---
title: "Clarke"
description: "oblivion; the east wind hath carried them away. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII Verse Ezekiel 27:2. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus — This is a singular and curious"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/27"
---

*oblivion; the east wind hath carried them away.*
NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII

Verse [Ezekiel 27:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/2). ***Take up a lamentation for Tyrus*** — This is a singular and curious chapter. It gives a very circumstantial account of the trade of Tyre with different parts of the world, and the *different* *sorts of merchandise* in which she trafficked. The *places* and the *imports* are as regularly entered here as they could have been in a European custom-house.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/3). ***The entry of the sea*** — Tyre was a small island, or rather rock, in the sea, at a short distance from the main land. We have already seen that there was another Tyre on the main land; but they are both considered as one city.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/4). ***Thy builders have perfected thy beauty.*** — Under the allegory of a *beautiful ship*, the prophet, here and in the following verses, paints the glory of this ancient city. *Horace* describes the *commonwealth of Rome* by the same allegory, and is as minute in his description, *Carm*. lib. i. Od. xiv: -
Debes ludibrium, cave.

Unhappy *vessel*, shall the *waves* again
Tumultuous bear thee to the faithless *main*?
What, would thy madness thus with *storms* to sport?
*Cast firm your anchor* in the friendly *port*.
Behold thy *naked decks*, the *wounded mast*,
And *sail-yards* groan beneath the *southern blast*.
Nor, without *ropes*, thy *keel* can longer brave
The rushing fury of the imperious *wave*:
*Torn* are thy *sails*; thy *guardian gods* are lost,
Whom you might call, in future *tempests* tost.
What, though majestic in your pride you stood,
A noble daughter of the *Pontic wood*,
You now may vainly boast an empty name,
Of birth conspicuous in the rolls of fame.
The *mariner*, when *storms* around him rise,
No longer on a *painted stern* relies.
Ah! yet take heed, lest these *new tempests* sweep,
In sportive rage, thy glories to the *deep*.
FRANCIS.

I give this as a striking parallel to many passages in this chapter.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/5). ***Fir trees of Senir*** — *Senir* is a mountain which the Sidonians called Sirion, and the Hebrews *Hermon*, [Deuteronomy 3:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/3/9). It was beyond Jordan, and extended from Libanus to the mountains of Gilead.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/6). ***Of the oaks of Bashan*** — Some translate *alder*, others the *pine*.
***The company of the Ashurites*** — The word אשרים *asherim* is by several translated *boxwood*. The *seats* or *benches* being made of this wood inlaid with *ivory*.
***Isles of Chittim*** — The Italian islands; the islands of Greece; Cyprus. *Calmet* says Macedonia is meant.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/7). ***Fine linen*** — שש *shesh, cotton cloth*. In this sense the word is generally to be understood.
***To be thy sail*** — Probably the flag - *ensign* or *pennant*, is meant.
***Blue and purple from the isles of Elishah*** — *Elis*, a part of the *Peloponnesus*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:8](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/8). ***Zidon*****and*****Arvad*** — Or *Arad*. Two powerful cities on the Phoenician coast, in the neighbourhood of Tyre, from which Tyre had her sailors; and the best instructed of her own inhabitants were her pilots or steersmen.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:9](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/9). ***The ancients of Gebal*** — This was a city of Phoenicia, near Mount Libanus, [Joshua 13:5](../../../kjv/joshua/13/5). It was called *Biblos* by the Greeks.
***Thy calkers*** — Those who repaired their vessels; *paying*, as it is termed, pitched hemp into the seams, to prevent the water from oozing through.
***To occupy thy merchandise.*** — That is, to be thy *agents* or *factors*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/10). ***They of Persia*** — Lud, the Lydians; *Phut*, a people of Africa, see [Genesis 10:6](../../../kjv/genesis/10/6). From these places they had auxiliary troops; for as they traded with the then known world, were rich, and could afford to give good pay, they no doubt had soldiers and sailors from every part. Skilful and desperate men will go any where after their *price*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/11). ***The Gammadims were in thy towers*** — Some think these were a people of Phoenicia; others, that *tutelar images* are meant; others, that the word expresses *strong men*, who acted as *guards*. The *Vulgate* reads *Pygmaei*, the pygmies, who were fabled to be a little people of a *cubit* in height, from גמד *gomed*. a *cubit*; and are are told that this little people were celebrated for their wars with the *cranes*; but nothing of this kind can enter into this description. Probably a people inhabiting the promontories of Phoenicia are here intended; and their hanging their *shields upon* *the walls* is a proof that *soldiers* are meant, and persons of skill and prowess too.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/12). ***Tarshish*****was*****thy merchant*** — After having given an account of the *naval* and *military* equipment of this city, he now speaks of the various *places* and *peoples* with whom the Tyrians traded, and the different kinds of merchandise imported from those places.
By *Tarshish* some understand the *Carthaginians*; some think *Tartessus*, near the straits of Gibraltar, is meant; others, *Tharsis* in Cilicia. The place was famous for all the useful metals, *silver, iron, tin*, and *lead*. All these they might have had from *Britain*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/13). ***Javan, Tubal, and Meshech*** — The Ionians, the Tybarenians, and the Cappadocians, or Muscovites.
***They traded the persons of men*** — That is, they trafficked in *slaves*. The bodies and souls of men were bought and sold in those days, as in our degenerate age. With these also they traded in brazen vessels.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/14). ***Togarmah*** — The *Sarmatians*. Some think *Cappadocia*. With these they dealt in *horses, mules*, and *horsemen*; or probably *draught horses* and *war horses* are intended.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/15). ***The men of Dedan*** — Dedan was one of the descendants of Abraham by Keturah, and dwelt in Arabia, [Genesis 25:3](../../../kjv/genesis/25/3). *Ivory* and *ebony* might come from that quarter. By way of distinction ivory is called both in Hebrew ש *shen*, and in Arabic [Arabic] *shen*, the TOOTH, as that beautiful substance is the *tooth* of the *elephant*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/16). ***Syria*** — These were always a mercantile people. For the precious stones mentioned here [Exodus 28:17](../../../kjv/exodus/28/17).

