29-31. All those who have charge of other ships (nations) shall “hiss” in dismay (Davidson, compare 1 Kings 9:8) and lament over (not “against”) her, regretting their loss of trade, and perhaps fearing for themselves a like destruction. For the signs of mourning see 7:18; Joshua 7:6; Job 2:12; Jeremiah 6:26; 25:34. Professor Morris Jastrow, Jr., has shown that the custom of putting earth or dust upon the head is a very ancient custom among the Semites and is the survival of an act which originally formed part of the burial rites. He reproduces one of the oldest monuments of Babylon in which the corpses of the enemy are seen lying exposed to the vultures, the greatest misfortune that could befall a dead person (compare Appendix, chap. 32), while the dead soldiers of the victorious army are arranged in symmetrical rows beneath a funeral mound of earth. Those who were building the mound (the mourning comrades or relatives) had thrown off all their clothing, excepting a loin girdle of sackcloth, and carried upon their heads their baskets of earth. This custom led in after ages to the tearing or tearing off the garments of the mourners and the placing dust or earth upon their heads. The ashes so often mentioned were probably from the funeral expiatory sacrifice (Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 20:1899).

Verses 27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas — Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea-fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. — The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships — Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land — Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1, 12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee — Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly — For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads — Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes — As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee — Another expression of public sorrow. And — They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth — According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart — Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee — The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17, 18. Saying, What city is like Tyrus — Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea — Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.

29-31. All those who have charge of other ships (nations) shall “hiss” in dismay (Davidson, compare 1 Kings 9:8) and lament over (not “against”) her, regretting their loss of trade, and perhaps fearing for themselves a like destruction. For the signs of mourning see 7:18; Joshua 7:6; Job 2:12; Jeremiah 6:26; 25:34. Professor Morris Jastrow, Jr., has shown that the custom of putting earth or dust upon the head is a very ancient custom among the Semites and is the survival of an act which originally formed part of the burial rites. He reproduces one of the oldest monuments of Babylon in which the corpses of the enemy are seen lying exposed to the vultures, the greatest misfortune that could befall a dead person (compare Appendix, chap. 32), while the dead soldiers of the victorious army are arranged in symmetrical rows beneath a funeral mound of earth. Those who were building the mound (the mourning comrades or relatives) had thrown off all their clothing, excepting a loin girdle of sackcloth, and carried upon their heads their baskets of earth. This custom led in after ages to the tearing or tearing off the garments of the mourners and the placing dust or earth upon their heads. The ashes so often mentioned were probably from the funeral expiatory sacrifice (Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 20:1899).

V. 32. In the sea-Alas! what was once her safeguard, is now her grave.

Verse 32. What city is like Tyrus] This, to the end of the chapter, is the lamentation.

Verses 27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas — Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea-fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. — The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships — Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land — Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1, 12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee — Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly — For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads — Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes — As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee — Another expression of public sorrow. And — They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth — According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart — Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee — The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17, 18. Saying, What city is like Tyrus — Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea — Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.

V. 33. Went forth-Were landed. Thou filledst-There was enough to supply to the full.

Verses 33-36. When thy wares, &c. — When thy wares or manufactures were transported through the seas to every part, thou filledst many people — Didst supply the wants, or minister to the luxuries and pleasures, of many nations. Time was when thy wares, those of thy own making, and those that passed through thy hands, were exported to all parts of the world; then thou filledst many people, and didst enrich the kings of the earth and their kingdoms. But in the time when thou shalt be broken — As a ship that is wrecked at sea; thy merchandise and all thy company shall fall — They that used to be enriched by thee, shall be ruined with thee, as is usual in trade. All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished — Wondering greatly that ever such a change should be effected, that Tyre should fall. And their kings shall be sore afraid — Sensible how much less able they are to resist the conqueror and defend themselves than thou wast, and not knowing whom he will next attack. They shall be troubled in their countenance — They shall not be able to conceal the discomposure of their minds, but will show it evidently in their countenances. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee — By way of insult and derision; as men are apt to despise those in adversity, whom they courted and respected in prosperity. The Chaldee Paraphrase renders it, They shall be astonished; and this sense agrees better with the lamentations of the seafaring men, mentioned in the foregoing verses.

