Ezekiel chapter 27
Ezekiel describes the construction of Tyre and its commercial empire. Then in a funeral dirge, he describes its catastrophic destruction. UPDATED.
EZEKIEL’S FUNERAL DIRGE OVER THE CITY OF TYRE
VERSE 1. The LORD’s word came again to me, saying,
VERSE 2. “You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;
take up a lamentation over Tyre. Tyre’s destruction was so certain that the funeral dirge could begin.
VERSE 3. and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD says: “You, Tyre, have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’
VERSE 4. Your borders are in the heart of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty.
Your builders have perfected your beauty. Ezekiel notes the marvelous materials used in constructing Tyre. They emphasized the city’s sound construction.
VERSE 5. They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir. They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
VERSE 6. They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan. They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.
VERSE 7. Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner. Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
VERSE 8. The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers. Your wise men, Tyre, were in you. They were your pilots.
VERSE 9. The old men of Gebal and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you. All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to deal in your merchandise.
All the ships of the sea. Ezekiel has pictured Tyre as a strong, seaworthy vessel.
VERSE 10. “ ‘ “Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your beauty.
VERSE 11. The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valiant men were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around. They have perfected your beauty.
The men of Arvad with your army. Tyre was protected by the best mercenary army that could be mustered.
VERSE 12. “ ‘ “Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
Tarshish. Probably Spain. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead.
VERSE 13. “ ‘ “Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
Tubal. That is, Eastern Turkey. They traded in slaves and bronze implements.
Meshech. That is, Central Turkey. They traded in slaves and bronze implements.
VERSE 14. “ ‘ “They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules.
Togarmah. That is, Eastern Turkey. They traded in work horses, war horses, and mules.
VERSE 15. “ ‘ “The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.
VERSE 16. “ ‘ “Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
Syria. Or possibly Jordan. They traded in turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
VERSE 17. “ ‘ “Judah and Eretz-Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.
Judah. They traded in wheat, olive oil, balm, confections, and honey.
VERSE 18. “ ‘ “Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
Damascus. That is, Syria. They traded in wine and wool.
VERSE 19. “ ‘ “Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise.
VERSE 20. “ ‘ “Dedan was your trafficker in precious cloths for riding.
VERSE 21. “ ‘ “Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.
VERSE 22. “ ‘ “The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
VERSE 23. “ ‘ “Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders.
VERSE 24. These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of rich clothing, bound with cords and made of cedar, among your merchandise.
VERSE 25. “ ‘ “The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise. You were replenished and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.
VERSE 26. Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.
VERSE 27. Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is among you, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.
fall into the heart of the seas. Ezekiel had described the beautiful construction of the “ship” of Tyre. He described its commercial empire. Now in a lament, he describes the ship’s catastrophic sinking.
VERSE 28. At the sound of the cry of your pilots, the pasture lands will shake.
VERSE 29. All who handle the oars, the mariners and all the pilots of the sea, will come down from their ships. They will stand on the land,
VERSE 30. and will cause their voice to be heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast up dust on their heads. They will wallow in the ashes.
VERSE 31. They will make themselves bald for you, and clothe themselves with sackcloth. They will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning.
VERSE 32. In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, ‘Who is there like Tyre, like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?’
VERSE 33. When your wares went out of the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.
VERSE 34. In the time that you were broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company fell within you.
VERSE 35. All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you, and their kings are horribly afraid. They are troubled in their face.
VERSE 36. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. You have become a terror, and you will be no more.” ’ ”
EZEKIEL
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
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