Ezekiel's not Mourning his Wife EZEKIEL, XXV. the Sign of the Jews' Calamities. the cause of their sufferings (cf. Leviticus, 26. 39; Lamentations, 3. 39.). The fullest fulfilment is still future (Zechariah, 12, 10-14.). 24. sign a typical representative in his own person of what was to befall them (Isaiah, 20. 3.). when this cometh - alluding probably to their taunt, as if God's word spoken by His prophets would never come to pass, "Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come now" (Jeremiah, 17. 15.). When the prophecy is fulfilled, "ye shall know (to your cost) that I am the Lord," who thereby show my power and fulfil my word spoken by my prophet (John, 13. 19; 14. 29.). 25, 26. "The day" referred to in these verses is the day of the overthrow of the temple, when the fugitive "escapes." But "that day," in v. 27, is the day on which the fugitive brings the sad news to Ezekiel, at the Chebar. In the interval the prophet suspended his prophecies as to the Jews, as was foretold. Afterwards his mouth was "opened," and no more "dumb" (ch. 3. 26, 27; cf. v. 27 here in ch. 24; and ch. 33. 21, 22.). CHAPTER XXV. Ver. 1-17. APPROPRIATELY IN THE INTERVAL OF SILENCE AS TO THE JEWS IN THE EIGHT CHAPTERS, XXV.-XXXIL, EZEKIEL DENOUNCES JUDGMENTS ON THE HEATHEN WORLD-KINGDOMS. If Israel was not spared, much less the heathen utterly corrupt, and having no mixture of truth, such as Israel in its worst state possessed (1 Peter, 4. 17, 18.). Their ruin was to be utter: Israel's but temporary (Jeremiah, 46. 28.). The nations denounced are seven, the perfect number; implying that God's judgments would visit, not merely these, but the whole round of the heathen foes of God. Babylon is excepted, because she is now for the present viewed as the rod of God's retributive justice, a view too much then lost sight of by those who fretted against her universal supremacy. 3. (Jeremiah, 49. 1.). when profaned... when... desolate... when... captivity signs of mourning. 16. desire of... eyes-his wife: representing the sanctuary (v. 21) in which the Jews so much gloried. The energy and subordination of Ezekiel's whole life to his prophetic office is strikingly displayed in this narrative of his wife's death. It is the only memorable event of his personal history which he records, and this only in reference to his soulabsorbing work. His natural tenderness is shown by that graphic touch, "the desire of thine eyes." What amazing subjection, then, of his individual feeling to his prophetic duty is manifested in the simple statement (v. 18.), "So I spake...in the morning; and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded." stroke-a sudden visitation. The suddenness of it enhances the self-control of Ezekiel in so entirely merging individual feeling, which must have been especially acute under such trying circumstances, in the higher claims of duty to God. 17. Forbear to cry -or, "Lament in silence?" not forbidding sorrow, but the loud expression of it. [GROTIUS.] no mourningtypical of the universality of the ruin of Jerusalem, which would preclude mourning, such as is usual where calamity is but partial. "The dead" is purposely put in the plural, as referring ultimately to the dead who should perish at the taking of Jerusalem; though the singular might have been expected, as Ezekiel's wife was the immediate subject referred to: "make no mourning" such as is usual" for the dead, and such as shall be hereafter in Jerusalem" (Jeremiah, 16. 5-7.). tire of thine head- thy head-dress. [FAIRBAIRN.] JEROME explains, "Thou shalt retain the hair which is usually cut in mourning." The fillet, binding the hair about the temples like a chaplet, was laid aside at such times. Uncovering the head was an ordinary sign of mourning in priests; whereas others covered their heads in mourning (2 Samuel, 15. 30.). The reason was, the priests had their head-dress of fine twined linen-rather, for...for... for: the cause of the insolent given them for ornament, and as a badge of office. The high priest, as having on his head the holy anointing oil, was forbidden in any case to lay aside his head-dress. But the priests might do so, in the case of the death of the nearest relatives (Leviticus, 21. 