Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
Vers. 3. THe entry of the sea] In a very commodious place to resort unto by sea from divers places, and to carry merchandize from thence into the continent or firme land.
of perfect beauty] Heb. perfect of beauty.
V. 4. Thy borders] Thou art encompassed round with the sea.
midst] Heb. heart.
V. 5. made] Heb. built.
of Senir] This mountain was called Hermon, but the Ammorites called it Senir, Deut. 3. 9.
V. 6. the company of the Ash…rites] Or, they have made thy hatches of ivory well troden. Heb. the daughter.
thy benches of ivory] Wherewith they covered the walls and floores of chambers, and the decks of ships.
of Chittim] Which is taken for Grecia and Italy. See Gen. 10. 4. & Numb. 24. 24. whereby Chittim afflicting Heber whose chiefe sonne Christ was, he meaneth chiefly Italy, whose first name was Chittim: and by the Roman policie Christ was crucified.
V. 7 blue and purple] Or, purple and scarlet.
of Elishah] It … thought that hereby are meant the Eolians, a people of Greece, Gen. 10. 4. Some doe take it for Italy.
which covered thee] Namely, the poope of thy shippes. Or, which was thy rayment.
V. 8. Arvad] It is thought to be the Iland called Arado▪ neer to Sidon▪ Gen. 10. 18.
V. 9. calkers] Or, stoppers of chinks. Heb. strengthners. Meaning the chiefe of this nation, famous for architecture and building, and the masters and most cunning workmen built the walls of the citie, which is here meant by the ship. Or which were cunning shipwrights, and were employed in making and mending her shipping.
V. 10. of Lud] See Gen. 10. 13.
Phut] See Gen. 10. 6.
they hanged the shield] According to the custome of Garrison souldiers.
they set forth thy comelinesse] These souldiers being there continually, did much increase thy splendour and majesty.
V. 11. The men of Arvad with thine army, &c.] Those of Arvad which lived by the sea coast, vers. 8. and thine own souldiers kept a continuall watch about the citie.
and the Gammadims were in thy towers] That is, they of Cappadocia, or Pigmies and dwarfes, which were so called, because that out of the high towers they seemed little. Others thinke them a people of Syria, of a citie called Gama.
V. 12. Tarshish] Namely, the people that lived along the coast of the Mediterranean sea, and especially the citie of Tharsus a Tyrian colonie. Others will have it to be Carthage.
they traded in thy fairs] That is, these they gave for thy commodities.
V. 13. Javan] That is, Greece. Javan was Japhets sonne, Gen. 12. 2. of whom came the Greeks. See Dan. 8. 21.
Tubal] See Gen. 10. 2.
persons of men] Heb. soul of man. That is, souls of men or persons by selling slaves. See Apoc. 18. 13.
market] Or, merchandise.
V. 14. Togarmah] He was Japhets nephew of Gomer, Gen. 10. 2. 3. These are taken for a people of Asia Minor.
borsemen] Men which were expert in managing and taming of horses.
V. 15. De…an] People of Arabia. Gen. 10. 7.
they brought thee for a present] For to have the benefit of being free of thy Faires and …arkets.
horns of ivory and ebeny] So the great teeth of the Elephant, which on either side of his mouth stand out, are called, because by their crookednesse they are like hornes.
V. 16. the wares of thy making] Heb. thy works.
agate] Heb. chrysoprase.
V. 17. wheat] By 1 King. 5. 9. Acts 12. 20. it appears that Tyrus was furnished with corn out of the land of Israel.
Minnith] The name of a town, whereof mention is, Judg. 11. 33. where the best wheat grew.
Pannag] Some will have it to be the name of a countrey, and the name of Phenicia to be taken from thence. Others translate it rozen, or balsame.
balm] Or, rosin; or, turpentine. Wherein Gilead abounded. Gen. 37. 25. Jer. 8. 22. & 46. 11.
V. 18. Helbon] A place of Syria, which is thought to be that which at this time is called Aleppo.
V. 19. Dan] He meaneth those which after the captivitie of the ten Tribes, came and inhabited the ancient countrey belonging to Dan, in Laish, a citie neere to Tyre, Judg. 18. 28. 29.
going to and fro] Or, Menzal. To seeke what they may give for thy commodities. The Greeks have alwayes been great traveller, and the trade at Tyrus so great, that those countreys which had nothing to exchange, went to other countreys to get somthing to trade with …yre.
V. 20. precious clothes for chariots] Heb. clothes of freedome. It is very likely that they were some faire sh…gged carpets, wherewith they covered their horses and chariots, to sit upon them.
V. 21. Kedar] Namely, of Arabia Petrea, which countrey abounded with cattell, Isa. 60. 7.
they occupied with thee in lambes] Heb. they were the merchants of thy hand. Heb. they occupied with thee at hand in lambes, &c. For lambes and such like cattell could not be carried farre, as other wares.
V. 22. Shebah, &c.] Names of Arabia Felix.
V. 23. Haran, &c.] Places of Mesopotamia.
Chilmad] It is thought to be Media or some part thereof.
V. 24. all sorts] Or, excellent things.
blue clothes] Heb. foldings. Namely silkes and woolls died in this noble colour, inclining to a violet.
V. 25. The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market] That is, they which were carried in the ships did praise thee for thy wares. Others reade it according to the Hebrew; The ships of Tarshish were thy chiefe, and thy caravans: As those places which are haunted with wild beasts upon the land, are travelled through with great companies of travellers, and loaded cattell: so do the ships flocke towards thee in great numbers together.
very glorious] Enriched in goods.
V. 26. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters] Thou hast been like unto a well furnished ship, brought into the main Sea of greatnesse, riches, and power, by thy governours, and there left to suffer shipwrack.
the east-wind] Most tempestuous and dangerous in those countries, Psal. 48. 7. meaning Nebuchadnezzar with his army.
midst] Heb. heart.
V. 27. Thy riches and thy fairs] Revel. 18. 9, &c.
thy calkers] Heb. Those which mend thy breaches: which some take for the breaches of walls and buildings.
and in all] Or, even with all.
shall fall into the midst of the seas] Heb. heart. Shall be all enfolded in thy ruine. A continuation of the same similitude of a broken ship.
V. 28. The suburbs shall shake, &c.] Or, waves. Heb. the boats. The Hebrew word seemes to signifie a cockboat, which they throw out of the ship: it signifies also suburbs, which are as it were expulsed the citie. The meaning is, that the colonies and citie subject to Tyre, should be surprised with terrour at the fall and ruine of their chiefe citie: and all other lesser states should be likewise so terrified.
V. 30. against thee] Or, for; or, over. Vers. 31. Revel. 18. 11. 15-16.
cast up dust upon their heads] Which is a signe of great sorrow and mourning.
V. 33. When thy wares went forth out of the seas] Thou wast the Magazine and staple of victuall and merchandises, which thou didst transport by Sea, and distribute them to divers nations.
V. 34. thou shalt be broken by the seas] That is, by the overflowing of warres, Chap. 26. 19. Isa. 8. 7, 8. & 28. 2. & 59. 19.
V. 36. hisse at th…e] In token of wonder. See 1 King. 9. 8.
a terrour] Heb. terrours. A subject of terrour to all men by reason of thy terrible fall. Or, thou that hast been a terrour, art brought to nothing. Chap. 26. 21.
never shalt be any more] Heb. shalt not be for ever.