A lament for Tyre
1 ① The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, 2“Son of man, intone a lament for Tyre and 3say to her, who is gate way to the sea who trades with people on many coasts: This is what Yahweh says:
Tyre, you were satisfied with your perfect beauty. 4Your borders were in the heart of the sea and your builders perfected your beauty; 5all your planks were made of the wood of fir trees, your masts from the cedars of Lebanon and 6your oars from the oak of Bashan. Your decks were of cedar from the coast of Cyprus inlaid with ivory.
7Embroidered linen from Egypt was used for your sails which served as your ensign. Your awning was made of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah. 8Your oarsmen were citizens of Sidon and Arvad. The most skilled men from Zemer served you as pilots, 9veteran craftsmen from Gebal were on board to seal your seams. All the ships of the seas with their crews called on you to barter for your wares.
10Persia, Lud and Put served in your army as men of war. They brought you splendor and hung their bucklers and helmets on your walls. 11The men of Arvad and Helech watched all around your walls; men of Gamad guarded your towers and hung their shields on your walls completing your magnificence.
12Tarshish traded with you because of your abundant wealth, supplying your markets with silver, iron, tin and lead. 13Javan, Tubal and Mishech trafficked with you, providing you with slaves and articles in bronze.
14People of Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your wares. 15The people of Rhodes traded with you and many coastlands were your customers; in payment they gave ivory tusks and ebony wood. 16Edom trafficked with you because of your many products and provided your markets with turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered cloth, fine linen, coral and rubies. 17Judah and Israel sold you wheat from Minnith, millet, honey, oil and resin. 18Damascus traded with you because of your abundant wares and provided you with wine from Helbon and white wool.
19Danites and Greeks from Uzal exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your merchandise. 20Dedan supplied you with saddle blankets. 21Arabia and all the princes of Kedar carried on a lively trade with you in lambs, rams and goats.
22Merchants from Sheba and Raamah provided your markets with all kinds of high grade spices, precious stones and gold. 23Haran, Canneh, Eden, Asshur and Chilmad 24traded with you in beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered cloth, colored rugs with twisted and tightly-knotted cords. 25The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise.
You lay filled and heavy
in the midst of the ocean.
26Your mariners led you to the high sea and the east wind wrecked you in the sea.
27Your riches, wares, merchandise,
your seamen and sailors,
those who repaired your seams,
and assured your trade,
your men of war with all the passengers sank into the depths of the sea
on the day of your shipwreck.
28At the cries of your seamen the coasts quaked 29and the oarsmen came from their ships;
sailors and seamen went ashore.
30They mourn and weep bitterly for you, throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
31Because of you they shave their heads and wear sackcloth.
In the bitterness of their hearts they weep and intone a bitter lament for you.
32A funeral song is heard:
Who was like Tyre, now silent
in the midst of the ocean?
33How many nations you provided
with the goods unloaded from distant shores!
With your abundant riches and commerce you enriched the kings of the earth,
34but now you are shattered by the sea, engulfed in its depths.
Your wares and all your company have gone down!
35All who live on the coasts are appalled because of you,
their kings shudder, and fall prostrate.
36The merchants of the nations hiss at you,
you are an object of dread.
You have gone forever.”
- Ezk 27,1 Phoenicia with its ports, Tyre and Sidon, was on the coast of Palestine. A very small country, its people were dedicated to sea trade and were in contact with all the nations on the Mediterranean. From Phoenicia, pagan influences reached Israel, especially in the days of Ahab (1 K 16:29).