The following reflections by Bishop Newton, on the fall of Tyre, are peculiarly worthy of the reader’s attention: “Such hath been the fate of this city, once the most famous in the world for trade and commerce. But trade is a fluctuating thing: it passed from Tyre to Alexandria, from Alexandria to Venice, from Venice to Antwerp, from Antwerp to Amsterdam and London, the English rivalling the Dutch, as the French are now rivalling both. It behooves those who are in possession of it, to take the greatest care that they do not lose it. Liberty is a friend to that, as that is a friend to liberty. But the greatest enemy to both is licentiousness, which tramples upon all law and lawful authority, encourages riots and tumults, promotes drunkenness and debauchery, sticks at nothing to supply its extravagance, practises every art of illicit gain, ruins credit, ruins trade, and will in the end ruin liberty itself. Neither kingdoms nor commonwealths, neither public companies nor private persons, can long carry on a beneficial, flourishing trade without virtue, and what virtue teacheth, sobriety, industry, frugality, modesty, honesty, punctuality, humanity, charity, the love of our country, and the fear of God. The prophets will inform us how the Tyrians lost it; and the like causes will always produce the like effects.”

V. 34. By the seas-The Babylonians, that like seas shall swell, roar, and break in upon thee.

Verses 33-36. When thy wares, &c. — When thy wares or manufactures were transported through the seas to every part, thou filledst many people — Didst supply the wants, or minister to the luxuries and pleasures, of many nations. Time was when thy wares, those of thy own making, and those that passed through thy hands, were exported to all parts of the world; then thou filledst many people, and didst enrich the kings of the earth and their kingdoms. But in the time when thou shalt be broken — As a ship that is wrecked at sea; thy merchandise and all thy company shall fall — They that used to be enriched by thee, shall be ruined with thee, as is usual in trade. All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished — Wondering greatly that ever such a change should be effected, that Tyre should fall. And their kings shall be sore afraid — Sensible how much less able they are to resist the conqueror and defend themselves than thou wast, and not knowing whom he will next attack. They shall be troubled in their countenance — They shall not be able to conceal the discomposure of their minds, but will show it evidently in their countenances. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee — By way of insult and derision; as men are apt to despise those in adversity, whom they courted and respected in prosperity. The Chaldee Paraphrase renders it, They shall be astonished; and this sense agrees better with the lamentations of the seafaring men, mentioned in the foregoing verses.

The following reflections by Bishop Newton, on the fall of Tyre, are peculiarly worthy of the reader’s attention: “Such hath been the fate of this city, once the most famous in the world for trade and commerce. But trade is a fluctuating thing: it passed from Tyre to Alexandria, from Alexandria to Venice, from Venice to Antwerp, from Antwerp to Amsterdam and London, the English rivalling the Dutch, as the French are now rivalling both. It behooves those who are in possession of it, to take the greatest care that they do not lose it. Liberty is a friend to that, as that is a friend to liberty. But the greatest enemy to both is licentiousness, which tramples upon all law and lawful authority, encourages riots and tumults, promotes drunkenness and debauchery, sticks at nothing to supply its extravagance, practises every art of illicit gain, ruins credit, ruins trade, and will in the end ruin liberty itself. Neither kingdoms nor commonwealths, neither public companies nor private persons, can long carry on a beneficial, flourishing trade without virtue, and what virtue teacheth, sobriety, industry, frugality, modesty, honesty, punctuality, humanity, charity, the love of our country, and the fear of God. The prophets will inform us how the Tyrians lost it; and the like causes will always produce the like effects.”

34. In the time when, etc. — R.V., margin, “Now thou art broken.”

V. 35. Troubled-They shall not be able to conceal the discomposure of their mind, but will shew it in their countenance.

Verses 33-36. When thy wares, &c. — When thy wares or manufactures were transported through the seas to every part, thou filledst many people — Didst supply the wants, or minister to the luxuries and pleasures, of many nations. Time was when thy wares, those of thy own making, and those that passed through thy hands, were exported to all parts of the world; then thou filledst many people, and didst enrich the kings of the earth and their kingdoms. But in the time when thou shalt be broken — As a ship that is wrecked at sea; thy merchandise and all thy company shall fall — They that used to be enriched by thee, shall be ruined with thee, as is usual in trade. All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished — Wondering greatly that ever such a change should be effected, that Tyre should fall. And their kings shall be sore afraid — Sensible how much less able they are to resist the conqueror and defend themselves than thou wast, and not knowing whom he will next attack. They shall be troubled in their countenance — They shall not be able to conceal the discomposure of their minds, but will show it evidently in their countenances. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee — By way of insult and derision; as men are apt to despise those in adversity, whom they courted and respected in prosperity. The Chaldee Paraphrase renders it, They shall be astonished; and this sense agrees better with the lamentations of the seafaring men, mentioned in the foregoing verses.