2, 3, 10; they then put on inferior attire, sprinkling also | on their heads dust and ashes (cf. Leviticus, 10. 6, 7.). Į shoes upon thy feet whereas mourners went "barefoot" (2 Samuel, 15. 30.). cover not... lips-rather, the upper lip, with the moustachio (Leviticus, 13. 45; Micah, 3. 7.). bread of men-the bread usually brought to mourners by friends in token of sympathy. So the "cup of consolation" brought (Jeremiah, 16. 7.). ** Of men" means such as is usually furnished by men. So Isaiah 8. 1, a man's pen" Revelation, 21. 17, the measure of a man." 19. what these things are to us-The people perceive that Ezekiel's strange conduct has a symbolical meaning as to themselves, they ask what is that meaning? 21. excellency of your strength -(cf. Amos, 6. 8.). The object of your pride and confidence Jeremiah, 7. 4, 10, 14.). desire of...eyes-(Psalm 27.4.). The antitype to Ezekiel's wife (v. 16.). pitieth-Nebuchadnezzar, shortly after the destruction of Jeruloveth, as pity is akin to love: yearned over. "Profane" is an appropriate word. They had profaned the temple with idolatry; God, in just retribution, will profane it with the Chaldean sword, i.e., lay it in the dust, as Ezekiel's wife, sons...daughters... left the children left behind in Judea, when the parents were carried away. 22. Jeremiah, 16. 6, 7.). So general shall be the calamity, that all ordinary usages of mourning shall be suspended. 23. ye shall not mourn... but...pine away for your iniquities-The Jews' not-mourning was to be not the result of insensibility, any more than Ezekiel's not mourning for his wife was not from want of feeling. They could not in their exile manifest publicly their lamentation, but they would privately "mourn one to another." Their "iniquities" would then be their chief sorrow ["pining away"), as feeling that these were exultation of Ammon over Jerusalem. They triumphed Judgments on Ammon, Moab, EZEKIEL, XXVI. John Hyrcanus (see Isaiah, 34, 5; 63. 1. &c.;1 Maccabees, Edom, and the Philistines. indication. Stamping with the foot means dancing for | circumcision, incorporated with the Jewish state by joy. 7. a spoil-so Hebrew Margin or Keri, for the text or Chetib, "meat" (so ch. 26. 5; 34. 28.). Their goods were to be a "spoil to the foe," their state was to be "cut off," so as to be no more a "people;" and they were as individuals, for the most part, to be "destroyed." 8. Moab, Seir, and Ammon, were contiguous countries, stretching in one line from Gilead on the North to the Red sea. They therefore naturally acted in concert, and in joint hostility to Judea. Judah is like... all... heathen-The Jews fare no better than others: it is of no use to them to serve Jehovah, who, they say, is the only true God. 9, 10. open...from the cities-I will open up the side, or border of Moab (metaphor from a man whose side is open to blows), from the direction of the cities on his North West border beyond the Arnon, once assigned to Reuben (Joshua, 13. 15-21,), but now in the hands of their original owners: and the "men of the east," the wandering Bedouin hordes, shall enter through these cities into Moab and waste it. Moab accordingly was so wasted by them, that long before the time of Christ it had melted away among the hordes of the desert. For "cities," GROTIUS translates the Hebrew as proper names, the Ar and Aroer, on the Arnon. Hence the Hebrew for cities, "Ar" is repeated twice Numbers, 21. 28; Deuteronomy, 2, 36; Isaiah, 16. 1.). glory of the country-The region of Moab was richer than that of Ammon; it answers to the modern Belka, the richest district in South Syria, and the scene in consequence of many a contest among the Bedouins. Hence it is called here a glorious land (lit., a glory, or ornament of a land). [FAIRBAIRN.] Rather, "the glory of the country" is in apposition with "cities" which immediately precede, and the names of which presently follow. Bethjeshimoth-meaning "the city of desolations," perhaps so named from some siege it sustained; it was towards the West. Baal-meon-called also Beth-meon (Jeremiah, 48. 