Ezekiel 27:16

"Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of thy handiworks: they traded for thy wares with emeralds, purple, broidered work, fine linen, and coral, and rubies. Judah and the land of Israel, they were thy traffickers: they traded for thy merchandise wheat of Minnith, and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm. Damascus was thy merchant for the multitude of thy handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool. Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus were among thy merchandise. Dedan was thy trafficker in precious cloths for riding."

All commentators speak of the difficulty of the text in these verses; and some of the renditions are based, at least, partially upon emendations and conjecture. The over-all truth of the immensity of Tyre's commerce is clear enough.

"Syria ... Damascus ..." (Ezekiel 27:16,18). Damascus, of course, was the capital of Syria; and Helbon, the district just north of Damascus was famous for the production of wine, "Which was one of the chief exports of Damascus."[21]

Several of the place-names in Ezekiel 27:19 are disputed; but Plumptre believed they were references probably to little-known Arabian cities.

"Bright iron, cassia, calamus ..." (Ezekiel 27:19). "The bright iron was `alloyed steel' used in the making of swords; the `cassia, and calamus' both belonged to the class of perfumes for which Arabia was famous (Exodus 24,23)."[22] One remembers the lament of Lady Macbeth that, "All the perfumes of Arabia cannot sweeten this little hand!"

"Precious cloths for riding ..." (Ezekiel 27:19). This is a reference to saddle blankets, not blankets to go under saddles, but to be used as saddles. Judges 5:10 has a reference to these: "Tell of it, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit on rich carpets." from The Song of Deborah.

"Dedan ..." (Ezekiel 27:20). "Unlike the `Dedan' identified above as Rhodes, this one appears to have been located in NW Arabia."[23] "It was a caravan city."[24]