Verse [Ezekiel 27:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/17). ***Judah, and the land of Israel - traded in thy market**********wheat*** — The words have been understood as articles of merchandise, not names of *places*. So the Jews traded with the Tyrians in *wheat,* *stacte, balsam, honey, oil*, and *resin*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:18](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/18). ***Damascus wine of Helbon*** — Now called by the Turks Haleb, and by us Aleppo.
***White wool.*** — Very fine wool: wool of a fine quality. Some think *Milesian wool* is meant.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:19](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/19). ***Dan also and Javan*** — It is probable that both these words mean some of the Grecian islands.
***Going to and fro*** — They both *took* and *brought-imported* and *exported*: but מאוזל *meuzal*, from *uzal*, may be a proper name. What place is signified I cannot tell, unless it be *Azal*, a name, according to *Kamoos*, of the capital of Arabia Felix.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:20](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/20). ***Dedan*** — Possibly the descendants of *Dedan*, son of *Raamah*, see [Genesis 10:7](../../../kjv/genesis/10/7).
***In precious clothes for chariots.*** — Either fine carpets, or rich housings for horses, camels, &c., used for riding.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/21). ***Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar*** — Arabia Deserta, on the confines of the Dead Sea. The *Kedarenes* inhabited the same country. These brought *lambs, rams*, and *goats* for the consumption of the city.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/22). ***Sheba and Raamah*** — Inhabitants of Arabia Felix, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, who were famous for their riches and spices.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/23). ***Haran*** — In Mesopotamia; well known in Scripture.
***Canneh*** — Or *Chalane*; see [Genesis 10:10](../../../kjv/genesis/10/10). It is supposed to be a cape or port of Arabia Felix, on the Indian Sea.
***Eden*** — Equally famous: supposed to have been situated near the confluence of the *Tygris* and *Euphrates*.
***Sheba*** — Different from that in [Ezekiel 27:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/22). This was probably near the country of the Edomites.
***Asshur*** — Perhaps the Assyrians.
***Chilmad*** — Possibly *Cholmadora*, on the Euphrates. *Ptol*. lib. v.. cap. 15. For several of these places, and the persons from whom they derived their names, see [Genesis 10:1-32](../../../kjv/genesis/10/1-32), and the notes there; and see *Calmet*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:24](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/24). ***These*****were*****thy merchants in all sorts*****of things**] The above people traded with the Tyrians in a great variety of the most valuable merchandise: *blue* or *purple cloth, boxes of cedar,* *covered with skins, and bound with silken cords, and sealed with* *an engraved seal, finely cut, &c*. See the *Chaldee*.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/25). ***The ships of Tarshish*** — The ships of *Tharsis*, in Cilicia, were the chief of those which traded with thee.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/26). ***Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters*** — Tyre is still considered under the allegory of a *ship*; and all the vessels of different nations trading with her are represented as towing her into deep waters-bringing her into great affluence. But while in this state, a stormy *east wind*, or a destructive wind, meaning the Chaldeans, arises, and dashes her to pieces! See the ode from *Horace*, already quoted on [Ezekiel 27:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/4).

Verse [Ezekiel 27:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/27). ***Thy riches*** — This vast ship, laden with all kinds of valuable wares, and manned in the best manner, being wrecked, all her *valuables, sailors, officers*, &c., went to the bottom.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:28](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/28). ***The cry of thy pilots.*** — When the ship was dashed against the rocks by the violence of the winds and the waves, and all hope of life was taken away, then a universal cry was set up by all on board. I have heard this cry, and nothing more dismal can be imagined, when the ship by a violent tempest is driving among *rocks* on a lee shore. Then "All lost! cut away the boat!" is more dreadful than the cry of *fire* at midnight.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/30). ***Shall cry bitterly*** — All that were on the land, seeing this dreadful sight, a gallant ship perishing with all her men and goods, are represented as setting up a dismal cry at this heart-rending sight. But what must they have felt who were on board? Reader, wert thou ever *shipwrecked*? Wert thou ever in a *hurricane* on a *lee rocky shore*, where the helm had lost its power, and the sails were rendered useless? Dost thou remember that apparently last moment, when the ship drove up to the tremendous rocks, riding on the back of a mountainous surge? Then what was the universal cry? Hast thou ever heard any thing so terrific? so appalling? so death and judgment-like? No. It is impossible. These are the circumstances, this is the cry, that the prophet describes; disorder, confusion, dismay, and ruin. And this is a scene which the present writer has witnessed, himself a part of the wretched, when all hope of life was taken away, the yawning gulf opened, and nothing presented itself to support body or soul but that GOD who gave to both their being, and ultimately rescued him and his forlorn companions from one of the worst of deaths, by heaving the ship from the rocks by the agency of a tremendous receding wave. My soul hath these things still in remembrance, and therefore is humbled within me.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:32](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/32). ***What*****city is*****like Tyrus*** — This, to the end of the chapter, is the lamentation.

Verse [Ezekiel 27:36](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/36). ***Shall hiss at thee*** — שרקו *shareku*, shall *shriek* for thee. This powerfully expresses the sensation made on the feelings of the spectators on the shore when they saw the vessel swallowed up.

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