23,), and Beth-baal-meon (Joshua, 13. 17, called so from the worship of Baal), and Bajith, simply (Isaiah, 15. 2.). Kiriathaim-the double city. The strength of these cities engendered "the pride" of Moab (Isaiah, 16. 6. 10. with the Ammonites-FAIRBAIRN explains and translates, "upon the children of Ammon" (elliptically for "I will open Moab to the men of the East, who, having overrun the children of Ammon, shall then fall on Moab"). MAURER, as English Version, "with the Ammonites," i.e.. Moab, "together with the land of Ammon," is to be thrown "open to the men of the East," to enter and take possession (Jeremiah, 49.). 12. taking vengeance-lit., revenging with revengement, i.e., the most unrelenting vengeance. It was not simple hatred, but deep brooding, implacable revenge. The grudge of Edom or Esan was originally for Jacob's robbing him of Isaac's blessing (Genesis, 25. 23; 27. 27-41.). This purpose of revenge yielded to the extraordinary kindness of Jacob, through the blessing of Him with whom Jacob wrestled in prayer; but it was revived as an hereditary grudge in the posterity of Esau, when they saw the younger branch rising to the pre-eminence which they thought of right belonged to themselves. More recently, for David's subjugation of Edom to Israel (2 Samuel, 8. 14.). They therefore gave vent to their spite by joining the Chaldeans in destroying Jerusalem (Psalm 137. 7; Lamentations, 4. 22; Obadiah, 10-14,), and then intercepting and killing the fugitive Jews (Amos, 1. 11,), and occupying part of the Jewish land as far as to Hebron. 13. Teman they of Dedan-rather, "I will make it desolate from Teman (in the South; even to Dedan" (in the North West) [GROTIUS), (Jeremiah, 49.8.), i.e., the whole country from North to South, stretching from the South of the Dead sea to the Elanitic gulf of the Red 14. by... my people Israel-viz., by Judas MacThe Idumeans were finally, by compulsory 8e3. cabeus. CHAPTER XXVI. Ver. 1-21. THE JUDGMENT ON TYRE THROUGH NEBUCHADNEZZAR CHAPS. XXVI.-xxvII.). In ch 26., Ezekiel sets forth:-1. Tyre's sin; 2. its doom; 3, the instruments of executing it; 4. the effect produced other nations by her downfall. In ch. 27., a laments tion over the fall of such earthly splendour. In ch 28., an elegy addressed to the king, on the humilistict of his sacrilegious pride. Ezekiel, in his prophecies as to the heathen, exhibits the dark side only; because he views them simply in their hostility to the people of God which shall outlive them all. Isaiah (Isaish 23.), on the other hand, at the close of judgments, holds out the prospect of blessing, when Tyre should tur to the Lord. 1. The specification of the date, which had been omitted in the case of the four precedin objects of judgment, marks the greater weight attached to the fall of Tyre. eleventh year-riz., after the cam ing away of Jehoiachin, the year of the fall of Jerusalem. The number of the month is, however, omitted, and the day only given. As the month of the taking of Jere salem was regarded as one of particular note, ric, th fourth month, also the fifth, on which it was actually destroyed (Jeremiah, 52. 6, 12, 13., RABEI-DAVID reasonably supposes that Tyre uttered her taunt at the close of the fourth month, as her nearness to Jere salem enabled her to hear of its fall very soon, and that Ezekiel met it with his threat against herself s "the first day" of the fifth month. 2. Tyre-(Joshta. 19, 29; 2 Samuel, 24. 7.), lit. meaning "the rock-city Zor: a name applying to the island-Tyre, called Ne Tyre, rather than Old Tyre on the mainland. The The Judgment on Tyre EZEKIEL, XXVI. through Nebuchadnezar. were half a mile apart. New Tyre, a century and a | New Tyre on the insular rock in the sea (cf. Isaiah, 23. 2. half before the fall of Jerusalem, had successfully re- 4, 6) is referred to; so here, in v. 9-11, Old Tyre on the sisted Shalmaneser of Assyria, for five years besieging mainland. Both are included in the prophecies under it (Menander, from the Tyrian archives, quoted by one name. wheels-FAIRBAIRN thinks that here, and Josephus, Antiquities, 9. 