Ezekiel 27:18

18 Damascus was thy merchant, in the multitude of thy works, in the multitude of diverse riches, in fat wine (in the wine of Helbon), and wools of (the) best colour.

Ezekiel 27:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 27:18

Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of
thy making
Of the many things manufactured at Tyre, the inhabitants of Damascus, once the chief city of Syria, took some: for the multitude of all riches:
in lieu of the vast quantity of rich things there made, they traded with them for them: in the wine of Helbon, and white wool;
Helbon very probably is the same with the Chalybon of Ptolemy ^F16, which he places in Syria; a place famous for wine, as Strabo ^F17 reports; the kings of Persia, he says, through riches fell into luxury, so that they would have wheat brought from Assos in Aeolia, and Chalybonian wine out of Syria, and water from Eulaeus (the river Ulai in ( Daniel 8:2 ) ), which was lightest of all; and so Athenaeus ^F18 says, the kings of the Persians drink only Chalybonian wine; which, says Posidonius, was made at Damascus in Syria, from whence the Persians transplant vines: Helbon is thought to be the same with Aleppo; the grapes there are all white, and make a strong wine, as Monsieur Thevenot ^F19 relates; and who also observes, that the wines of Damascus are treacherous and strong: and the wool they bought was such as it came off of the backs of the sheep, and the purer and whiter sort of it; which was brought to Tyre, and by them bought, and dyed purple, for which dye the Tyrians were famous.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Geograph. l. 5. c. 15.
F17 Ibid. l. 12. p. 505.
F18 L. 1. c. 22.
F19 Travels, part 2. B. 1. c. 5. p. 25. & c. 7. p. 33.

Ezekiel 27:18 In-Context

16 Syria was thy merchant, for the multitude of thy works, they setted forth in thy market gem(s), and purple, and clothes woven diversely at the manner of shields, and bis, and silk, and coral, either avoirdupois.

17 Judah and the land of Israel were thy merchants in the best wheat, and setted forth in thy fairs balm, and honey, and oil, and resin. (Judah and the land of Israel were thy merchants of the wheat of Minnith, and set forth in thy fairs balm, and honey, and oil, and resin.)

18 Damascus was thy merchant, in the multitude of thy works, in the multitude of diverse riches, in fat wine (in the wine of Helbon), and wools of (the) best colour.

19 Dan, and Greece, and Uzal, setted forth in thy fairs iron made subtly, gum of myrrh, and calamus, that is, a spice sweet smelling, in thy merchandise. (Dan, and Greece, and Mosel, set forth in thy markets wrought iron, and gum of myrrh, and calamus, that is, a sweet smelling spice, for thy merchandise.)

20 Dedan were thy merchants, in tapets to sit (upon). (Dedan were thy merchants of carpets to sit upon.)