Ezequiel 27
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 27
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter is part of a larger literary unit, 26:1-28:26. See note at 27:1. This chapter has two laments vv. 1-25 vv. 26-36 Ezekiel's knowledge of the trading centers and their known exports is absolutely amazing. This chapter forms one of the most detailed commercial chapters anywhere in ancient literature. Tyre was the transporter of goods, materials, and persons for the entire Mediterranian for hundreds of years. She grew wealthy and politically significant over time. In this period, after Neo-Babylon invasion, Tyre became the political and economic power of Canaan.
Ezequiel 27:1-9
27:1 This is a literary marker for a new subject or development of a larger unit (i.e. 26:1-28:26). Notice that it occurs in Ezek. 26:1; 27:1; 28:1,11,20. Literary units are an attempt by modern interpreters to identify the boundaries of a given prophecy. 27:2 "take up" This is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 669, KB 724, cf. Ezek. 27:12; 19:1; 26:17). ▣ "lamentations" See note at Ezek. 26:17. See Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth, pp. 225-248. 27:3 This chapter is an allegorical personification of Tyre as the beautiful and well-equipped merchant ship. A good title would be "The Flagship Tyre of the Materialistic Fleet." ▣ "I am perfect in beauty" This was the problem, the arrogance of the king of Tyre (cf. Ezek. 27:4,11; 28:2-5,15,17 and possibly Ezek. 26:20). The JPSOA footnotes, p. 1093, suggest an emendation for the last line of poetry in v. 3, "O Tyre, you are a ship, Perfect in beauty" (also see NJB). 27:5 Notice the poetic description of a sailing ship fir (juniper) from Senir, Ezek. 27:5 cedar from Lebanon, Ezek. 27:5 oaks from Bashan, Ezek. 27:6 boxwood from Cyprus, Ezek. 27:6 sails from Egypt, Ezek. 27:7 awnings from Elishah (BDB 47), Ezek. 27:7 rowers from Sidon and Arvad (BDB 71), Ezek. 27:8 wise men from Tyre as pilots, Ezek. 27:8 maintenance workers from Gebal (BDB 148), Ezek. 27:9 This ship was made of the best and most beautiful material and manned by the best possible crew. ▣ "Senir" This (BDB 972) is the Amorite term for Mount Hermon (cf. Deut. 3:9; 1 Chr. 5:23; Song of Songs 4:8). 27:6 "of boxwood" The MT reads "daughters of Ashurim," but by making the CONSTRUCT (BDB 123 and 81) into one word, "made with boxwood" (see UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, p. 99). This tree is mentioned in Isa. 41:19; 60:13. A type of tree fits the context better than a place name. 27:7 "distinguishing mark" "ensign" "easily recognized from afar" "your flag" REB, JPSOA "that served you for sails" "was made for your sails" This term (BDB 651) normally stands for a military banner or sign. Here, it refers to a characteristic type of sail that denoted "the flagship of Tyre"! ▣ "purple" It was a very expensive dye made from the mollusk shell of Murex, which are found in abundance along this portion of the Phoenician coast. Special Topic: ANE Sacred Colors ▣ "Elishnah" From Gen. 10:4 we learn this was a tribe of Javan (Greece, cf. 1 Chr. 1:7). It seems to refer to inhabitants of the Aegean Islands, possibly Cyprus. The NIV Study Bible (p. 1263) identifies it as a city on the east side of Cyprus, but this is speculation. 27:8 "Arvad" This (BDB 71) is another off-shore fortified island about 100 miles north of Tyre inhabited by a Canaanite people group (cf. Gen. 10:18). It was a Phoenician aligned settlement (provided "powers" for the large Phoenician mercant ships, two sets on each side). 27:9 "Gebal" This (BDB 148) is the modern city Byblos, which is located on the Mediterranean coast between Sidon and Arvad.