14. 2.). It was the stronger in ch. 23. 24, as "the wheels" are distinct from the and more important of the two cities, and is the one "chariots," some wheelwork for riding on, or for the chiefly, though not exclusively, here meant. Tyre was operations of the siege, are meant. 11. thy strong originally a colony of Zidon. Nebuchadnezzar's siege garrisons-lit., the statues of thy strength: so the forts of it lasted thirteen years (ch. 29. 18; Isaiah, 23.). which are "monuments of thy strength." MAURER Though no profane author mentions his having suc- understands, in stricter agreement with the lit. meanceeded in the siege, JEROME states, he read the fact in | ing, "the statues" or "obelisks erected in honour of Assyrian histories. Aha! - exultation over a fallen the idols, the tutelary gods of Tyre," as Melecarte, rival (Psalm 35. 21, 25.). she...that was the gates-i.e.. answering to the Grecian Hercules, whose temple the single gate, composed of two folding doors. Hence stood in Old Tyre (cf. Jeremiah, 43. 13, Margin.). 12. the verb is singular. "Gates" were the place of resort lay thy stones... timber...in... midst of... waterfor traffic and public business: so here it expresses a referring to the insular New Tyre (v. 3, 5; ch. 27. 4, 25, mart of commerce frequented by merchants. Tyre re- 26.). When its lofty buildings and towers fall, surgards Jerusalem not as an open enemy, for her territory rounded as it was with the sea which entered its being the narrow, long strip of land, North of Philistia, double harbour and washed its ramparts, the "stones between mount Lebanon and the sea, her interest was ... timbers... and dust" appropriately are described to cultivate friendly relations with the Jews, on whom as thrown down "in the midst of the water." Though she was dependent for corn (ch. 27. 17; 1 Kings, 5. 9; Acts, Ezekiel attributes the capture of Tyre to Nebuchad12. 20.). But Jerusalem had intercepted some of the nezzar (Note, ch. 29. 18.), yet it does not follow that the inland traffic which she wished to monopolise to her-final destruction of it described is attributed by him self; so, in her intensely selfish worldly-mindedness, to the same monarch. The overthrow of Tyre by she exulted heartlessly over the fall of Jerusalem as Nebuchadnezzar was the first link in the long chain her own gain. Hence she incurred the wrath of God of evil-the first deadly blow which prepared for, and as pre-eminently the world's representative in its was the earnest of, the final doom. The change in this ambition, selfishness, and pride, in defiance of the will verse from the individual conqueror "he," to the of God (Isaiah, 23. 9.). she is turned unto me-i.e., the general "they," marks that what he did was not the mart of corn, wine, oil, balsam, &c., which she once whole, but only paved the way for others to complete was, is transferred to me. The caravans from Palmyra, the work begun by him. It was to be a progressive Petra, and the East, will no longer be intercepted by work until she was utterly destroyed. Thus the words the market ("the gates") of Jerusalem, but will come here answer exactly to what Alexander did. With the to me. 3, 4. nations... as the sea... waves-In strik-"stones, timber," and rubbish of Old Tyre, he built a ing contrast to the boasting of Tyre, God threatens to bring against her Babylon's army levied from "many nations," even as the Mediterranean waves that dashed against her rock-founded city on all sides. scrape her dust...make her... top of... rock-or, "a bare rock." [GROTIUS.] The soil which the Tyrians had brought together upon the rock on which they built their city, I will scrape so clean away as to leave no dust, but only the bare rock as it was. An awful contrast to her expectation of filling herself with all the wealth of the East now that Jerusalem has fallen. 5. in the midst of the sea-plainly referring to New Tyre (ch. 27. 32.). 