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Translation
King James Version
Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;
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KJV (with Strong's)
Now, thou son H1121 of man H120, take up H5375 a lamentation H7015 for Tyrus H6865;
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Complete Jewish Bible
"You, human being, raise this lament for Tzor;
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Berean Standard Bible
“Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre.
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American Standard Version
And thou, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;
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World English Bible Messianic
You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Sonne of man, take vp a lametation for Tyrus,
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Young's Literal Translation
`And thou, son of man, lift up concerning Tyre a lamentation, and thou hast said to Tyre:
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 27:2 marks the solemn commencement of a divine dirge, where the prophet is commanded to compose a lamentation for the mighty maritime city of Tyre. This verse initiates a detailed and evocative prophetic oracle, portraying Tyre's impending destruction as a funeral song for a once-glorious entity whose immense pride, commercial prowess, and self-sufficiency ultimately led to its catastrophic downfall under God's sovereign judgment.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: The book of Ezekiel is meticulously structured, primarily comprising divine oracles delivered during the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE. Following extensive prophecies against Judah and Jerusalem (chapters 1-24) and a transitional period (chapter 25), chapters 26-28 pivot to focus specifically on Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state. This lament in Ezekiel 27 is directly preceded by an oracle in Ezekiel 26 that details Tyre's destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. It is then followed by a lament for the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28. Ezekiel 27:2 serves as the formal introduction to this elaborate poetic dirge, setting a somber tone for the detailed description of Tyre's former glory and its inevitable demise, which unfolds in the subsequent verses. The imperative to "take up a lamentation" signals that the ensuing text is not merely a prediction but a mournful elegy, treating Tyre's fall as an already accomplished tragedy.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Tyre (modern-day Sur, Lebanon) was an ancient Phoenician city, celebrated for its unparalleled maritime trade, formidable naval power, and impregnable fortifications, particularly its island city. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean coast made it the dominant commercial hub of the ancient world, facilitating trade between the East and West. By the 6th century BCE, Tyre had amassed immense wealth and influence, fostering a reputation for invincibility and a deep-seated pride in its self-sufficiency. This period coincided with the ascendancy of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II, which aggressively expanded its dominion. Tyre's prophesied fall was a monumental event, demonstrating that even the most powerful human empires were not immune to the geopolitical shifts and divine judgments of the era. The cultural practice of composing laments or dirges was widespread in the ancient Near East, frequently performed at funerals or in times of profound national calamity, thereby underscoring the severity and finality of the impending judgment.
  • Key Themes: Ezekiel 27:2 introduces several profound themes central to Ezekiel's prophecy and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully asserts Divine Sovereignty and Judgment, demonstrating God's ultimate authority over all earthly kingdoms, irrespective of their wealth, military might, or perceived invincibility. Even a formidable power like Tyre is subject to His decree, a theme vividly echoed in Isaiah 23. Secondly, the command to lament foreshadows the Pride and Fall of Tyre, presenting its destruction as a direct consequence of its immense arrogance and self-sufficiency. This serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of human hubris, a principle explicitly articulated in Proverbs 16:18. Lastly, the recurring address to Ezekiel as "son of man" highlights the theme of Prophetic Obedience and Humility, emphasizing his role as a mortal messenger delivering God's challenging and often unwelcome word, even when it concerns the downfall of a great nation. This underscores the prophet's unique position as a conduit for divine truth, as powerfully seen in Ezekiel 2:1-5.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • son of man (Hebrew, bên_ _ʼâdâm', H1121): This recurring address to Ezekiel (H1121, bên, "son," and H120, ʼâdâm, "human being") profoundly emphasizes the prophet's mortal, human nature in stark contrast to the divine speaker. While bên denotes lineage or belonging, and ʼâdâm refers to a human being (often implying frailty or commonality), their combination highlights Ezekiel's status as a representative of humanity—a humble, mortal instrument through whom God's transcendent message is conveyed. This phrase underscores the vast gulf between the divine and the human, yet also God's willingness to use a humble human vessel for His powerful revelation.
  • take up (Hebrew, nâsâʼ', H5375): Derived from H5375, nâsâʼ, meaning "to lift," "to carry," or "to bear," this verb in context signifies the deliberate act of composing, uttering, or delivering a lamentation. It implies a weighty and solemn act of bearing a message, not merely speaking it. The prophet is not just to recite a dirge but to "lift up" or "bear" its burden, embodying the sorrow and gravity of the impending judgment.
  • lamentation (Hebrew, qîynâh', H7015): qîynâh, this term specifically refers to a dirge or funeral song, typically characterized by a mournful tone and often a specific poetic meter (the qinah meter, frequently a 3+2 beat). Its immediate use signals that the following prophetic oracle is not merely a prediction of destruction but a poetic expression of mourning, treating Tyre as if it were already dead or on the verge of death. It evokes a profound sense of tragedy, loss, and the irreversible nature of the impending judgment.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Now, thou son of man,": This opening phrase serves as a direct, divine address to the prophet Ezekiel. The term "son of man" (Hebrew: ben 'adam) is God's characteristic way of addressing Ezekiel throughout the book, emphasizing his humanity and mortality in contrast to the divine majesty of the one speaking. It sets the stage for a solemn divine command, highlighting that the message originates from God, delivered through a humble human intermediary.
  • "take up a lamentation": This is the core imperative of the verse. Ezekiel is commanded not merely to prophesy but to compose and utter a "lamentation" (qinah). This signifies a dirge or funeral song, a poetic form typically used to mourn the dead or lament a great tragedy. The command immediately establishes the nature of the ensuing prophecy: it will be a mournful elegy, treating Tyre's impending destruction as a cause for deep sorrow and lament, as if a funeral were already taking place.
  • "for Tyrus;": This specifies the object of the lamentation. "Tyrus" (Tyre) was a powerful and wealthy Phoenician city-state, renowned for its maritime trade and perceived invincibility. By naming Tyre as the subject of a funeral dirge, the verse immediately conveys the gravity of its impending downfall, signaling that even this formidable entity is not beyond the reach of divine judgment and will suffer a catastrophic end.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 27:2 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with profound impact. The most prominent is Direct Address, as God speaks directly to Ezekiel using the recurring epithet "son of man," immediately establishing the divine authority behind the prophecy and highlighting the prophet's role as a human conduit. The use of the Imperative Mood ("take up") underscores the divine command, indicating that Ezekiel's task is not optional but a solemn duty. The entire passage functions as a Prophetic Oracle, a divine message delivered through a prophet, but specifically framed as a Dirge or Elegy. By commanding a "lamentation" for Tyre, the text employs Personification, treating the city as a living entity whose death is to be mourned. This pre-emptive mourning creates a powerful sense of impending doom and emphasizes the irreversible nature of Tyre's judgment, as if its fate is already sealed.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 27:2 introduces a profound theological statement: God's absolute sovereignty extends even over the most powerful and seemingly invincible earthly kingdoms. The command to lament for Tyre, a city renowned for its immense wealth and pride, serves as a stark reminder that no human achievement, no matter how grand, can withstand divine judgment when it is rooted in arrogance and self-sufficiency. This passage underscores the biblical principle that pride precedes a fall, illustrating that God holds nations accountable for their actions, particularly their commercial exploitation and spiritual idolatry. The lament form itself is significant, reflecting not only judgment but also the pathos of a once-great entity brought low, inviting reflection on the transient nature of earthly power and the ultimate enduring nature of God's righteous rule.

  • Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
  • Isaiah 23 - A comprehensive oracle against Tyre, detailing its fall and subsequent restoration after seventy years, demonstrating God's long-term plan and ultimate control over nations.
  • Revelation 18:9-19 - The lament over the fall of "Babylon the Great," a symbolic representation of a powerful, materialistic, and corrupt commercial system, echoing the themes of Tyre's judgment and the ultimate demise of worldly empires.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel's prophetic lament for Tyre, initiated in this verse, offers timeless insights for personal and communal reflection. It challenges us to critically examine the foundations of our security and identity. Do we, like Tyre, place our ultimate trust in material wealth, professional achievements, social status, or a perceived invincibility that stems from human effort? This passage serves as a potent warning against the perils of pride and self-reliance, reminding us that all earthly power and prosperity are transient and ultimately subject to divine will. True and lasting security is found only in acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty and aligning our lives with His righteous will. It calls us to cultivate profound humility, recognizing that our gifts, resources, and successes are ultimately from Him, and to steward them for His glory rather than our own self-aggrandizement. Embracing this truth leads to a life built on an unshakeable foundation, free from the spiritual pitfalls that lead to a devastating fall.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of your life might you be placing undue trust in your own strength, resources, or achievements rather than in God's sovereignty?
  • How does the concept of a "lamentation" for a city challenge your understanding of divine judgment and God's emotional response to human pride and rebellion?
  • What practical steps can you take to cultivate greater humility and a deeper, more consistent reliance on God in your daily life and decisions?