Ezequiel 27:10-11
27:10-25 This section lists many nations. It is similar to Genesis 10. Some nations are listed as part of Tyre's military and some as her trading partners. It is somewhat hyperbolic to demonstrate Tyre's influence, power, and commercial reach. military Persia Lud Put Arvad Gammad trading partners Tarshish silver iron tin lead Javan, Tubal, and Meshech slaves bronze vessels Beth-togarmah horses mules Dedan and coastlands ivory ebony Syria (Aram) emeralds purple dye embroidered cloth fine linen coral rubies Judah and Israel wheat pannag (BDB 815, only here, some kind of food) honey olive oil balm/balsam resin Damascus wine white or reddish gray (BDB 856 construct 850) wool Vedan and Javan (spelled different from Ezek. 27:13) iron cassia spice calamus, aromatic reed ("sweet cane") Arabia and Kedar lambs rams goats Sheba and Raamah spices jewels gold Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, Chilmad blue cloths embroidered cloth carpets in many colors ropes 27:10 "Persia and Lud and Put" These same countries had mercenaries in many armies (cf. Ezek. 30:5; 38:5; Jer. 46:9). Lud, in some translations, refers to North Africa and in others, to Asia Minor. Put, in the Septuagint, refers to the Libyans (i.e. North Africa), but from Gen. 10:6 it seems to be on the coast of Africa by the Red Sea. Some of these geographical sites can be identified with people from Genesis 10 who later become tribes, localities, and countries. ▣ "They hung shield and helmet in you" This was a type of standard decoration for military installations. Tyre used mercenaries who displayed their national military insignias (e.g. 1 Kgs. 10:16-17). 27:11 "Arvad" The place name "Arvad" (BDB 71) is mentioned in Gen. 10:18 (from Canaanite line, cf. 1 Chr. 1:16). It is a city located (as Tyre is) just off the coast on a small island in the northern area of Phoenician territory. See note at v. 7. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NET, LXX, Peshitta "your army" "Cilicia" "their army" NRSV, JPSOA "Helech" The MT has "your army" (Helech). As a place name it is associatd with "Hilakku," a city in Cilicia (southeastern Turkey). Some scholars see this as the same sity as "Hethlon" (cf. Ezek. 47:15; 48:1), which would be closer to Tyre. "Gammadim" NKJV, JPSOA "Gammad" NRSV, TEV "Gamad" "Gammadians" "your army" Targum of Jonathan "Cappodocia" This term (BDB 167, KB 196) is found only here. BDB assumes it means "valorous men," but the LXX and Peshitta assume "guardians" or "wall soldiers." It may be a place name referring to another coastal city near Arvad (NIV Study Bible, p. 1263). The thrust of the phrase is that although Tyre had numerous mercenaries, she trusted the defense of her protective walls to her own soldiers (LXX, "your army was upon your walls"). ▣ "they perfected your beauty" This is a repeated phrase. See note at Ezek. 27:4. It is significant because of its use in chapter 28 and even possibly Ezek. 26:20.
Ezequiel 27:12-25
27:12 "Tarshish" It is surprising that this term (BDB 1077) appears to be a place name because it is also a person in Gen. 10:4. Several other persons from Genesis 10 are mentioned in this context (i.e. Elishah, Arvad). The term is used in several senses in Scripture. Persons grandson of Javan (Greece) and brother to Elishah in Gen. 10:4; 1 Chr. 1:7 grandson of Benjamin in 1 Chr. 7:20 one of the powerful seven princes of Persia in Esther 1:14 Places Phoenician mining city in southern Spain on the Guadalquiver River (Tartessus) Phoenician colony in north Africa, Carthage (LXX translation of Ezek. 27:12) Phoenician colony in Indian Ceylon Phoenician colony on Sardina (city of Nora) an idiom for the end of the earth Things precious stones (cf. Exod. 28:20; 39:13; Ezek. 10:9; 28:13; Dan. 10:6; Rev. 21:20) special ships (cf. 1 Kgs. 10:22; 22:48; 2 Chr. 9:21; Ps. 48:7; Isa. 2:16; 23:1; 60:9) Special Topic: Tarshish 27:13 "Javan" Because of the spelling "ionia" (BDB 402), most commentators refer it to Greece. It is spelled differently from the same word used in Ezek. 27:19 (BDB 402). ▣ "Tubal and Meshech" In Gen. 10:2 and 1 Chr. 1:5 these are listed as sons or descendants of Japheth, one of Noah's three sons. Gomer (his son Togarmah, cf. Ezek. 27:14; Gen. 10:3) Magog Madai Javan Tubal Meshech Tiras The significance is that several of these are mentioned as tribes or peoples in Ezekiel 38-39 (i.e. #1,2,5,6). They were inhabitants of eastern Turkey (Anatolia). They are mentioned by Herodotus (3:94; 7:28) Josephus (Antiq. 