Ezekiel 27
27
A Lament for Tyre
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “You, son of man, sing a lament for Tyre.#tn Heb “lift up over Tyre a lament.” 3 Say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance#tn Heb “entrances.” The plural noun may reflect the fact that Tyre had two main harbors. of the sea,#sn Rome, another economic power, is described in a similar way in Rev 17:1. merchant to the peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:
“‘O Tyre, you have said, “I am perfectly beautiful.”
4#tn The city of Tyre is described in the following account as a merchant ship. Your borders are in the heart of the seas;
your builders have perfected your beauty.
5 They crafted#tn Heb “built.” all your planks out of fir trees from Senir;#tn Perhaps the hull or deck. The term is dual, so perhaps it refers to a double-decked ship.
they took a cedar from Lebanon to make your mast.
6 They made your oars from oaks of Bashan;
they made your deck#tn Or “hull.” with cypresses#tc The Hebrew reads “Your deck they made ivory, daughter of Assyria.” The syntactically difficult “ivory” is understood here as dittography and omitted, though some construe this to refer to ivory inlays. “Daughter of Assyria” is understood here as improper word division and the vowels repointed as “cypresses.” from the Kittean isles.#tn Heb “from the coastlands (or islands) of Kittim,” generally understood to be a reference to the island of Cyprus, where the Phoenicians had a trading colony on the southeast coast. Many modern English versions have “Cyprus” (CEV, TEV), “the coastlands of Cyprus” (NASB), “the coasts of Cyprus” (NIV, NRSV), or “the southern coasts of Cyprus” (NLT).sn The Kittean isles is probably a reference to southeast Cyprus where the Phoenicians had a colony.
7 Fine linen from Egypt, woven with patterns, was used for your sail
to serve as your banner;
blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah#sn This is probably a reference to Cyprus. was used for your deck’s awning.
8 The leaders#tc The MT reads “the residents of”; the LXX reads “your rulers who dwell in.” With no apparent reason for the LXX to add “the rulers” many suppose something has dropped out of the Hebrew text. While more than one may be possible, Allen’s proposal, positing a word meaning “elders,” is the most likely to explain the omission in the MT from a graphic standpoint and also provides a parallel to the beginning of v. 9. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:81.a parallel to v. 9. of Sidon#map For location see Map1-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3. and Arvad#sn Sidon and Arvad, like Tyre, were Phoenician coastal cities. were your rowers;
your skilled#tn Or “wise.” men, O Tyre, were your captains.
9 The elders of Gebal#sn Another Phoenician coastal city located between Sidon and Arvad. and her skilled men were within you, mending cracks;#tn Heb “strengthening damages.” Here “to strengthen” means to repair. The word for “damages” occurs several times in 1 Kgs 12 about some type of damage to the temple, which may have referred to or included cracks. Since the context describes Tyre in its glory, we do not expect this reference to damages to be of significant scale, even if there are repairmen. This may refer to using pitch to seal the seams of the ship, which had to be done periodically and could be considered routine maintenance rather than repair of damage.
all the ships of the sea and their mariners were within you to trade for your merchandise.#sn The reference to “all the ships of the sea…within you” suggests that the metaphor is changing; previously Tyre had been described as a magnificent ship, but now the description shifts back to an actual city. The “ships of the sea” were within Tyre’s harbor. Verse 11 refers to “walls” and “towers” of the city.
10 Men of Persia, Lud,#sn See Gen 10:22. and Put were in your army, men of war.
They hung shield and helmet on you; they gave you your splendor.
11 The Arvadites#tn Heb “sons of Arvad.” joined your army on your walls all around,
and the Gammadites#sn The identity of the Gammadites is uncertain. were in your towers.
They hung their quivers#tn See note on “quivers” in Jer 51:11 on the meaning of Hebrew שֶׁלֶט (shelet) and also M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:553. on your walls all around;
they perfected your beauty.
12 “‘Tarshish#sn Tarshish refers to a distant seaport sometimes believed to be located in southern Spain (others identified it as Carthage in North Africa). In any event it represents here a distant, rich, and exotic port which was a trading partner of Tyre. was your trade partner because of your abundant wealth; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your clients; they exchanged slaves and bronze items for your merchandise. 14 Beth Togarmah exchanged horses, chargers,#tn The way in which these horses may have been distinguished from other horses is unknown. Cf. ASV “war-horses” (NASB, NIV, NRSV, CEV all similar); NLT “chariot horses.” and mules for your products. 15 The Dedanites#tn Heb “sons of Dedan.” were your clients. Many coastlands were your customers; they paid#tn Heb “they returned as your gift.” you with ivory tusks and ebony. 16 Edom#tc Many Hebrew mss, Aquila’s Greek translation, and the Syriac version read “Edom.” The LXX reads “man,” a translation which assumes the same consonants as Edom. This reading is supported from the context as the text deals with Damascus, the capital of Syria (Aram), later (in v. 18). was your trade partner because of the abundance of your goods; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your products. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your clients; they traded wheat from Minnith,#sn The location is mentioned in Judg 11:33. millet, honey, olive oil, and balm for your merchandise. 18 Damascus was your trade partner because of the abundance of your goods and of all your wealth: wine from Helbon, white wool from Zahar, 19 and casks of wine#tc The MT leaves v. 18 as an incomplete sentence and begins v. 19 with “and Dan and Javan (Ionia) from Uzal.” The LXX mentions “wine.” The translation follows an emendation assuming some confusions of vav and yod. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:82. from Izal#sn According to L. C. Allen (Ezekiel [WBC], 2:82), Izal was located between Haran and the Tigris and was famous for its wine. they exchanged for your products. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were among your merchandise. 20 Dedan was your client in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your trade partners; for lambs, rams, and goats they traded with you. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah engaged in trade with you; they traded the best kinds of spices along with precious stones and gold for your products. 23 Haran, Kanneh, Eden, merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad were your clients. 24 They traded with you choice garments, purple clothes and embroidered work, and multicolored carpets, bound and reinforced with cords; these were among your merchandise. 25 The ships of Tarshish#tn Or perhaps “Large merchant ships.” The expression “ships of Tarshish” may describe a class of vessel, that is, large oceangoing merchant ships. were the transports for your merchandise.
