Ezekiel 27:1-7
This is another word but linked with the previous in chapter 26 as it regards Tyre. Ezekiel was to bring a lamentation, a song of mourning and memorial for this once great city that would be fallen. The entrance to the sea and merchant to the many coastlands is somewhat symbolic to Tyre's standing as a gateway to the far reaches of inhabited world.
Tyre is portrayed as a fine and beautiful wooden ship. The blessings and prosperity became a pride leading to judgment. It began when she saw herself as perfect in beauty. This beauty came from:
- The fir trees of Senir (Mt Hermon)
- The cedars of Lebanon, the primary Phoenician export
- The oaks of Bashan – south of Mt Hermon, east of Sea of Galilee in fertile lands.
- Ivory to inlay the planks from Cypress
- Fine embroidered linen from Egypt for sails, a sign of luxury.
- 'Blue and purple' were dies made in Phoenicia giving it prominence in textile trade. Dies were from shell of Mediterranean snails.
Ezekiel 27:8-9
This passage describes the crew of the symbolic ship. There were oarsmen that were the rowers that moved the ship. There were the pilots or navigators that gave it direction. There were the wise men that served as shipwrights making repairs. And there were the oarsmen that were mariners, deckhands, sailors who knew how to set the sails and guide the ship. The oarsmen of verse 8 is not the same word as oarsmen in verse 9.
Sidon was 25 and Arvad 110 miles north of Tyre. Gebal was 60 mile north and known as Byblos because it's primary export was writing materials.
Ezekiel 27:10-11
The security force was found to be far reaching to distant lands. This showed Tyre's standing and respect in the world at that time. The army seemed to be local men but the presence of the shields and helmets of the far away lands gave splendor to her. All together, this fighting force made the beauty all the more perfect.
Ezekiel 27:12-24
These were the merchants of Tyre, those who bought and sold, trading with her. They were from all over the world as they knew it.
- Tarshish, possibly southern Spain, the furthest known part of the world. This is where Jonah was running to.
- Javan, Greece.
- Tubal & Meshech, central & NE Asia respectively. They traded human lives for what Tyre was selling. This was an acceptable transaction to Tyre.
- Togarmah, east of Turkey
- Dedan, probably an island in Aegean Sea. There is a Dedan in Arabia but that doesn't fit the context.
- Syra, NE of Israel and the Phoenician's neighbor to the east.
- Judah, southern kingdom of Israel took part in trading with Tyre.
- Damascus, the capital of Syria.
- Helbon was NE of Damascus.
- Dan and Javan may not be cities as shown – Dan may be a place called Izal, famous for wine. The wine of Izal, associated with Helbon, made the travel worthwhile. Cassia is a herb used for perfume. Cane a reed to make spices.
- Dedan – probably not a repeat, but the Dedan of Arabia.
- Kedar, NE Arabia.
- Sheba & Raamah, SW Arabia.
- Haran, Canneh & Eden, Aramean upper Mesopotamia area.
- Assyria, Ashur, capital of Assyria.
- Chilmad, unknown, only shows up here.
We get a feel for the relationship Tyre had with the world. Should Tyre be conquered, It effected many nations, many people.
Ezekiel 27:25-28
The ships of Tarshish were likely Tyre's ships headed to Tarshish. It is also possible that Tarshish was a Phoenician settlement. These ships carried the merchandise and are the metaphor for Tyre. Like the proud and unsinkable Titanic, this ship was about its business. We can see the pride, affluency and autonomy that would bring Tyre down.
The east wind or gale broke this ship. All the her riches, merchandise and customers could not help. The east wind is probably a reference to Nebuchadnezzar, but it could be Alexander the Great who totally destroyed Tyre. Like a ship sinking in the see, Tyre sank. All the merchandise and all the people went into the sea on 'the day of your ruin'. The common-land would be the cities and villages along the main land. They would hear the cry of the mariners from Tyre. The shaking is likely one of fear, of emotion and mourning.
Ezekiel 27:29-36
All the other metaphorical ships were taking note. They cried and mourned over the Tyre. They, too, enjoyed the merchandise and the profit that could be made from it. Watching Tyre sink was like watching money wash away. Revelations portrays a similar situation in Babylon as those 'who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her. Babylon was judged and the world mourned over it (Rev 18:1-10). What city is like Tyre? Revelation 18:18 asks the same question. We could ask that question and if answered honestly conclude we live in the middle of the very same scenario.
The source of Tyre's pride and autonomy was the sea and the controlling of it; as if it was owned by Tyre. The Lord brought judgment by the same sea proving otherwise. The Hebrew words translated to 'by sea' in verse 33 are identical to those translated 'by the sea' in 34.
Tyre had fallen a long way from the days when Tyre's King Hiram supplied timber and skilled labor for Solomon to construct the temple in Jerusalem (1Kings 5-7).
©2019 Doug Ford
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