FAQ

Why is Ezekiel addressed as "son of man" so frequently?

Answer: The address "son of man" (Hebrew: ben 'adam) is used over 90 times in the book of Ezekiel. It serves primarily to emphasize Ezekiel's humanity and mortality in stark contrast to the divine majesty of God, who is speaking. It underscores that while the message is from the transcendent God, it is delivered through a frail, mortal instrument. This highlights the humility of the prophet's calling and ensures that the authority of the message rests solely on its divine origin, not on any inherent power or status of Ezekiel himself. It also connects Ezekiel to the broader human experience, making him a representative of humanity before God, a theme later picked up in the New Testament with Jesus's self-designation as the Son of Man.

What is the significance of "lamentation" in a prophetic context?

Answer: A "lamentation" (Hebrew: qinah) is a dirge or funeral song, typically associated with mourning the dead or expressing deep sorrow over a tragedy. In a prophetic context, as seen in Ezekiel 27 for Tyre, its use is highly significant. It signals that the impending judgment is so certain and devastating that the prophet is commanded to mourn the entity as if it were already dead. This literary device imbues the prophecy with a profound sense of finality and pathos, transforming a mere prediction into a solemn funeral elegy. It emphasizes the complete and irreversible nature of God's judgment on pride and sin, while also conveying the sorrow that accompanies such a downfall, even for an enemy nation.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Ezekiel's command to "take up a lamentation for Tyrus" finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound ways. Firstly, Jesus, the true and ultimate Son of Man, perfectly embodies the humble humanity emphasized by the title, yet He is also the divine Word made flesh. Unlike Ezekiel, who merely delivered God's lament, Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem, lamenting its spiritual blindness and impending destruction (Luke 19:41-44). This demonstrates a divine lament, not just a human one, over the consequences of rebellion and pride. Secondly, while Tyre's fall was a judgment on earthly pride and commercialism, Christ's work on the cross represents the ultimate judgment on sin and the defeat of all powers that exalt themselves against God. He bore the lamentation of humanity's sin, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, so that those who trust in Him might be spared the final, eternal lamentation. Finally, the lament for Tyre foreshadows the ultimate fall of all ungodly systems and kingdoms, culminating in the complete and final triumph of Christ's eternal kingdom, where there will be no more lamenting for the redeemed (Revelation 21:4). The judgment on Tyre, therefore, points to the comprehensive judgment of Christ that purifies and prepares the way for His righteous reign.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 27 verses 1–25

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points(1.) (2.) Details

Here, I. The prophet is ordered to take up a lamentation for Tyrus, Eze 27:2. It was yet in the height of its prosperity, and there appeared not the least symptom of its decay; yet the prophet must lament it, because its prosperity is its snare, is the cause of its pride and security, which will make its fall the more grievous. Even those that live at ease are to be lamented if they be not preparing for trouble. He must lament it because its ruin is hastening on apace; it is sure, it is near; and though the prophet foretel it, and justify God in it, yet he must lament it. Note, We ought to mourn for the miseries of other nations, as well as for our own, out of an affection for mankind in general; it is a part of the honour we owe to all men to bewail their calamities, even those which they have brought upon themselves by their own folly.

II. He is directed what to say, and to say it in the name of the Lord Jehovah, a name not unknown in Tyre, and which shall be better known, Eze 26:6.

1.He must upbraid Tyre with her pride: O Tyrus! thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty (Eze 27:3), of universal beauty (so the word is), every way accomplished, and therefore every where admired. Zion, that had the beauty of holiness, is called indeed the perfection of beauty (Psa 50:2); that is the beauty of the Lord. But Tyre, because well-built and well-filled with money and trade, will set up for a perfect beauty. Note, It is the folly of the children of this world to value themselves on the pomp and pleasure they live in, to call themselves beauties for the sake of them, and, if in these they excel others, to think themselves perfect. But God takes notice of the vain conceits men have of themselves in their prosperity when the mind is lifted up with the condition, and often, for the humbling of the spirit, finds a way to bring down the estate. Let none reckon themselves beautified any further than they are sanctified, nor say that they are of perfect beauty till they come to heaven.

