Ezekiel

CHAPTER 27

The Ship Tyre.

Tyre, you said, “I am a ship,

perfect in beauty”;^a

your builders perfected your beauty.^b

they built all your decks;

A cedar from Lebanon they took

to make you a mast.

they fashioned your oars,

Your bridge, of ivory-inlaid cypress wood

from the coasts of Kittim.

became your sail;

Your awnings were made of purple and scarlet

from the coasts of Elishah.^{* c}

were your oarsmen;

Your own sages, Tyre, were on board,

serving as your sailors.^d

were with you to caulk your seams.

Every ship and sailor on the sea

came to you to carry on trade.^e

were warriors in your army;

Shield and helmet they hung on you

to enhance your splendor.

were on your walls all around

And Gamadites on your towers;

they hung their shields around your walls,

they made your beauty perfect.

so great was your wealth,

Exchanging for your wares

silver, iron, tin, and lead.

also traded with you,

Exchanging slaves and bronze vessels

for your merchandise.^f

were exchanged for your wares.

many coastlands were your agents;

Ivory tusks and ebony wood

they brought back as your payment.

garnets, purple dye, embroidered cloth,

Fine linen, coral, and rubies

they gave you as merchandise.

trafficked with you:

Minnith wheat, grain,^* honey, oil, and balm^g

they gave you as merchandise.

so great was your wealth,

exchanging Helbon wine and Zahar wool.

from Uzal for your wares.

dealing in lambs, rams, and goats.ⁱ

exchanging for your wares the very best spices,

all kinds of precious stones, and gold.

the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad,

purple cloth, embroidered fabric,

varicolored carpets, and braided cords.

You were full and heavily laden

in the heart of the sea.

your oarsmen brought you;

The east wind shattered you

in the heart of the sea.^j

your sailors, your crew,

The caulkers of your seams,

those who traded for your goods,

All the warriors with you,

the whole crowd with you

Sank into the heart of the sea

on the day of your downfall.^k

the waves shudder,^l

come all who ply the oars;

Sailors, all the seafaring crew,

stand on the shore.

and shout their bitter cries;

They pour dust on their heads

and cover themselves with ashes.

and put on sackcloth;

For you they weep bitterly,

in anguished lament.^m

they wail over you:

“Who was ever destroyed like Tyre

in the midst of the sea?”ⁿ

you satisfied many peoples,

With your great wealth and merchandise

you enriched the kings of the earth.^o

in the watery depths;

Your wares and all your crew

have fallen down with you.

are aghast over you;

Their kings are terrified,

their faces distorted.

now hiss at you;

You have become a horror,

you shall be no more.

* [27:5] Senir: another name for Mount Hermon; cf. Dt 3:9.

* [27:6] Bashan: an area in northern Transjordan, noted for its lush growth and great forests (cf. Is 2:13). Kittim: here, probably Cyprus.

* [27:7] Elishah: perhaps another term for Cyprus.

* [27:8–9] Sidon…Gebal: Phoenician cities in Tyre’s orbit of influence; Gebal is classical Byblos.

* [27:11] Helech: perhaps in Asia Minor; otherwise unknown.

* [27:17] Grain: most commentators have read “figs,” but Hebrew panag more properly describes milled grains or prepared meal.

a. [27:3] Is 23:9.

b. [27:4] cf. Ez 28:1.

c. [27:7] Is 19:9–10.

d. [27:8] cf. Ez 28:20–23.

e. [27:9] Ps 104:26.

f. [27:13] cf. Ez 38:2; 39:1.

g. [27:17] 1 Kgs 5:9.

h. [27:20] Is 21:13.

i. [27:21] Is 21:17; Jer 49:28.

j. [27:26] Ps 48:7; Jer 18:17.

k. [27:27] cf. Ez 28:8.

l. [27:28] Jer 49:21.

m. [27:31] Is 15:2; Jer 48:37.

n. [27:32] Is 23:1–6.

o. [27:33] cf. Ez 28:4–5.