Tyndale Open Study NotesEzekiel 27

• This section contains a series of messages of judgment against nearby nations. There are six shorter messages against Judah's immediate neighbors, arranged in a clockwise order, followed by a final message against Egypt (Ezekiel 30–32). Through experiencing God's judgment, the nations would recognize God's control over everything. The nations might be used to carry out God's judgment on his people, but they would not avoid judgment themselves.

• One of the main purposes of these messages was to show that the negative part of God's promise to Abraham ("I will … curse those who curse you," Genesis 12:3) was still active. No one can harm God's people and avoid consequences, even when God's people are under his judgment.

The message against Tyre, Israel’s northwestern neighbor, is more detailed than the short messages before it. It consists of three similar sections (Ezekiel 26:2–21; 27:1–36; and 28:1–19). Each section conveys the same idea: Tyre would meet a terrible end and cease to exist (Ezekiel 27:36).

The second part of the prophet’s message to Tyre (see study note on Ezekiel 26:1–28:19) is a funeral song.

The song compares Tyre’s past glory with its present loss. It connects with the previous chapter in several ways. Both speak directly to Tyre. Both describe Tyre as a gateway and a center of trade (see Ezekiel 26:1–2). Both end with the same message: Tyre has come to a terrible end and will exist no more (compare Ezekiel 26:21).

Tyre’s former greatness is described in detail. The prophet uses the metaphor of a strong sailing ship.

This ship was built from the best materials of the surrounding nations. The image shows how wealthy and powerful Tyre once was.

Elishah refers to part of Cyprus.

• The ship from Tyre had a crew of the world's most skilled men.

• The places listed in this section cover much of the known world at that time. This shows how wide Tyre’s influence had spread.

Sidon, Arvad, and Gebal were towns on the Mediterranean coast.

Persia, Lydia, and Put: Persia lay far to the east across land. Lydia was to the northwest, in what is now Turkey. Libya was to the southwest, along the Mediterranean Sea.

• Helech is another name for Cilicia. This region was around Tarsus on the northeast shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

• The exact location of Gammad is not certain. It may have been in northern Syria.

This large trading system existed to serve Tyre’s strong desire for trade. The city wanted goods from many different lands and did not seem satisfied. The list of Tyre’s trading partners is very long. Tyre traded in many kinds of goods, including slaves, horses, saddle blankets, silver, dyed cloth, and figs (compare Revelation 18:11–13).

The cargo list is arranged by geographic region. It names places from every direction (north, south, east, and west). It includes both large and small trading centers. Almost every valuable object that people could buy or sell appears somewhere on the list of Tyre’s goods.

Tarshish was far to the west. Many scholars think it may have been located in present-day Spain.

Tubal, Meshech, and the nearby region of Beth-togarmah were located in Anatolia, an area that is part of modern-day Turkey.

Dedan was a central Arabian oasis (see also Ezekiel 27:20). It might also refer to a coastal area north of Tyre.

Minnith, located in Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan River), was a well-known source of wheat.

Helbon was a town ten miles north of Damascus. Zahar may have been nearby, although its exact location is unknown.

• from Izal: Izal (or Uzal) might have been a town in the foothills of Anatolia (a region in modern-day Turkey).

• Cassia and cane (or calamus) were costly perfumes.

Kedar was a region of Arabia named for a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13).

Sheba was a kingdom in southwest Arabia. The location of Raamah is uncertain, but it was always associated with Sheba.

Haran, Canneh, Eden, and Asshur were all located in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia is in what is now modern Iraq.

Chilmad is not mentioned anywhere else in ancient writings. Because of this, some scholars think the name may be a scribal error. A scribal error is a copying mistake made by a writer. It may have originally meant “all Media,” a region northeast of Mesopotamia.

The rich merchant ship seemed impossible to sink. It was loaded with valuable goods and appeared strong and secure.

But it could not stand against the strong east wind. This “east wind” represents the army of Babylon. The army would destroy Tyre, just as a powerful storm destroys a ship.

Tyre's former residents and trading partners mourn the loss of its way of life. This section, like the previous one, ends by stating that Tyre has met a terrible end and will no longer exist (compare Ezekiel 26:21).