As in other instances of extreme sorrow, the inarticulate signs of grief pass after a time into spoken words. What city is like Tyrus , etc.? What parallel can be found in the world's history, either for her magnificence or her fall? The shipwreck of her fortunes (we are still in the region of the prophet's metaphors) would be utter and irretrievable. read more
An incomparable doom. The dreadful doom of Tyre is regarded as without parallel. Consider why this is so. I. THE GREATEST SIN BRINGS THE GREATEST DOOM . All men do not sin equally, and all will not be punished to the same extent—some with few stripes, others with many stripes. Tyre sinned grievously, therefore Tyre was to be punished grievously. It is not the man who thinks himself the lightest sinner who will certainly be let off with the smallest amount of punishment.... read more
A great surprise. All the neighboring inhabitants are astonished at the terrible and unexpected fate of strong, proud Tyre. The dramatic event sends a shock of amazement through all the region round about. This great surprise is instructive. I. MEN EXPECT THE CUSTOMARY TO CONTINUE . The intellect is conservative. Novelty is unlocked for. We believe that the future will be like the past for no other reason than that, on the whole, things seem to be stable and the course of... read more
The news of Tyre’s ruin shall reach to distant isles, to merchant cities who trade with her. These in their selfish love of gain shall rejoice over her who was once paramount over them, hissing out against her curses and scorn. read more
Ezekiel 27:27-32. Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea- fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their... read more
Ezekiel 27:33-36. When thy wares, &c. When thy wares or manufactures were transported through the seas to every part, thou filledst many people Didst supply the wants, or minister to the luxuries and pleasures, of many nations. Time was when thy wares, those of thy own making, and those that passed through thy hands, were exported to all parts of the world; then thou filledst many people, and didst enrich the kings of the earth and their kingdoms. But in the time when thou shalt be... read more
Mourning for Tyre (27:1-36)This chapter continues the theme of Tyre’s overthrow. It is in the form of a funeral song that Tyre’s trading partners sing as they mourn the city’s death (27:1-2).The song begins by recalling the glory of Tyre’s past. The prosperous commercial city is likened to a magnificent merchant ship, beautifully made from best quality materials taken from all parts of the trading world. Her planks, masts, oars and decking were made of the best timbers, her sails from the... read more
they . Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "their sons". the destroyed: or, the silent one. read more
wares. See note on "fairs", Ezekiel 27:12 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 27:28-36
The bewailing of the city. Very picturesque and impressive is this representation of the effect produced upon the nations by the fall of Tyre. So world-wide was the city's commerce, that no people, however distant, could be unaffected by the catastrophe; and so awful was its fate, that no sensitive mind could contemplate it unmoved. To the vision of the prophet-poet, the galley labors and strains, and at last sinks in the waters of the Mediterranean. The dwellers upon the land and those... read more