6. her daughters... in the field-i.e., the surrounding villages dependent on her in the open country shall share the fate of the mother-city. 7. from the north -the original locality of the Chaldeans; also, the direction by which they entered Palestine, taking the route of Riblah and Hamath on the Orontes, in preference to that across the desert between Babylon and Judea. king of kings-so called because of the many kings who owned allegiance to him (2 Kings, 18. 28.). God had delegated to him the universal earth-empire which is His (Daniel, 2. 47.). The Son of God alone has the right and title inherently, and shall assume it when the world-kings shall have been fully proved as abusers of the trust (1 Timothy, 6. 16; Revelation, 17. 12-14; 19. 15, 16.). Ezekiel's prophecy was not based on conjecture from the past, for Shalmaneser, with all the might of the Assyrian empire, had failed in his siege of Tyre. Yet Nebuchadnezzar was to succeed. JOSEPHUS tells us that Nebuchadnezzar began the siege in the seventh year of Ithobal's reign, king of Tyre. 9 engines of war - lit., "an apparatus for striking." He shall apply the stroke of the battering-ram against thy walls." HAVERNICK translates, "His enginery of destruction" lit., the "destruction (not merely the stroke) of his enginery." axes-lit., swords. 10. dustso thick shall be the "dust" stirred up by the immense numbers of "horses," that it shall "cover" the whole city as a cloud. horses... chariots-As in v. 3-5, causeway in seven months to New Tyre on the island and so took it (Quint. Curt., 4. 2), 322 B.C. 13. Instead of the joyousness of thy prosperity, a death-like silence shall reign (Isaiah, 24. 8; Jeremiah, 7. 34.). 14. He concludes in nearly the same words as he began (v. 4, 5.). built no more-fulfilled as to the mainland Tyre, under Nebuchadnezzar. The insular Tyre recovered partly, after seventy years (Isaiah, 23. 17, 18,), but again suffered under Alexander, then under Antigonus, then under the Saracens at the beginning of the fourteenth century. Now its harbours are choked with sand, precluding all hope of future restoration, "not one entire house is left, and only a few fishermen take shelter in the vaults." [MAUNDRELL.] So accurately has God's word come to pass. 15-21. The impression which the overthrow of Tyre produced on other maritime nations and upon her own colonies, e.g., Utica, Carthage, and Tartessus or Tarshish in Spain. isles-maritime lands. Even mighty Carthage used to send a yearly offering to the temple of Hercules at Tyre: and the mother-city gave high priests to her colonies. Hence the consternation at her fall felt in the widely-scattered dependencies with which she was so closely connected by the ties of religion, as well as commercial intercourse. shakemetaphorically: be agitated (Jeremiah, 49. 21.). 16. come down from their thrones . . . upon the ground-"The throne of the mourners" (Job. 2. 13: Jonah, 3. 6.). "Princes of the sea" are the merchant rulers of Carthage and other colonies of Tyre, who had made themselves rich and powerful by trading on the sea (Isaiah, 23. 8.). clothe... with trembling - Hebrew, "tremblings." Cf. ch. 7. 27, “Clothed with desolation:" Psalm 132. 18. In a public calamity the garment was changed for a mourning garb. 17. inhabited of sea-faring men i.e., which wast frequented by merchants of various sea-bordering lands. (GROTIUS.] FAIRBAIRN translates with Peschito, "Thou inhabitant of the seas" (as the Hebrew lit. means). Tyre rose as it were out of the seas as if she got thence her inhabitants, being peopled so closely down to the waters. So Venice was called EZEKIEL, XXVIL Tyre's Former Greatness suggesting a Lamentation "the bride of the sea." strong in the sea-through her benches of ivory inlaid in the daughter of cedars" insular position. cause their terror to be on all that [MAURER), or the best boxwood. FAIRBAIRN, with haunt it-viz., the sea. The Hebrew is rather, "they BOCHART, reads the Hebrew two words as one: "Thy put their terror upon all her (the city's) inhabitants," plankwork (deck: instead of "benches," as the Hebrew i.e., they make the name of every Tyrian to be feared. is singular) they made ivory with boxes." English [FAIRBAIRN. 18. thy departure-Isaiah, 23. 