Rev 18:12-13 | JFB | STEP | 12. (See on ). stones . . . pearls — Greek, "stone . . . pearl." fine linen —A, B, and C read Greek, " bussinou " for " bussou, " that is, "fine linen manufacture" [ALFORD ]. The manufacture for which Egypt (the type of the apostate Church, ) was famed. Contrast "the fine linen" ( ) put on Israel, and on the New Testament Church ( ), the Bride, by God ( ). thyine wood —the citrus of the Romans: probably the cypressus thyoyides, or the thuia articulata. "Citron wood" [ALFORD ]. A sweet-smelling tree of Cyrene in Lybia, used for incense. all manner vessels

Revelation of John 18:12-13

12. (See on Re 17:4).

stones . . . pearls—Greek, "stone . . . pearl."

fine linen—A, B, and C read Greek, "bussinou" for "bussou," that is, "fine linen manufacture" [ALFORD]. The manufacture for which Egypt (the type of the apostate Church, Re 11:8) was famed. Contrast "the fine linen" (Eze 16:10) put on Israel, and on the New Testament Church (Re 19:8), the Bride, by God (Ps 132:9).

thyine wood—the citrus of the Romans: probably the cypressus thyoyides, or the thuia articulata. "Citron wood" [ALFORD]. A sweet-smelling tree of Cyrene in Lybia, used for incense.

all manner vessels—Greek, "every vessel," or "furniture."

13. cinnamon—designed by God for better purposes: being an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a plant in the garden of the Beloved (So 4:14); but desecrated to vile uses by the adulteress (Pr 7:17).

odours—of incense. A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac prefix "and amomium" (a precious hair ointment made from an Asiatic shrub). English Version reading is supported by Coptic and ANDREAS, but not oldest manuscripts.

ointments—Greek, "ointment."

frankincense—Contrast the true "incense" which God loves (Ps 141:2; Mal 1:11).

fine flour—the similago of the Latins [ALFORD].

beasts—of burden: cattle.

slaves—Greek, "bodies."

souls of men— (Eze 27:13). Said of slaves. Appropriate to the spiritual harlot, apostate Christendom, especially Rome, which has so often enslaved both bodies and souls of men. Though the New Testament does not directly forbid slavery, which would, in the then state of the world, have incited a slave revolt, it virtually condemns it, as here. Popery has derived its greatest gains from the sale of masses for the souls of men after death, and of indulgences purchased from the Papal chancery by rich merchants in various countries, to be retailed at a profit [MOSHEIM, III, 95, 96].