The riches, glory, and CHAP. XXVII. commerce of Tyre. truth of the prophecy. And now it is found precisely a place of some consequence in the time of St. Paul. in the state which the above prophetic declarations, There was a Church there, (see Acts xxi. 3, 4, &c.,) taken according to the letter, point out! No word of which afterwards became famous. Calmet observes, God can ever fall to the ground. ít afforded a great number of martyrs for the Christian Notwithstanding the former destructions, Tyre was Church. CHAPTER XXVII. This chapter may be considered as the second part of the prophecy concerning Tyre. The prophet pursues his subject in the manner of those ancient lamentations or funeral songs, in which the præficiæ or mourning women first recounted whatever was great or praiseworthy in the deceased, and then mourned his fall. Here the riches, glory, and extensive commerce of Tyre are enlarged upon, 1-25. Her downfall is then described in a beautiful allegory, executed in a few words, with astonishing brevity, propriety, and perspicuity, 26; upon which all the maritime and commercial world are represented as grieved and astonished at her fate, and greatly alarmed for their own, 27-36. Besides the view which this chapter gives of the conduct of Providence, and the example with which it furnishes the critic and man of taste of a very elegant and highly finished piece of composition, it likewise affords the antiquary a very curious and interesting account of the wealth and commerce of ancient times. And to the mind that looks for "a city that hath foundations," what a picture does the whole present of the mutability and inanity of all earthly things! Many of the places mentioned in ancient history have, like Tyre, long ago lost their political consequence; the geographical situation of others cannot be traced; they have sunk in the deep waters of oblivion; the east wind hath carried them away. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII. Verse 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 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 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:— O navis, referent in mare te novi Fortiter occupa Portum. Nonne vides, ut Et malus celeri saucius Africo, Vix durare carina Possint imperiosius Equor? non tibi sunt integra lintea ; Unhappy vessel, shall the waves again Ah! yet take heed, lest these new tempests sweep, FRANCIS. I give this as a striking parallel to many passages in this chapter. Verse 5. Fir trees of Senir] Senir is a mountain which the Sidonians called Sirion, and the Hebrews Hermon, Deut. iii. 9. It was beyond Jordan, and extended from Libanus to the mountains of Gilead. Verse 6. Of the oaks of Bashan] Some translate alder, others the pine. The company of the Ashurites] The word D asherim is by several translated box-wood. 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 7. Fine linen] w 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. metaphor of a gallant ship. 10 They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness. A. M. 3416. B. C. 588. Anno O1. XLVIII. 1. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 29. 11 The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect. u 12 Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs. 13 Jayan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market. 14 They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules. Heb. strengtheners. Jer. xlvi. Ver. 3. Gen. x. 4; 2 Chron. - Rev. xviii. 13.- Ór, merchandise. POr, stoppers of chinks. 9; chap. xxx. 5; xxxviii. 5. xx. 36.- u Gen. x. 2.x Gen. x. 3; chap. xxxviii. 6. ors from every part. Skilful and desperate men will go any where after their price. go Verse 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 Pygmai, the pygmies, who were fabled to be a little people of a cubit in height, from med, a cubit; and we 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 Phonicia 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 12, Tarshish was thy merchant] After haBlue and purple from the isles of Elishah] Elis, a ving given an account of the naval and military equippart of the Peloponnesus. Verse 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 9. The ancients of Gebal] This was a city of Phoenicia, near Mount Libanus, Josh. xiii. 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. ment 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 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 10. They of Persia] Lud, the Lydians; Togarmah] The Sarmatians. Some With these they dealt in horses, ( 32* ) A summary of the A. M. 3416. B. Č. 588. Anno CHAP. XXVII. 15 The men of y Dedan were Ol. XLVIII. 1. thy merchants; many isles were in 16 Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and a agate. 17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and a balm. d 18 Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. 19 Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market." Jy Gen. x. 7.- Heb. thy works.a Heb. chrysoprase. 1 Kings v. 9, 11; Ezra iii. 7; Acts xii. 20.—e Judg. xi. 33. d Jer. viii. 22.- eOr, rosin. Or, Meuzal. - Gen. xxv. 3. Heb. clothes of freedom.- Gen. xxv. 13; Isa. lx. 7. mules, and horsemen ; or probably draught horses and war horses are intended. Verse 15. The men of Dedan] Dedan was one of the descendants of Abraham by Keturah, and dwelt in Arabia, Gen. xxv. 3. Ivory and ebony might come from that quarter. By way of distinction ivory is called both in Hebrew shen, and in Arabic shen, the TooтH, as that beautiful substance is the tooth of the elephant. Verse 16. Syria] These were always a mercantile people. For the precious stones mentioned here see the notes on Exod. xxviii. 17. Verse 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 18. Damascus wine of Helbon] Now called by the Turks Haleb, and by us Aleppo. h trade of Tyre. 20 Dedan was thy merchant precious clothes for chariots. 21 Arabia, and all the princes Kedar, they occupied with i of thee in lambs, and rams, and goats in these were they thy merchants. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. 