2.He must upbraid Tyre with her prosperity, which was the matter of her pride. In elegies it is usual to insert encomiums of those whose fall we lament; the prophet, accordingly, praises Tyre for all that she had that was praiseworthy. He has nothing to say of her religion, her piety, her charity, her being a refuge to the distressed or using her interest to do good offices among her neighbours; but she lived great, and had a great trade, and all the trading part of mankind made court to her. The prophet must describe her height and magnificence, that God may be the more glorified in her fall, as the God who looks upon every one that is proud and abases him, hides the proud in the dust together, and binds their faces in secret, Job 40:12.

(1.)The city of Tyre was advantageously situated, at the entry of the sea (Eze 27:3), having many commodious harbours each way, not as cities seated on rivers, which the shipping can come but one way to. It stood at the east end of the Mediterranean, very convenient for trade by land into all the Levant parts; so that she became a merchant of the people for many isles. Lying between Greece and Asia, it became the great emporium, or mart-town, the rendezvous of merchants from all parts: They borders are in the heart of the seas, Eze 27:4. It was surrounded with water, which was a great advantage to its trade; it was the darling of the sea, laid in its bosom, in its heart. Note, It is a great convenience, upon many accounts, to live in an island: seas are the most ancient land-mark, not which our fathers have set, but the God of our fathers, and which cannot be removed as other land-marks may, nor so easily got over. The people so situated may the more easily dwell alone, if they please, as not reckoned among the nations, and yet, if they please, may the more easily traffic abroad and keep a correspondence with the nations. We therefore of this island must own that he who determines the bounds of men's habitations has determined well for us.

(2.)It was curiously built, according as the fashion then was; and, being a city on a hill, it made a glorious show and tempted the ships that sailed by into her ports (Eze 27:4): They builders have perfected thy beauty; they have so improved in architecture that nothing appears in the buildings of Tyre that can be found fault with; and yet it wants that perfection of beauty into which the Lord does and will build up his Jerusalem.

(3.)It had its haven replenished with abundance of gallant ships, Isa 33:21. The ship-carpenters did their part, as well as the house-carpenters theirs. The Tyrians are thought to be the first that invented the art of navigation; at least they improved it, and brought it to as great a perfection perhaps as it could be without the loadstone. [1.] They made the boards, or planks, for the hulk of the ship, of fir-trees fetched from Senir, a mount in the land of Israel, joined with Hermon, Sol 4:8. Planks of fir were smooth and light, but not so lasting as our English oak. [2.] They had cedars from Lebanon, another mountain of Israel, for their masts, Eze 27:5. [3.] They had oaks from Bashan (Isa 2:13), to make oars of; for it is probable that their ships were mostly galleys, that go with oars. The people of Israel built few ships for themselves, but they furnished the Tyrians with timber for shipping. Thus one country uses what another produced, and so they are serviceable one to another, and cannot say to each other, I have no need of thee. [4.] Such magnificence did they affect in building their ships that they made the very benches of ivory, which they fetched from the isles of Chittim, from Italy or Greece, and had workmen from the Ashurites or Assyrians to make them, so rich would they have their state-rooms in their ships to be. [5.] So very prodigal were they that they made their sails of fine linen fetched from Egypt, and that embroidered too, Eze 27:7. Or it may be meant of their flags (which they hoisted to notify what city they belonged to), which were very costly. The word signifies a banner as well as a sail. [6.] They hung those rooms on ship-board with blue and purple, the richest cloths and richest colours they could get from the isles they traded with. For though Tyre was itself famous for purple, which is therefore called the Tyrian dye, yet they must have that which was far-fetched.

(4.)These gallant ships were well-manned, by men of great ingenuity and industry. The pilots and masters of the ships, that had command in their fleets, were of their own city, such as they could put a confidence in (Eze 27:8): Thy wise men, O Tyrus! that were in thee, were thy pilots. But, for common sailors, they had men from other countries; The inhabitants of Arvad and Zidon were thy mariners. These came from cities hear them; Zidon was sister to Tyre, not two leagues off, to the northward; there they bred able seamen, which it is the interest of the maritime powers to support and give all the countenance they can to. They sent to Gebal in Syria for calkers, or strengtheners of the clefts or chinks, to stop them when the ships come home, after long voyages, to be repaired. To do this they had the ancients and wise men (Eze 27:9); for there is more need of wisdom and prudence to repair what has gone to decay than to build anew. In public matters there is occasion for the ancients and wise men to be the repairers of the breaches and the restorers of paths to dwell in. Nay, all the countries they traded with were at their service, and were willing to send men into their pay, to put their youths apprentice in Tyre, or to put them on board their fleets; so that all the ships in the sea with their mariners were ready to occupy thy merchandise. Those that give good wages shall have hands at command.

