Ezekiel 27

19. Dan also--None of the other places enumerated commence with the copula ("also"; Hebrew, ve). Moreover, the products specified, "cassia, calamus," apply rather to places in Arabia. Therefore, FAIRBAIRN translates, "Vedan"; perhaps the modern Aden, near the straits of Bab-el-man-deb. GROTIUS refers it to Dana, mentioned by PTOLEMY.
Javan--not the Greeks of Europe or Asia Minor, but of a Greek settlement in Arabia.
going to and fro--rather, as Hebrew admits, "from Uzal." This is added to "Javan," to mark which Javan is meant ( Genesis 10:27 ). The metropolis of Arabia Felix, or Yemen; called also Sanaa [BOCHART]. English Version gives a good sense, thus: All peoples, whether near as the Israelite "Dan," or far as the Greeks or "Javan," who were wont to "go to and fro" from their love of traffic, frequented thy marts, bringing bright iron, &c., these products not being necessarily represented as those of Dan or Javan.
bright iron--Yemen is still famed for its sword blades.
calamus--aromatic cane.

20. Dedan--in Arabia; distinct from the Dedan in Ezekiel 27:15 ( Genesis 25:3 ) [BOCHART].
precious clothes--splendid coverlets.

21. Arabia--the nomadic tribes of Arabia, among which Kedar was pre-eminent.
occupied with thee--literally, "of thy hand," that is, they traded with thee for wares, the product of thy hand

22. Sheba . . . Raamah--in Arabia.
chief of . . . spices--that is, best spices ( Deuteronomy 33:15 ). Obtained from India and conveyed in caravans to Tyre.

23. Haran--the dwelling-place of Abraham in Mesopotamia, after he moved from Ur ( Genesis 11:31 ).
Canneh--Calneh, an Assyrian city on the Tigris; the Ctesiphon of the Greeks ( Genesis 10:10 ).
Eden--probably a region in Babylonia (see Genesis 2:8 ).
Chilmad--a compound; the place designated by PTOLEMY "Gaala of Media." The Chaldee version interprets it of Media. HENDERSON refers it to Carmanda, which XENOPHON describes as a large city beyond the Euphrates.

24. all sorts of things--Hebrew, "perfections"; exquisite articles of finery [GROTIUS].
clothes--rather, "mantles" or "cloaks"; literally, "wrappings." For "blue," HENDERSON translates, "purple."
chests of rich apparel, bound with cords--treasures or repositories of damask stuffs, consisting of variegated threads woven together in figures [HENDERSON].
cedar--The "chests" were made of cedar, in order to last the longer; and it also keeps off decay and has a sweet odor.

25. sing of thee--personification; flay great merchant ships were palpable proofs of thy greatness. Others translate from a different Hebrew root, "were thy (mercantile) travellers." FAIRBAIRN translates, "Were thy walls." But the parallelism to "thou wast glorious" favors English Version, "sing of thee."

26. In contrast to her previous greatness, her downfall is here, by a sudden transition, depicted under the image of a vessel foundering at sea.
east wind--blowing from Lebanon, the most violent wind in the Mediterranean ( Psalms 48:7 ). A Levanter, as it is called. Nebuchadnezzar is meant. The "sea" is the war with him which the "rowers," or rulers of the state vessel, had "brought" it into, to its ruin.

27. The detailed enumeration implies the utter completeness of the ruin.
and in all thy company--"even with all thy collected multitude" [HENDERSON].

28. The suburbs--the buildings of Tyre on the adjoining continent.

29. So on the downfall of spiritual Babylon ( Revelation 18:17 , &c.).
shall stand upon . . . land--being cast out of their ships in which heretofore they prided themselves.

30. against thee--rather, "concerning thee."

31. utterly bald--literally, "bald with baldness." The Phoenician custom in mourning; which, as being connected with heathenish superstitions, was forbidden to Israel ( Deuteronomy 14:1 ).
take up--lift up.
the destroyed--a destroyed one. Literally, (as opposed to its previous bustle of thronging merchants and mariners, Ezekiel 27:27 ), "one brought to death's stillness."
in . . . midst of . . . sea--insular Tyre.

33. out of the seas--brought on shore out of the ships.
filledst--didst supply plentifully with wares.
enrich . . . kings--with the custom dues levied on the wares.

34. In the time when . . . shall . . . shall--Now that thou art broken (wrecked) . . . thy merchandise . . . are fallen [MAURER].

35. isles--seacoasts.

36. hiss--with astonishment; as in 1 Kings 9:8 .