1.6.1) ▣ "the lives of men" This refers to the slave trade (cf. Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:9, 10; Rev. 18:12). 27:14 "Beth-togarmah" From Gen. 10:3, we know that this was the name of a descendant of Japheth, one of the three sons of Gomer (1 Chr. 1:6). It is related to Gomer in Ezek. 38:6, where it is said to be "from the far north" (i.e. northern Anatolia or modern Turkey, or even farther north in Armenia). 27:15 "Dedan" This is a descendant of Ham (cf. Gen. 10:7; 1 Chr. 1:9) and a brother of Sheba (cf. Ezek. 38:13,14). The same group is mentioned in Ezek. 27:20 as an Arabian tribe (possibly related to a specific desert oasis close to Tema). The LXX changed it to Rhodes. This is supported by UBS Text Project, p. 89, but with a "C" rating. Because it is identified in context with "coast lands" (BDB 912). It is possible that it relates to a region north of Tyre known as "Danuna" in the Amarna letters (IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 713). The UBS Text Project, p. 89, accepts the LXX, "Rhodians" (i.e. the island of Rhodes) as the original text (i.e. "C" rating). The REV and NRSV follow this. Dedanites (MT) ‒ בני דדן Rodanim (LXX) ‒ בני רדן ▣ NASB, NKJV, TEV "Syria" NRSV, REB, NJB, Peshitta "Edom" MT, JPSOA, NET "Aram" "Edom" is spelled אדם, while "Aram" is spelled ארם. As you can see the letters d and r are formed in similar ways and easily confused in copying. The MT has "Aram" (BDB 74), but the Hebrew translations "Aquila" and "Symmachus" have "Edom." Why Damascus is listed separately in Ezek. 27:18 is uncertain. Aram was a coalition of independent tribes/clans north of Palestine and west of Assyria. Damascus may have had special autonomy. The UBS Text Project, p. 89, thinks "Edom" is original but only with a "C" rating (considerable doubt). NASB, NKJV, TEV "emeralds" NRSV, JPSOA, NIV "turquoise" NJB, REB "garnets" JB, Josephus "carbuncle" This term (BDB 656) refers to some kind of precious stone (cf. Ezek. 28:13). It was one of the jewels in the High Priest's breastplate (cf. Exod. 28:13; 39:11). ▣ "rubies" This rare term (BDB 461) occurs only here and in Isa. 54:12. It may be related to the Aramaic root "to sparkle" or "a red-hot rod." Rubies were not common in this area of the world until a later date. 27:17 Notice it says "Judah and the land of Israel." Judah was still (or until very recently) an existing nation, but Israel had been exiled by Assyria since 722 B.C. and was no longer a nation. ▣ "Minnith" This is a location (BDB 585) in Ammon (cf. Jdg. 11:33) which produced especially fine wheat. "cakes" NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta "millet" NJB, JPSOA "pannag" "wax" "meal" This term (BDB 815, KB 937) appears only here in the OT. In context it refers to some type of merchandise, probably food. In Akkadian the root means "pastry" or "cake." 27:18 "Helbon" This (KB 316 II, i.e. "forest place") refers to a grape-growing area eleven miles north of Damascus. The modern name is Helbun. NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA "white wool" "Sahar" "Zahar" "Suhar" BDB "reddish-grey" The KB 1019 denotes the BDB meaning comes from Arabic root. It also notes that it can refer to a territory northwest of Damascus, called "es-Sahra." 27:19 NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "Vedan" NKJV, NJB, Peshitta "Dan" "Danites" Both lexicons, BDB (255) and KB (259), assert the meaning as "uncertain." Some scholars think it is a place name near Medina, Arabia. Most assert a textual corruption. However, since it is linked to Javan (Greece) it may be another name for them (i.e. Homer and the History Channel video, "Decoding the Exodus"). The Septuagint has "and wine from" instead of a name. ▣ "Uzal" This (LXX, "Asel") may be the capital of Yemen (BDB 23) a word for "yarn" (BDB 23) a city (Izalla) in Cilicia (IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 713). 27:20-22 "Dedan, Arabia, Kedar, and Raamah" These all refer to Arabian tribes. 27:22 "Sheba and Raamah" These two trading partners are mentioned in Gen. 10:7, as descendants of Ham from Cush (cf. Isa. 43:3) Isa 60:6, with Midian and Ephah Ezek. 38:13, with Dedan The AB suggests these people were from the southwest corner of the Arabian peninsula (p. 1171). Both Ps. 72:15 and Isa. 60:6 mention they traded in gold and frankincense (cf. Jer. 6:20). Ezekiel 27:22 mentions precious jewel stones as their wares. 