(5.)Their city was guarded by a military force that was very considerable, Eze 27:10, Eze 27:11. The Tyrians were themselves wholly given to trade; but it was necessary that they should have a good army on foot, and therefore they took those of other states into their pay, such as were fittest for service, though they had them from afar (which perhaps was their policy), from Persia, Lud, and Phut. These bore their arms when there was occasion, and in time of peace hung up the shield and buckler in the armoury, as it were to proclaim peace, and let the world know that they had at present no need of them, but they were ready to be taken down whenever there was occasion for them. Their walls were guarded by the man of Arvad; their towers were garrisoned by the Gammadim, robust men, that had a great deal of strength in their arms; yet the vulgar Latin renders it pygmies, men no longer than one's arm. They hung their shields upon the walls in their magazines or places of arms; or hung them out upon the walls of the city, that none might dare to approach them, seeing how well provided they were with all things necessary for their own defence. "Thus they set forth thy comeliness (Eze 27:10), and made they beauty perfect," Eze 27:11. It contributed as much as any thing to the glory of Tyre that it had those of all the surrounding nations in its service, except the land of Israel (though it lay next them), which furnished them with timber, but we do not find that it furnished them with men; that would have trenched upon the liberty and dignity of the Jewish nation, Ch2 2:17, Ch2 2:18. It was also the glory of Tyre that it had such a militia, so fit for service, and in constant pay, and such an armoury, like that in the tower of David, where hung the shields of mighty men, Sol 4:4. It is observable that there and here the armouries are said to be furnished with shields and helmets, defensive arms, not with swords and spears, offensive, though it is probable that there were such, to intimate that the military force of a people must be intended only for their own protection and not to invade and annoy their neighbours, to secure their own right, not to encroach upon the rights of others.