The following reflections by Bishop Newton, on the fall of Tyre, are peculiarly worthy of the reader’s attention: “Such hath been the fate of this city, once the most famous in the world for trade and commerce. But trade is a fluctuating thing: it passed from Tyre to Alexandria, from Alexandria to Venice, from Venice to Antwerp, from Antwerp to Amsterdam and London, the English rivalling the Dutch, as the French are now rivalling both. It behooves those who are in possession of it, to take the greatest care that they do not lose it. Liberty is a friend to that, as that is a friend to liberty. But the greatest enemy to both is licentiousness, which tramples upon all law and lawful authority, encourages riots and tumults, promotes drunkenness and debauchery, sticks at nothing to supply its extravagance, practises every art of illicit gain, ruins credit, ruins trade, and will in the end ruin liberty itself. Neither kingdoms nor commonwealths, neither public companies nor private persons, can long carry on a beneficial, flourishing trade without virtue, and what virtue teacheth, sobriety, industry, frugality, modesty, honesty, punctuality, humanity, charity, the love of our country, and the fear of God. The prophets will inform us how the Tyrians lost it; and the like causes will always produce the like effects.”

35. Isles — Rather, as usual, coast.

V. 36. Shall hiss-Will mock at thy fall.

Verse 36. Shall hiss at thee] wqrv 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.

EZEKIEL

Verses 33-36. When thy wares, &c. — When thy wares or manufactures were transported through the seas to every part, thou filledst many people — Didst supply the wants, or minister to the luxuries and pleasures, of many nations. Time was when thy wares, those of thy own making, and those that passed through thy hands, were exported to all parts of the world; then thou filledst many people, and didst enrich the kings of the earth and their kingdoms. But in the time when thou shalt be broken — As a ship that is wrecked at sea; thy merchandise and all thy company shall fall — They that used to be enriched by thee, shall be ruined with thee, as is usual in trade. All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished — Wondering greatly that ever such a change should be effected, that Tyre should fall. And their kings shall be sore afraid — Sensible how much less able they are to resist the conqueror and defend themselves than thou wast, and not knowing whom he will next attack. They shall be troubled in their countenance — They shall not be able to conceal the discomposure of their minds, but will show it evidently in their countenances. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee — By way of insult and derision; as men are apt to despise those in adversity, whom they courted and respected in prosperity. The Chaldee Paraphrase renders it, They shall be astonished; and this sense agrees better with the lamentations of the seafaring men, mentioned in the foregoing verses.

The following reflections by Bishop Newton, on the fall of Tyre, are peculiarly worthy of the reader’s attention: “Such hath been the fate of this city, once the most famous in the world for trade and commerce. But trade is a fluctuating thing: it passed from Tyre to Alexandria, from Alexandria to Venice, from Venice to Antwerp, from Antwerp to Amsterdam and London, the English rivalling the Dutch, as the French are now rivalling both. It behooves those who are in possession of it, to take the greatest care that they do not lose it. Liberty is a friend to that, as that is a friend to liberty. But the greatest enemy to both is licentiousness, which tramples upon all law and lawful authority, encourages riots and tumults, promotes drunkenness and debauchery, sticks at nothing to supply its extravagance, practises every art of illicit gain, ruins credit, ruins trade, and will in the end ruin liberty itself. Neither kingdoms nor commonwealths, neither public companies nor private persons, can long carry on a beneficial, flourishing trade without virtue, and what virtue teacheth, sobriety, industry, frugality, modesty, honesty, punctuality, humanity, charity, the love of our country, and the fear of God. The prophets will inform us how the Tyrians lost it; and the like causes will always produce the like effects.”

36. People — Literally, peoples. Shall hiss — Toy translates are shocked. Terror — Literally, terrors (Ezekiel 26:21).