Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Tyre, a wealthy center of international trade, will be mourned by the sailors that once traded in its port.
II. Photo
Tyre is likened to a rowing ship: “The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; Your skilled men, O Tyre, were within you, they were your pilots.” (v. 8 )
III. Important Verses
9b: All the ships of the sea, with their crews, Were in your harbor To traffic in your wares.
13-25: Javan, Tubal, and Meshech — they were your merchants; they trafficked with you in human beings and copper utensils. From Beth-togarmah they bartered horses, horsemen, and mules for your wares. The people of Dedan were your merchants; many coastlands traded under your rule and rendered you tribute in ivory tusks and ebony. Aram traded with you because of your wealth of merchandise, dealing with you in turquoise, purple stuff, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and agate. Judah and the land of Israel were your merchants; they trafficked with you in wheat of Minnith and Pannag, honey, oil, and balm. Because of your wealth of merchandise, because of your great wealth, Damascus traded with you in Helbon wine and white wool. Vedan and Javan from Uzal traded for your wares; they trafficked with you in polished iron, cassia, and calamus. Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. Arabia and all Kedar’s chiefs were traders under your rule; they traded with you in lambs, rams, and goats. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah were your merchants; they bartered for your wares all the finest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold. Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad traded with you. These were your merchants in choice fabrics, embroidered cloaks of blue, and many-colored carpets tied up with cords and preserved with cedar — among your wares. The ships of Tarshish were in the service of your trade. So you were full and richly laden On the high seas.
29-31: And all the oarsmen and mariners, All the pilots of the sea, Shall come down from their ships And stand on the ground. They shall raise their voices over you And cry out bitterly; They shall cast dust on their heads And strew ashes on themselves. On your account, they shall make Bald patches on their heads, And shall gird themselves with sackcloth. They shall weep over you, brokenhearted, With bitter lamenting.
IV. Outline
1-3a. Introduction
3b-25. Tyre’s wealth, power, and international trade
26-28. Tyre will sink
29-32a. The seamen of the world will lament
32b-36. The sailors’ lament
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Allen, Leslie C. “Ezekiel 1-19” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 28 (Waco, Texas: Wordbook, 1994).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hals, Ronald M. “Ezekiel” The forms of the Old Testament Literature vol. 19 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1989)
Photo taken from http://www.adenastevens.com/content/photos/row2.jpg