(6.)They had a vast trade and a correspondence with all parts of the known world. Some nations they dealt with in one commodity and some in another, according as either its products or its manufactures were, and the fruits of nature or art were, with which it was blessed. This is very much enlarged upon here, as that which was the principal glory of Tyre, and which supported all the rest. We do not find any where in scripture so many nations named together as are here; so that this chapter, some think, gives much light to the first account we have of the settlement of the nations after the flood, Gen. 10. The critics have abundance of work here to find out the several places and nations spoken of. Concerning many of them their conjectures are different and they leave us in the dark and at much uncertainty; it is well that it is not material. Modern surveys come short of explaining the ancient geography. And therefore we will not amuse ourselves here with a particular enquiry either concerning the traders or the goods they traded in. We leave it to the critical expositors, and observe that only which is improvable. [1.] We have reason to think that Ezekiel knew little, of his own knowledge, concerning the trade of Tyre. He was a priest, carried away captive far enough from the neighbourhood of Tyre, we may suppose when he was young, and there he had been eleven years. And yet he speaks of the particular merchandises of Tyre as nicely as if he had been comptroller of the custom-house there, by which it appears that he was divinely inspired in what he spoke and wrote. It is God that saith this, Eze 27:3. [2.] This account of the trade of Tyre intimates to us that God's eye is upon men, and that he takes cognizance of what they do when they are employed in their worldly business, not only when they are at church, praying and hearing, but when they are in their markets and fairs, and upon the exchange, buying and selling, which is a good reason why we should in all our dealings keep a conscience void of offence, and have our eye always upon him whose eye is always upon us. [3.] We may here observe the wisdom of God, and his goodness, as the common Father of mankind, in making one country to abound in one commodity and another in another, and all more or less serviceable either to the necessity or to the comfort or ornament of human life. Non omis fert omnia tellus - One land does not supply all the varieties of produce. Providence dispenses its gifts variously, some to each, and all to none, that there may be a mutual commerce among those whom God has made of one blood, though they are made to dwell on all the face of the earth, Act 17:26. Let every nations therefore thank God for the productions of its country; though they be not so rich as those of others, yet there is use for them in the public service of the world. [4.] See what a blessing trade and merchandise are to mankind, especially when followed in the fear of God, and with a regard not only to private advantage, but to a common benefit. The earth is full of God's riches, Psa 104:24. There is a multitude of all kinds of riches in it (as it is here, Eze 27:12), gathered off its surface and dug out of its bowels. The earth is also full of the fruits of men's ingenuity and industry, according as their genius leads them. Now by exchange and barter these are made more extensively useful; thus what can be spared is helped off, and what is wanted is fetched in, in lieu of it, from the most distant countries. Those that are not tradesmen themselves have reason to thank God for tradesmen and merchants, by whom the productions of other countries are brought to our hands, as those of our own are by our husbandmen. [5.] Besides the necessaries that are here traded in, see what abundance of things are here mentioned that only serve to please fancy, and are made valuable only by men's humour and custom; and yet God allows us to use them, and trade in them, and part with those things for them which we can spare that are of an intrinsic worth much beyond them. Here are horns of ivory and ebony (Eze 27:15), that are brought for a present, exposed to sale, and offered in exchange, or (as some think) presented to the city, or the great men of it, to obtain their favour. Here are emeralds, coral, and agate (Eze 27:16), all precious stones, and gold (Eze 27:22), which the world could better be without than iron and common stones. Here are, to please the taste and smell, the chief of all spices (Eze 27:22), cassia and calamus (Eze 27:19), and, for ornament, purple, broidered work, and fine linen (Eze 27:16), precious clothes for chariots (Eze 27:20), blue clothes (which Tyre was famous for), broidered work, and chests of rich apparel, bound with rich cords, and made of cedar, a sweet wood to perfume the garments kept in them, Eze 27:24. Upon the review of this invoice, or bill of parcels, we may justly say, What a great many things are here that we have no need of, and can live very comfortably without! [6.] It is observable that Judah and the land of Israel were merchants in Tyre too; in a way of trade they were allowed to converse with the heathen. But they traded mostly in wheat, a substantial commodity, and necessary, wheat of Minnith and Pannag, two countries in Canaan famous for the best wheat, as some think. The whole land indeed was a land of wheat (Deu 8:8); it had the fat of kidneys of wheat, Deu 32:14. Tyre was maintained by corn fetched from the land of Israel. They traded likewise in honey, and oil, and balm, or rosin; all useful things, and not serving to pride or luxury. And the land which these were the staple commodities of was that which was the glory of all lands, which God reserved for his peculiar people, not those that traded in spices and precious stones; and the Israel of God must reckon themselves well provided for if they have food convenient; for those that are acquainted with the delights of the children of God will not set their hearts on the delights of the sons and daughters of men, or the treasures of kings and provinces. We find indeed that the New Testament Babylon trades in such things as Tyre traded in, Rev 18:12, Rev 18:13. For, notwithstanding its pretensions to sanctity, it is a mere worldly interest. [7.] Though Tyre was a city of great merchandise, and they got abundance by buying and selling, importing commodities from one place and exporting them to another, yet manufacture-trades were not neglected. The wares of their own making, and a multitude of such wares, are here spoken of, Eze 27:16, Eze 27:18. It is the wisdom of a nation to encourage art and industry, and not to bear hard upon the handicraft-tradesmen; for it contributes much to the wealth and honour of a nation to send abroad wares of their own making, which may bring them in the multitude of all riches. [8.] All this made Tyrus very great and very proud: The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in they market (Eze 27:25); thou wast admired and cried up by all the nations that had dealings with thee; for thou wast replenished in wealth and number of people, wast beautified, and made very glorious, in the midst of the seas. Those that grow very rich are cried up as very glorious; for riches are glorious things in the eyes of carnal people, Gen 31:1.