Ezekiel 27

1 The word of ADONAI came to me:

2 "You, human being, raise this lament for Tzor;

3 say to Tzor, located at the gateways to the sea, merchant for peoples to many coastlands, that Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Tzor, you have said, "My beauty is perfect."

4 Your borders are in the heart of the sea, your builders perfected your beauty.

5 They used cypress logs from S'nir to fashion all your planking. They took cedars from the L'vanon to make masts for you.

6 Out of oaks from Bashan they made your oars. Your deck they made of ivory inlaid in larch from the coasts of Kittim.

7 Richly woven linen from Egypt was used for your sail, which was also your banner. Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was used to cover your deck-tent.

8 The people of Tzidon and Arvad served as your oarsmen. Your own skilled men, Tzor, were there as your pilots.

9 The leaders and craftsmen of G'val sealed the cracks between your boards. "'Every seagoing ship and its crew came to you to trade in your wares.

10 Men from Paras, Lud and Put were [mercenaries] in your army; hanging shield and helmet on you, they showed off your splendor.

11 Men from Arvad and your own army were posted around on your walls. The Gamadim were in your towers; they hung their shields all around your walls, making your beauty perfect.

12 "'Tarshish did business with you because of the quantity and variety of your resources; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your goods.

13 Greece, Tuval and Meshekh traded with you, exchanging slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 The people of Togarmah traded for your merchandise with horses, horsemen and mules.

15 The men of D'dan traded with you. Many coastlands were your customers, giving you ivory tusks and ebony in payment.

16 Aram traded with you, because you were so wealthy; for your goods they exchanged green feldspar, purple stuff, embroidery, fine linen, coral and rubies.

17 Y'hudah and the land of Isra'el also traded with you, exchanging for your goods wheat from Minnit, millet, honey, olive oil and resin for healing.

18 Because you were so wealthy, with such a variety of valuable merchandise, Dammesek traded wine from Helbon and white wool with you.

19 V'dan and Yavan from Uzal traded ironwork, cassia and aromatic cane for your goods.

20 D'dan traded with you for riding gear.

21 Arabia and all the princes of K'dar were your customers; for your goods they traded lambs, rams and goats.

22 The traders of Sh'va and Ra'mah exchanged the best quality spices, all kinds of precious stones and gold for your goods.

23 The merchants of Haran, Kaneh and 'Eden, who traded also with Sh'va, Ashur and Kilmad,

24 brought you in exchange for your goods rich clothes, cloaks made of blue material and embroidery, and cedar-lined chests filled with multicolored clothing and bound with cords.

25 "Tarshish" ships transported your imports and exports. "'So you were full, loaded down, surrounded by the sea.

26 Your oarsmen brought you through heavy seas. But the east wind will break you surrounded by the sea.

27 Your riches, your goods, your merchandise, your crew, your pilots, your ship-sealers, your traders, all your warriors aboard, and all the others in the ship with you will sink surrounded by the sea on the day of your shipwreck.

28 When they hear the cries of your pilots, the mainland coasts will tremble.

29 The oarsmen, crew and pilots will disembark and stand on shore,

30 mourning aloud at your fate, crying bitterly, throwing dust on their heads, rolling in the ashes,

31 shaving their heads bald for you, wrapping themselves in sackcloth, with heartfelt bitterness weeping for you in bitter lamentation.

32 Wailing, they will raise a lament for you; this will be their lament for you: "'"Who anywhere in the sea has ever been silenced like Tzor?

33 When your wares came forth from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your vast wealth and variety of goods you enriched the kings of the earth.

34 But now you have been wrecked by the waves, sunk in the watery depths; your merchandise and all your people have gone down with you.

35 All who live along the coasts are aghast at you; their kings are horribly afraid, their faces are convulsed;

36 the merchants among the peoples are gasping at your fate; you are an object of terror, and you will cease to exist."'"

Ezekiel 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

The merchandise of Tyre. (1-25) Its fall and ruin. (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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 27

This chapter contains a lamentation on Tyre; setting forth her former grandeur, riches, and commerce; her ruin and destruction; and the concern of others on that account. The prophet is bid to take up his lamentation concerning it, Eze 27:1,2, observing her situation and magnificence, of which she boasted, Eze 27:3,4, describing the excellency of her shipping and naval stores, Eze 27:5-7, declaring who were her mariners, pilots, and caulkers, Eze 27:8,9, her military men, Eze 27:10,11 her several merchants, and the things they traded in with her in her fairs and markets, Eze 27:12-25, then follows an account of her destruction, Eze 27:26,27, the lamentation of pilots and mariners because of it, Eze 27:28-32, and of the kings and inhabitants of the isles, and merchants of the people, Eze 27:33-36.