27:23 All of these locations are in Mesopotamia and most are associated with Assyria. The Jewish Study Bible asserts that the first three of these are all Syrian cities (p. 1094, cf. Gen. 12:4; 10:10; 2 Kgs. 19:12; Isa. 10:9; 37:12; Amos 1:5). ▣ "Asshur" Asshur (BDB 78) is a son of Shem (cf. Gen. 10:22; 1 Chr. 1:17). It becomes a region synonymous with Assyria. One of the national gods of Assyria is named Asshur. Asshur became the name of one of the capitals of Assyria. ▣ "Chilmad" This place (BDB 484) is unknown. The Targums revocalize the consonants and come up with "all Media" (REB and Kimchi; see Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 1, p. 908). 27:24 "clothes" Another rare term possibly "clothes" (BDB 166). The NOUN is found only here and the VERB (i.e. "to wrap") only in 2 Kgs. 2:8. It refers to a large garment wrapped around the body (i.e. same meaning in Aramaic, Syrian, Arabic, and Persian, NIDOTTE, vol. 1., p. 865). ▣ "carpets of many colors" This phrase has two rare words. "Carpets" (BDB 170) possibly means chests (cf. NKJV). It is found only here and in Esther 3:9 and 4:7, where it is translated "treasury." The phrase "many colors" (BDB 140) occurs only here. In Arabic it denotes a rope made of two colors. The trilateral Semitic root means "to twist." 27:25 NASB, NKJV, TEV, NIV "the carriers for your merchandise" NRSV, NASB (margin) "travelers for your trade" "soiled in your business" "in the service of your trade" "caravans of your imports" The root (BDB 1003-1004, KB 1449-1452) has several meanings. to travel, to journey to behold, to regard (unknown, Ps. 92:12) head of cattle, bullock wall Context determines meaning. In this context #1 fits best. There are no guarantees on exact meaning for roots that are rare are used in poetic texts are uncertain of the origin of the Semitic root Even ancient cognate languages are unable to precisely define all Hebrew terms.
Ezequiel 27:26-36
27:26-36 This starts the second poetic lament of chapter 27 (cf. Ezek. 27:3b-9). This lament first lists all of the people/groups mentioned in the first poem (those who built, manned the ships of Tyre and those who guarded the city). They will all be shipwrecked with the "great ship of Tyre." Then in Ezek. 27:30-32, these same groups mourn for Tyre's destruction (i.e. and their own). 27:26 "the east wind" See note at Ezek. 17:10. Special Topic: The East Wind ▣ "into great waters" Again this may refer to the chaotic waters of creation. Notice Ezek. 27:34 "broken by the seas in the depth of the waters." See note at Ezek. 26:3,19-21. Special Topic: Waters 27:30-32 This is a series of mourning rites. cry bitterly, Ezek. 27:30,31,32 put dust on their heads wallow in ashes pull out their hair put on sackcloth Special Topic: Grieving Rites 27:32 NASB, TEV, JPSOA "like her who is silent in the midst of the sea" NKJV, NRSV, NAB "destroyed in the midst of the sea" "far out to sea" "built in the midst of the sea" The Hebrew root דמה has several meanings (KB 225). to be like or resemble to be silent or still to cease to exist or be destroyed BDB 199 has "one silenced, brought to silence (destroyed)." Either option fits the context. UBS Text Project, p. 92, thinks option #2 is original. 27:34 Tyre is lost in the depth (BDB 771) of the chaotic waters sent by YHWH. The ship, the contents, and all on board are lost! Special Topic: Waters 27:35 Trembling takes hold of fearful people (cf. Ezek. 32:10; Job 18:20; also notice Exod. 15:14,15; Isa. 21:3; 33:13; Jer. 13:21). Note the parallel in Ezek. 26:16. 27:36 "The merchants among the people" Ezekiel's knowledge of the trading centers and their known exports is absolutely amazing. This chapter forms one of the most detailed commercial chapters anywhere in ancient literature. Tyre was the transporter of goods, materials, and persons for the entire Mediterranean for hundreds of fyears. She grew wealthy and politcally significant over time. In this period after Neo-Babylon invasion, Tyre became the political and economic power of Canaan. ▣ "hiss at you" This (BDB 1056) is an audible gesture of astonishment (cf. Jer. 19:8; 49:17; 50:13). It also can be used of derision (cf. 2 Chr. 29:8; Jer. 25:9,18; 29:18; 51:37; Lam. 2:15; Micah 6:16). In context it is hard to make a distinction between astonishment and a sense of the appropriateness of what has happened.