Ezekiel Chapter 27
1 The LORD's word came again to me, saying,
2 "You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;
3 and tell Tyre, 'You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD says: "You, Tyre, have said, 'I am perfect in beauty.'
4 Your borders are in the heart of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty.
5 They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir. They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6 They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan. They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.
7 Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner. Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
8 The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers. Your wise men, Tyre, were in you. They were your pilots.
9 The old men of Gebal and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you. All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to deal in your merchandise.
10 " ' "Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your beauty.
11 The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valiant men were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around. They have perfected your beauty.
12 " ' "Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
13 " ' "Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
14 " ' "They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules.
15 " ' "The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.
16 " ' "Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
17 " ' "Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.
18 " ' "Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
19 " ' "Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus were amongst your merchandise.
20 " ' "Dedan was your trafficker in precious cloths for riding.
21 " ' "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.
22 " ' "The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
23 " ' "Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders.
24 These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of rich clothing, bound with cords and made of cedar, amongst your merchandise.
25 " ' "The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise. You were replenished and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.
26 Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.
27 Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is amongst you, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.
28 At the sound of the cry of your pilots, the pasture lands will shake.
29 All who handle the oars, the mariners and all the pilots of the sea, will come down from their ships. They will stand on the land,
30 and will cause their voice to be heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast up dust on their heads. They will wallow in the ashes.
31 They will make themselves bald for you, and clothe themselves with sackcloth. They will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning.
32 In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, 'Who is there like Tyre, like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?'
33 When your wares went out of the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.
34 In the time that you were broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company fell within you.
35 All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you, and their kings are horribly afraid. They are troubled in their face.
36 The merchants amongst the peoples hiss at you. You have become a terror, and you will be no more." ' "
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Ezekiel Chapter 27 Guide
At the command of Jehovah, Ezekiel then took up a lamentation for Tyre. This took the form of a pictorial representation of her as a gallant ship trafficking among the nations and ultimately wrecked, to the consternation of all that beheld. The subjects set forth under the figure are her commercial supremacy, enterprises, and ruin. Her supremacy was ensured by the fact that she sat at the entrances of the sea, and the wealth of the nations round about had contributed to that result, until Tyre sat in pride, declaring, "I am perfect in beauty." Her commercial enterprises were far-reaching. Her own wise men acted as pilots, that is, directed these enterprises. Men from other nations served her both commercially and in her army. She dealt in raw material, in manufactured articles, and in things of beauty. Judah and Israel had been among those who had traded with her. It is a remarkable description of vast enterprises successfully carried on, until Tyre became very glorious in the heart of the seas.
In a passage full of picturesque beauty, the prophet described the whelming of Tyre in the great waters, and her breaking by the east wind, in a fall in which all those associated with her were involved. So terrible was the fall that the men of the surrounding nations gathered, and gazed in consternation, while they lamented and were afraid in the presence of the overthrow.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Ezekiel Chapter 27 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The merchandise of Tyre. -- (1-25)
- Its fall and ruin. -- (27:26-36)
Verses 1-25
Those who live at ease are to be lamented, if they are not prepared for trouble. Let none reckon themselves beautified, any further than they are sanctified. The account of the trade of Tyre intimates, that God's eye is upon men when employed in worldly business. Not only when at church, praying and hearing, but when in markets and fairs, buying and selling. In all our dealings we should keep a conscience void of offence. God, as the common Father of mankind, makes one country abound in one commodity, and another in another, serviceable to the necessity or to the comfort and ornament of human life. See what a blessing trade and merchandise are to mankind, when followed in the fear of God. Besides necessaries, an abundance of things are made valuable only by custom; yet God allows us to use them. But when riches increase, men are apt to set their hearts upon them, and forget the Lord, who gives power to get wealth.
Verses 26-36
The most mighty and magnificent kingdoms and states, sooner or later, come down. Those who make creatures their confidence, and rest their hopes upon them, will fall with them: happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their Help, and whose hope is in the Lord their God, who lives for ever. Those who engage in trade should learn to conduct their business according to God's word. Those who possess wealth should remember they are the Lord's stewards, and should use his goods in doing good to all. Let us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.