CHAPTER XXVII _This chapter may be considered as the second part of the_ _prophecy concerning Tyre. The prophet pursues his subject in_ _the manner of those ancient lamentations or funeral songs, in_ _which the_ praeficiae _or mourning women first recounted whatever_ _was great or praiseworthy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:2. _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 regu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:3. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:4. _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, _Car... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:5. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:6. _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 is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:7. _FINE LINEN_] שש _shesh, cotton cloth_. In this sense the word is generally to be understood. _TO BE THY SAIL_] Probably the flag - _ensign_ or _pennant_, is meant. _BLUE AND PURPLE FROM THE ISLES OF ELISHAH_] _Elis_, a part of the _Peloponnesus_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:8. _ZIDON_ AND _ARVAD_] Or _Arad_. Two powerful cities on the Phoenician 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:9. _THE ANCIENTS OF GEBAL_] This was a city of Phoenicia, 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 O... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:10. _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. Skil... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:11. _THE GAMMADIMS WERE IN THY TOWERS_] Some think these were a people of Phoenicia; others, that _tutelar images_ are meant; others, that the word expresses _strong men_, who acted as _guards_. The _Vulgate_ reads _Pygmaei_, the pygmies, who were fabled to be a little people of a _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:12. _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_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:13. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:14. _TOGARMAH_] The _Sarmatians_. Some think _Cappadocia_. With these they dealt in _horses, mules_, and _horsemen_; or probably _draught horses_ and _war horses_ are intended.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:15. _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 ש _shen_, and in Arabic [Arabic] _shen_, the TOOTH, as that beaut... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:16. _SYRIA_] These were always a mercantile people. For the precious stones mentioned here Exodus 28:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:17. _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_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:18. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:19. _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 מאוזל _meuzal_, from _uzal_, may be a proper name. What place is signified I cannot tell, unless it be _A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:20. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:21. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:22. _SHEBA AND RAAMAH_] Inhabitants of Arabia Felix, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, who were famous for their riches and spices.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:23. _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_. _SH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:24. _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, fine... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:25. _THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH_] The ships of _Tharsis_, in Cilicia, were the chief of those which traded with thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:26. _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 storm... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:27. _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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:28. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:30. _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 _ship... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:32. _WHAT_ CITY IS _LIKE TYRUS_] This, to the end of the chapter, is the lamentation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 27:36. _SHALL HISS AT THEE_] שרקו _shareku_, shall _shriek_ for thee. This powerfully expresses the sensation made on the feelings of the spectators on the shore when they saw the vessel swallowed up.... [ Continue Reading ]