23 m Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants. 24 These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work. and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise. 25 The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. 26 Thy rowers have brought thee into great Heb. they were the merchants of thy hand. Gen. x. 7 1 Kings x. 1, 2; Psa. lxxii. 10, 15; Isa. lx. 6.- -m Gen. xi. 31; 2 Kings xix. 12.- Gen. xxv. 3. Or, excellent things. P Heb. foldings. Psa. xlviii. 7; Isa. ii. 16; xxiii. 14. Ver. 4. Verse 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 22. Sheba and Raamah] Inhabitants of Arabia Felix, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, who were famous for their riches and spices. Verse 23. Haran] In Mesopotamia; well known in Scripture. Canneh] Or Chalane; see Gen. x. 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 Tigris and Euphrates. Sheba] Different from that in ver. 22. This was probably near the country of the Edomites. Asshur] Perhaps the Assyrians. Chilmad] Possibly Cholmadora, on the Euphrates. White wool.] Very fine wool: wool of a fine qua- Ptol. lib. v., cap. 15. For several of these places, lity. Some think Milesian wool is meant. Verse 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 no 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 20. Dedan] Possibly the descendants of Dedan, son of Raamah, see Gen. x. 7. and the persons from whom they derived their names, see Gèn. x., and the notes there; and see Calmet. Verse 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 25, The ships of Tarshish] The ships of Tharsis, in Cilicia, were the chief of those which In precious clothes for chariots.] Either fine car-traded with thee. pets, or rich housings for horses, camels, &c., used for riding. Verse 26. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters] Tyre is still considered under the allegory The trade and A. M. 3416. waters: the east wind hath bro-] and they shall weep for thee Ol. XLVIII. 1. ken thee in the midst of the with bitterness of heart and bitter B. C. 588. t 27 Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, ▾ and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin. wailing. A. M. 3416. OL XLVIII. 1. Anno Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 29. 32 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea. 33 When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst 28 The suburbs shall shake at the sound enrich the kings of the earth with the multiof the cry of thy pilots. -x Or, a Job Psa. xlviii. 7. Heb. heart.- -u Prov. xi. 4; ver. 34; Rev. xviii. 9, &c. Or, even with all. w Heb. heart. waves.y Chap. xxvi. 15, 18.- Rev. xviii. 17, &c.ii. 12; Rev. xviii. 19.- Esth. iv. 1, 3; Jer. vi. 26. 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 ver. 4. Verse 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 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. tude of thy riches and of thy merchandise. 34. In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall. 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 with in me. Verse 30. Shall cry bitterly] All that were on the Verse 32. What eity is like Tyrus] This, to the land, seeing this dreadful sight, a gallant ship perish-end of the chapter, is the lamentation. ing with all her men and goods, are represented as set- Verse 36. Shall hiss at thee] p. shareku, shall ting up a dismal cry at this heart-rending sight. But shriek for thee. This powerfully expresses the senwhat must they have felt who were on board? Read-sation made on the feelings of the spectators on the er, wert thou ever shipwrecked? Wert thou ever in shore when they saw the vessel swallowed up. 500 A lamentation for CHAP. XXVIII. CHAPTER XXVIII.. the king of Tyre. The first part of this chapter relates to a king of Tyre, probably the same who is called in the Phoenician annals Ithobalus. He seems to have been a vain man, who affected Divine honours. The prophet treats his foolish pretensions with severe irony, and predicts his doom, 1-10, He then takes up a funeral dirge and lamentation over him, in which his former pomp and splendour are finely contrasted with his fall, in terms that seem frequently to allude to the fall of Lucifer from heaven, (Isa. xiv.,) 11–19. The over throw of Sidon, the mother city of Tyré, is next announced, 20-23; and the chapter concludes with a promise to the Jews of deliverance from all their enemies, and particularly of their restoration from the Babylonish captivity, 24-26. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVIII. Verse 2. Say unto the prince of Tyrus] But who was this prince of Tyrus? Some think Hiram ; some, Sin; some, the devil; others, Ithobaal, with whom the chronology and circumstances best agree. Origen thought the guardian angel of the city was intended. I am a god] That is, I am absolute, independent, and accountable to none. He was a man of great pride and arrogance. Verse 3. Thou art wiser than Daniel] Daniel was at this time living, and was reputable for his great wisdom. This is said ironically. See chap. xiv. 14; xxvi. 1. Verse 5. By thy great wisdom] He attributed every thing to himself; he did not acknowledge a Divine providence. As he got all by himself, so he believed he could keep all by himself, and had no need of any foreign help. Verse 7. I will bring strangers upon thee] The -Chaldeans, Anno Tarquinii Priscì, 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God; but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that * slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Two Verse 10. The deaths of the uncircumcised] deaths, temporal and eternal. Ithobaal was taken and killed by Nebuchadnezzar, Verse 12. Thou sealest up] This bas been translated, "Thou drawest thy own likeness." "Thou formest a portrait of thyself; and hast represented thyself the perfection of wisdom and beauty." I believe this to be the meaning of the place. Verse 13. Thou hast been in Eden] This also is a strong irony. Thou art like Adam, when in his innocence and excellence he was in the garden of Eden! Every precious stone was thy covering] For a description of these stones see the note on Exod. xxviii. 17. Verse 14. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth] The irony is continued; and here he is likened to the |