“‘So you were filled and weighed down in the heart of the seas.
26 Your rowers have brought you into surging waters.
The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.
27 Your wealth, products, and merchandise, your sailors and captains,
your ship’s carpenters,#tn Heb “your repairers of damage.” See v. 9. your merchants,
and all your fighting men within you,
along with all your crew who are in you,
will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall.
28 At the sound of your captains’ cry the waves will surge;#tn Compare this phrase to Isa 57:20 and Amos 8:8. See M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:561.
29 They will descend from their ships – all who handle the oar,
the sailors and all the sea captains – they will stand on the land.
30 They will lament loudly#tn Heb “make heard over you with their voice.” over you and cry bitterly.
They will throw dust on their heads and roll in the ashes;#tn Note a similar expression to “roll in the ashes” in Mic 1:10.
31 they will tear out their hair because of you and put on sackcloth,
and they will weep bitterly over you with intense mourning.#tn Heb “and they will weep concerning you with bitterness of soul, (with) bitter mourning.”
32 As they wail they will lament over you, chanting:
“Who was like Tyre, like a tower#tn As it stands, the meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. The translation follows the suggestion of M. Dahood, “Accadian-Ugaritic dmt in Ezekiel 27:32,” Bib 45 (1964): 83-84. Several other explanations and emendations have been offered. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:83, and D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:85-86, for a list of options. in the midst of the sea?”
33 When your products went out from the seas,
you satisfied many peoples;
with the abundance of your wealth and merchandise
you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters;
your merchandise and all your company have sunk#tn Heb “fallen.” along with you.#tn Heb “in the midst of you.”
35 All the inhabitants of the coastlands are shocked at you,
and their kings are horribly afraid – their faces are troubled.
36 The traders among the peoples hiss at you;
you have become a horror, and will be no more.’”
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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
Ezekiel 27
27
A Lament for Tyre
1Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre. 3Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says:
You have said, O Tyre,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
4Your borders are in the heart of the seas;
your builders perfected your beauty.
5They constructed all your planking
with cypress#27:5 Or pine or juniper or fir from Senir.#27:5 That is, Mount Hermon
They took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
6Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of wood from the coasts of Cyprus#27:6 Hebrew Kittim
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
7Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt
they made your sail,
which served as your banner.
Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah
they made your awning.
8The men of Sidon and Arvad
were your oarsmen.
Your men of skill, O Tyre,
were there as your captains.
9The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights,
repairing your leaks.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to barter for your merchandise.
10Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put
served as warriors in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls;
they gave you splendor.
11Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls all around,
and the men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they perfected your beauty.
12Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.
13Javan,#27:13 That is, Greece Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.
14The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.
15The men of Dedan#27:15 Hebrew; LXX Rhodes were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
16Aram#27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
17Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.
18Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar, 19and casks of wine from Izal for your wares.#27:19 Probable reading; MT —and Dan and Javan from Uzal (traded) for your wares Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane#27:19 Or calamus were exchanged for your merchandise.#27:19 Or were among your merchandise
20Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.
21Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.
22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.
23Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad. 24In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.
25The ships of Tarshish#27:25 Or A fleet of trading ships
carried your merchandise.
And you were filled with heavy cargo
in the heart of the sea.
26Your oarsmen have brought you
onto the high seas,
but the east wind will shatter you
in the heart of the sea.
27Your wealth, wares, and merchandise,
your sailors, captains, and shipwrights,
your merchants and all the warriors within you,
with all the other people on board,
will sink into the heart of the sea
on the day of your downfall.
28The countryside will shake
when your sailors cry out.
29All who handle the oars
will abandon their ships.
The sailors and all the captains of the sea
will stand on the shore.
30They will raise their voices for you
and cry out bitterly.
They will throw dust on their heads
and roll in ashes.
31They will shave their heads for you
and wrap themselves in sackcloth.
They will weep over you
with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.
32As they wail and mourn over you,
they will take up a lament for you:
‘Who was ever like Tyre,
silenced in the middle of the sea?
33When your wares went out to sea,
you satisfied many nations.
You enriched the kings of the earth
with your abundant wealth and merchandise.
34Now you are shattered by the seas
in the depths of the waters;
your merchandise and the people among you
have gone down with you.
35All the people of the coastlands
are appalled over you.
Their kings shudder with fear;
their faces are contorted.
36Those who trade among the nations
hiss at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.’”
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