←Ezekiel 27→BSB

In This Chapter 5 people 43 places 2 terms 2 resources

People

Israel 2 Kedar 2 Lud Jacob (Patriarch) Jeshurun (Israel)

Places

    Key Terms

    Lamentation 4 Word of the Lord 3

    Resources

    Lebanon Articles Phoenicia, Phoenicians Articles

    A Lament for Tyre

    ⓘ The second panel of the prophet’s address to...

    The second panel of the prophet’s address to Tyre (see study note on 26:1–28:19) is a funeral song that contrasts past glory with present loss. It is connected with the previous chapter by being addressed to Tyre, by its imagery of a gateway and a trading center (see 26:1–2), and by the common conclusion you have come to a horrible end and will exist no more (cp. 26:21).

    1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre. 3Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says:

    You have said, O Tyre,‘I am perfect in beauty.’
    ⓘ Tyre’s past greatness is described in great detail...

    Tyre’s past greatness is described in great detail under the metaphor of a mighty sailing ship created out of the very best resources from the surrounding nations.
    4Your borders are in the heart of the seas;your builders perfected your beauty.5They constructed all your plankingwith cypress† from Senir.†They took a cedar from Lebanonto make a mast for you.6Of oaks from Bashanthey made your oars;of wood from the coasts of Cyprus†they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.7Of embroidered fine linen from Egyptthey made your sail,which served as your banner.Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishahthey made your awning.
    ⓘ The ship of Tyre was manned by a...
    • The ship of Tyre was manned by a crew gathered from the most famously skilled men in the world.
    • The locations described in this account cover most of the known world at the time. Tyre’s influence was vast.
    ⓘ Sidon, Arvad, and Gebal were Mediterranean coastal towns.

    Sidon, Arvad, and Gebal were Mediterranean coastal towns.
    8The men of Sidon and Arvadwere your oarsmen.Your men of skill, O Tyre,were there as your captains.9The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights,repairing your leaks.All the ships of the sea and their sailorscame alongside to barter for your merchandise.
    10Men of Persia, Lydia, and Putserved as warriors in your army.They hung their shields and helmets on your walls;they gave you splendor.11Men of Arvad and Helechmanned your walls all around,and the men of Gammadwere in your towers.They hung their shields around your walls;they perfected your beauty.
    ⓘ This vast system of transport was all at...

    This vast system of transport was all at the service of Tyre’s insatiable appetite for trade. The list of Tyre’s trading partners goes on and on; Tyre was the source of a wide variety of commodities from slaves to horses, saddle blankets to silver, dyes to figs (cp. Rev 18:11–13). The cargo list for the ship is organized according to the different geographic regions with which she conducted trade, covering all points of the compass and including every trading center, major and minor. Virtually every precious object that could be bought or sold found a place somewhere on the list of Tyre’s goods.

    12Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

    ⓘ Tubal, Meshech, and neighboring Beth-togarmah were regions in...

    Tubal, Meshech, and neighboring Beth-togarmah were regions in Anatolia (modern Turkey).

    13Javan,† Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.

    14The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.

    15The men of Dedan† were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

    16Aram† was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

    17Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.

    18Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar, 19and casks of wine from Izal for your wares.† Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane† were exchanged for your merchandise.†

    ⓘ Kedar was a region of Arabia named for...

    Kedar was a region of Arabia named for a son of Ishmael (Gen 25:13).

    20Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.

    21Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.

    22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.

    23Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad. 24In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.

    25The ships of Tarshish†carried your merchandise.And you were filled with heavy cargoin the heart of the sea.26Your oarsmen have brought youonto the high seas,but the east wind will shatter youin the heart of the sea.27Your wealth, wares, and merchandise,your sailors, captains, and shipwrights,your merchants and all the warriors within you,with all the other people on board,will sink into the heart of the seaon the day of your downfall.
    28The countryside will shakewhen your sailors cry out.29All who handle the oarswill abandon their ships.The sailors and all the captains of the seawill stand on the shore.30They will raise their voices for youand cry out bitterly.They will throw dust on their headsand roll in ashes.31They will shave their heads for youand wrap themselves in sackcloth.They will weep over youwith anguish of soul and bitter mourning.
    32As they wail and mourn over you,they will take up a lament for you:
    ‘Who was ever like Tyre,silenced in the middle of the sea?33When your wares went out to sea,you satisfied many nations.You enriched the kings of the earthwith your abundant wealth and merchandise.34Now you are shattered by the seasin the depths of the waters;your merchandise and the people among youhave gone down with you.35All the people of the coastlandsare appalled over you.Their kings shudder with fear;their faces are contorted.36Those who trade among the nationshiss at you;you have come to a horrible endand will be no more.’”