Ezekiel 27:12-25
12. Tarshish—Tartessus in Spain, a country famed for various metals, which were exported to Tyre. Much of the "tin" probably was conveyed by the Ph nicians from Cornwall to Tarshish.
traded in thy fairs—"did barter with thee" [FAIRBAIRN]; from a root, "to leave," something left in barter for something else.13. Javan—the Ionians or Greeks: for the Ionians of Asia Minor were the first Greeks with whom the Asiatics came in contact.
Tubal . . . Meshech—the Tibareni and Moschi, in the mountain region between the Black and Caspian Seas. persons of men—that is, as slaves. So the Turkish harems are supplied with female slaves from Circassia and Georgia. vessels—all kinds of articles. Superior weapons are still manufactured in the Caucasus region.14. Togarmah—Armenia: descended from Gomer (Ge 10:3). Their mountainous region south of the Caucasus was celebrated for horses.
horsemen—rather, "riding-horses," as distinct from "horses" for chariots [FAIRBAIRN].15. Dedan—near the Persian Sea: thus an avenue to the commerce of India. Not the Dedan in Arabia (Eze 27:20), as the names in the context here prove, but the Dedan sprung from Cush [BOCHART], (Ge 10:7).
merchandise of thine hand—that is, were dependent on thee for trade [FAIRBAIRN]; came to buy the produce of thy hands [GROTIUS]. a present—literally, "a reward in return"; a price paid for merchandise. horns of ivory—Ivory is so termed from its resemblance to horns. The Hebrew word for "ivory" means "tooth"; so that they cannot have mistaken ivory as if coming from the horns of certain animals, instead of from the tusks of the elephant.16. "Syria was thy mart for the multitude," &c. For "Syria" the Septuagint reads "Edom." But the Syrians were famed as merchants.
occupied—old English for "traded"; so in Lu 19:13. agate—Others translate, "ruby," "chalcedony," or "pearls."17. Minnith . . . Pannag—names of places in Israel famed for good wheat, wherewith Tyre was supplied (1Ki 5:9, 11; Ezr 3:7; Ac 12:20); Minnith was formerly an Ammonite city (Jud 11:33). "Pannag" is identified by GROTIUS with "Phenice," the Greek name for "Canaan." "They traded . . . wheat," that is, they supplied thy market with wheat.
balm—or, "balsam."18. Helbon—or Chalybon, in Syria, now Aleppo; famed for its wines; the Persian monarchs would drink no other.
19. Dan also—None of the other places enumerated commence with the copula ("also"; Hebrew, ve). Moreover, the products specified, "cassia, calamus," apply rather to places in Arabia. Therefore, FAIRBAIRN translates, "Vedan"; perhaps the modern Aden, near the straits of Bab-el-man-deb. GROTIUS refers it to Dana, mentioned by PTOLEMY.
Javan—not the Greeks of Europe or Asia Minor, but of a Greek settlement in Arabia. going to and fro—rather, as Hebrew admits, "from Uzal." This is added to "Javan," to mark which Javan is meant (Ge 10:27). The metropolis of Arabia Felix, or Yemen; called also Sanaa [BOCHART]. English Version gives a good sense, thus: All peoples, whether near as the Israelite "Dan," or far as the Greeks or "Javan," who were wont to "go to and fro" from their love of traffic, frequented thy marts, bringing bright iron, &c., these products not being necessarily represented as those of Dan or Javan. bright iron—Yemen is still famed for its sword blades. calamus—aromatic cane.20. Dedan—in Arabia; distinct from the Dedan in Eze 27:15 (see on Eze 27:15). Descended from Abraham and Keturah (Ge 25:3) [BOCHART].
precious clothes—splendid coverlets.21. Arabia—the nomadic tribes of Arabia, among which Kedar was pre-eminent.
occupied with thee—literally, "of thy hand," that is, they traded with thee for wares, the product of thy hand (see on Eze 27:15, 16).22. Sheba . . . Raamah—in Arabia.
chief of . . . spices—that is, best spices (De 33:15). Obtained from India and conveyed in caravans to Tyre.23. Haran—the dwelling-place of Abraham in Mesopotamia, after he moved from Ur (Ge 11:31).
Canneh—Calneh, an Assyrian city on the Tigris; the Ctesiphon of the Greeks (Ge 10:10). Eden—probably a region in Babylonia (see Ge 2:8). Chilmad—a compound; the place designated by PTOLEMY "Gaala of Media." The Chaldee version interprets it of Media. HENDERSON refers it to Carmanda, which XENOPHON describes as a large city beyond the Euphrates.24. all sorts of things—Hebrew, "perfections"; exquisite articles of finery [GROTIUS].
clothes—rather, "mantles" or "cloaks"; literally, "wrappings." For "blue," HENDERSON translates, "purple." chests of rich apparel, bound with cords—treasures or repositories of damask stuffs, consisting of variegated threads woven together in figures [HENDERSON]. cedar—The "chests" were made of cedar, in order to last the longer; and it also keeps off decay and has a sweet odor.25. sing of thee—personification; thy great merchant ships were palpable proofs of thy greatness. Others translate from a different Hebrew root, "were thy (mercantile) travellers." FAIRBAIRN translates, "Were thy walls." But the parallelism to "thou wast glorious" favors English Version, "sing of thee."