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–25. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 35, 36, and following) And I will bring you into a desert of peoples, and there I will judge you face to face. Just as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, says the Lord. And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will bring you into the bonds of the covenant, and I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked: from their place of residence I will bring them out, and they will not enter the land of Israel, and you will know that I am the Lord. Thus says the Lord: I will do for you who are in Babylon, and now serve idols, what I did for your ancestors in Egypt. I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face, just as I contended with them in judgment when they came out of Egypt. And after I have judged you, I will subject you to my scepter and rule, and I will make a covenant with you and bring you into your land with the bonds of love, so that bound by my love, you will never be able to depart from me. But I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked, who persist in the hardness of their hearts in evil deeds, not for possession, but for rejection. And I will indeed bring them out of the land of their dwelling, so that when they are brought out, they will not enter the land of Israel; but they will perish in various regions. And by the distinction between good and evil, you shall know that I am the Lord, who judges all things. The rest of the discourse hastens, and we briefly go through each point, in order to provide only the meaning to the readers.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Chapter 27.) And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Therefore, son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre and say to Tyre, which dwells at the entrance of the sea, to the merchant of the peoples to many islands (or from many islands). Thus says the Lord God: If I were to summarize the entire prophecy against Tyre or concerning the lamentation of Tyre in one discourse, it would be lengthy and the meaning would be obscure for the reader; since it is not possible to retain everything in the mind at once, especially regarding the discrepancies between the Hebrew and the Septuagint edition in this place, that is, what they have added or subtracted. Therefore, we will be content with our own interpretation, and wherever there is disagreement, we will unite from the side, leaving the perfect knowledge of all things to God: and we will briefly explain what seems to us in each case. The one who mourns is still a concern to the one he mourns for. Therefore, Samuel wept and mourned for Saul (2 Samuel 15). And the apostle Paul lamented and mourned for those who committed fornication and did not repent (2 Corinthians 12). And Jeremiah writes the Lamentations concerning the destruction of Jerusalem with four alphabets. Therefore, Tyre, or Tyre in entrance-ways, dwells according to the letter: either because it was once an island, or because it receives ships coming from the deep in its safest harbor, and it is a trading place for many nations, or from many islands. Indeed, this continues until today, so that the commerce of nearly all nations is carried out there. But following the interpretation that has been started, let us apply whatever is said about Tyre to the 'constriction,' that is, the narrowness of this world, which is situated in evil and is constricted and beaten by various disturbances as if by waves. This kind of merchants is also described in mystic language in the Psalm: Those who go down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters, they have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep (Ps. 107:23-24).
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 27, 29 onwards) Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them: Thus says the Lord God: Moreover, your fathers have blasphemed against me and have treated me with contempt, even as they spurned me. And I brought them into the land that I had lifted my hand to give them ((Vulgate adds: that land)): they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices and presented there the irritation of their offerings, and they placed there the fragrance of their sweetness, and they poured out their ((Vulgate is silent on this)) libations there. And I said to them, 'What is the high place to which you are going?' And its name was called the High Place until this day. Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: As for your fathers, they have provoked Me to anger by their iniquities, by the fact that they have fallen away from Me. So I brought them into the land that I had lifted My hand in an oath to give them.' They saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices. They also presented there the provocation of their gifts, and they set there their pleasing aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings. And I said to them: What is abbana, because you enter there? And they called its name abbana until this day. I wanted, he said, to scatter them in the wilderness, and to give them not good precepts, so that they would sacrifice to idols what they should have offered to me, and consecrate all their first-fruits to them by fire, so that I might kill them and destroy them. But when he says, I wanted, he shows that he did not do what he wanted. And that which follows: 'And they shall know that I am the Lord,' is not found in the Septuagint. For it did not seem fitting to them to know after their destruction that he himself is the Lord. But you, son of man, speak again to them, that is, to the elders of the house of Israel, who have come to inquire of you: Your fathers, from whom you have descended, have also blasphemed against me and held me in contempt; after I brought them into the land which I had given them to possess, they turned against me to provoke me. For when they saw every high hill and leafy tree, they would sacrifice on the mountains and in the groves and thickets, and offer victims to the idols, and pour out libations. And when I saw this, I said to them: What is this, Bama? for it is called high: or why do you enter into such a place which you have chosen for yourselves in all the hills, so that even today these places are called Bamoth, and the ancient error retains its original name? Regarding Bama, which we translate as excelsum, there is an error in the Septuagint edition, where it is written as ἀββανὰ, which does not resonate in the Hebrew language. Bama can mean 'in which' if the two syllables are divided into two words, but in the present context, that sense does not fit. However, wherever it is written in the Books of Kings and Chronicles: 'The people still sacrificed and offered incense on the high places,' Bama in the singular and Bamoth in the plural mean 'high places.'
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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