Ezekiel 27:13

13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech^[a] were your merchants. They exchanged slaves^[b] and bronze utensils for your goods.

Ezekiel 27:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they [were] thy merchants
Javan designs Greece, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it; especially that part of it called Ionia, from Javan the son of Japheth, ( Genesis 10:2 ) and Tubal, and Meshech, were also sons of Japheth; the former are the Iberi and Albanians, as Jerom and others, among whom were a city called Thabilaca, by Ptolemy ^F23; and the latter the Cappadocians, with whom is a city called Mazaca ^F24. They traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy markets;
or, "the souls of men" ^F25; they bought up men and women in the several countries to which they belonged, or where they traded, and brought them to Tyre, and sold them for slaves; and the Ionian and Grecian slaves were had in great esteem: and the best brass, of which vessels were made, was had from Corinth, Delus, and Aeginetus; according to Pliny ^F26, Cappadocia was famous for it also: in the first of these merchandises Tyrus was remarkably a type of antichrist, who is said to deal in such wares, the souls of men, ( Revelation 18:13 ) . The word here rendered "markets", Gussetius ^F1 also observes, does not design the place of commerce, but the act of negotiation or trade; and so it is rendered by many ^F2.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Geograph. l. 5. c. 12.
F24 Joseph. Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 1.
F25 (Mda vpnb) "animabus hominum", Pagninus, Vatablus, Cocceius, Starckius.
F26 Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 2.
F1 Ebr. Comment. p. 642.
F2 (Kbrem) (thn emporian bou) , Sept.; "negotiationem tuam", Tigurine version; "in commercio tuo", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus; "mercaturam tuam", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 27:13 In-Context

11 Men of Arvad and Helech were [stationed] on your walls all around, and Gamadites were in your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls; they perfected your beauty.

12 "Tarshish was your trading partner because of [your] great wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise.

13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your goods.

14 Those from Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise.

15 Men of Dedanwere also your merchants; many coasts and islands were your regular markets. They brought back ivory tusks and ebony as your payment.

Footnotes

• [a] Ezk 38:2; 39:1; Gn 10:2
• [b] Lit souls of men