Ezekiel 27:2-12

2 "You, son of man, raise a funeral song over Tyre.

3 Tell Tyre, gateway to the sea, merchant to the world, trader among the far-off islands, 'This is what God, the Master, says: "'You boast, Tyre: "I'm the perfect ship - stately, handsome."

4 You ruled the high seas from a real beauty, crafted to perfection.

5 Your planking came from Mount Hermon junipers. A Lebanon cedar supplied your mast.

6 They made your oars from sturdy Bashan oaks. Cypress from Cyprus inlaid with ivory was used for the decks.

7 Your sail and flag were of colorful embroidered linen from Egypt. Your purple deck awnings also came from Cyprus.

8 Men of Sidon and Arvad pulled the oars. Your seasoned seamen, O Tyre, were the crew.

9 Ship's carpenters were old salts from Byblos. All the ships of the sea and their sailors clustered around you to barter for your goods.

10 "'Your army was composed of soldiers from Paras, Lud, and Put, Elite troops in uniformed splendor. They put you on the map!

11 Your city police were imported from Arvad, Helech, and Gammad. They hung their shields from the city walls, a final, perfect touch to your beauty.

12 "'Tarshish carried on business with you because of your great wealth. They worked for you, trading in silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products.

Ezekiel 27:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

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.