Ezekiel 27:12

12 "Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods.

Ezekiel 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 27:12

Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all
kind of riches
Some understand this of the sea, which is sometimes called Tarshish; so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it here: and the Targum,

``from the sea, or they of the sea bring merchandise into the midst of thee:''
that is, those who lived upon the coasts, or on the isles, of the Mediterranean sea. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it the Carthaginians, who were a colony of the Tyrians, and no doubt traded with them; but it seems most likely, with others, to intend Tartessus in Spain, a place not far from that where Cadiz now stands; a country which abounded with riches, and with the following things: with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs;
Pliny F20 says, that almost all Spain abounded in metals of lead, iron, brass, silver, and gold; which takes in the several things here mentioned, excepting tin; and that the Spaniards might have from our Cornwall, which they might import into Tyre: though the Phoenicians carried on a commerce with our isle of Britain themselves, whither they came for tin, and disposed of other goods they brought with them. Gussetius F21 observes, that the word (Kynwbze) does not signify the place of trade and traffic, as it is commonly rendered; but respects the goods traded in, and the manner of trafficking with them, by way of "exchange", as the word should be rendered; and the sense is, that the things before mentioned were what they gave in exchange, battered, and "left", with the Tyrians, for other goods they took of them; and so it is to be understood in all the following places where the word is used. So Ben Melech says it is expressive of merchandise.
FOOTNOTES:

F20 Nat. Hist. l. 3. c. 3.
F21 Ebr. Comment. p. 594, 595.

Ezekiel 27:12 In-Context

10 "Those from Persia, Lydia, and Libya Were in your army as men of war; They hung shield and helmet in you; They gave splendor to you.
11 Men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, And the men of Gammad were in your towers; They hung their shields on your walls all around; They made your beauty perfect.
12 "Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods.
13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They bartered human lives and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
14 Those from the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, steeds, and mules.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.