Ezekiel 27:12-24

What does the long list of Tyre’s trading partners show?

Berean Standard Bible

12 Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise. 14 The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares. 15 The men of Dedan were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony. 16 Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
17 Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise. 18 Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar, 19 and casks of wine from Izal for your wares. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were exchanged for your merchandise. 20 Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.
21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones. 23 Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad. 24 In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.

What is the context?

The poem widens from the ship and its crew to Tyre’s trading network. Metals, animals, ivory, cloth, jewels, food, wine and spices flow through the marketplace from many peoples.

Judah and Israel are included among the trading partners. The city’s dealings are not limited to a simple division between one friend and one enemy; its wealth is woven into the lives of many neighbors.

The list also names slaves alongside goods. Human lives are part of the merchandise in this rich commercial world. The abundance is impressive, but the account gives readers reason to look beyond the surface of its splendor.

The whole catalogue establishes what is at stake when the ship breaks apart: goods, workers, customers and the people whose lives have become cargo. The coming loss reaches across the network that made Tyre prosperous.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Henry draws a lesson about conscience in buying and selling, recognizing the usefulness of trade while warning that wealth can make people forget its giver. Cambridge identifies the persons traded in verse 13 as slaves.

Ancient names and some details of the goods are interpreted differently in commentaries. Cambridge notes a particularly difficult text in verse 19. The main point does not depend on locating every place with certainty: the list displays the extraordinary reach and variety of Tyre’s commerce.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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