6, 12, pre- Version, with MAURER'S correction, is simpler. Chittin dicts that the Tyrians, in consequence of the siege, Cyprus and Macedonia, from which, PLINY tells us, should pass over the Mediterranean to the lands the best boxwood came. [GROTIUS.] 7. broidered... bordering on it ("Chittim," "Tarshish," &c.). So sail - The ancients embroidered their sails often at Ezekiel here. Accordingly JEROME says that he read great expense, especially the Egyptians, whose liner, in Assyrian histories that, "when the Tyrians saw no still preserved in mummies, is of the finest texture. hope of escaping, they fled to Carthage or some islands Elishah-Greece; so called from Elis, a large and ancient of the Ionian and Egean seas." (BISHOP NEWTON.] division of Peloponese. Pausanias says, that the be: (See my Note on ch. 29. 18). GROTIUS explains "de- of linen was produced in it, and in no other part of parture," ie., "in the day when hostages shall be car- Greece; called by Homer "Aiisium." that whit ried away from thee to Babylon." The parallelism to covered thee-thy awning. 8. Arvad-a small island "thy fall" makes me think "departure" must mean and city near Phoenicia, now Ruad: its inhabitants "thy end" in general, but with an included allusion are still noted for sea-faring habits. thy wise me. to the "departure" of most of her people to her colonies 0 Tyrus...thy pilots-Whilst the men of Arvad once th at the fall of the city. 19. great waters appropriate equals (Genesis, 10. 18,), and the Sidonians once y metaphor of the Babylonian hosts, which literally, by superiors, were employed by thee in subordine breaking down insular Tyre's ramparts, caused the positions as "mariners," thou madest thine own skiti sea to "cover" part of her. 20. the pit-Tyre's dis- men alone be commanders and pilots. Implying th appearance is compared to that of the dead placed in political and mercantile superiority of Tyre. 9. Get their sepulchre and no more seen among the living -a Phoenician city and region between Beirut a (cf. ch. 32. 18, 23; Isaiah, 14. 11, 15, 10.). I shall set glory Tripolis, famed for skilled workmen (Margin, 1 Kits, in the land-In contrast to Tyre consigned to the "pit"|5. 18; Psalm 83. 7.). calkers-stoppers of chinks in s of death, I shall set glory (i.e., my presence symbolised vessel: carrying on the metaphor as to Tyre. occupy tij by the Shekinah cloud, the antitype to which shall be merchandise-i.e., to exchange merchandise with the Messiah, the glory as of the only begotten of the 10. Persia... Phut-warriors from the extreme Ess Father," John, 1. 14; Isaiah, 4. 2, 5; Zechariah, 6. 13) and West. Lud-the Lydians of Asia Minor, near the in Judah. of the living-as opposed to Tyre consigned Meander, famed for archery (Isaiah, 66, 19; rather than to the "pit" of death. Judea is to be the land of those of Ethiopia, as the Lydians of Asia Minor for national and spiritual life, being restored after its a kind of intermediate step between Persia and Fha captivity (ch. 47. 9.). FAIRBAIRN loses the antithesis (the Libyans about Cyrene, shielded warriors, Jerm by applying the negative to both clauses, "and that miah, 46. 9, descended from Phut, son of Ham). hanged thou be not set as a glory in the land of the living."...shield...comeliness-warriors hanged their accoue 21. terror-an example of judgment calculated to terrify all evil-doers. thou shalt be no more-not that there was to be no more a Tyre, but she was no more to be the Tyre that once was: her glory and name were to be no more. As to Old Tyre the prophecy was literally fulfilled, not a vestige of it being left. CHAPTER XXVII. ments on the walls for ornament. Divested of the metaphor it means, it was an honour to thee to hara so many nations supplying thee with hired soldiers 11. Gammadims- rather, as the Tyrians were S Phonicians, from a Syriac root, meaning daring," ma of daring." [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU.] It is not like, the keeping of watch "in the towers" would ha Ver. 1-36. TYRE'S FORMER GREATNESS, SUGGESTING been entrusted to foreigners. Others take it from A LAMENTATION OVER HER SAD DOWNFALL. 2. Hebrew root," a dagger," or short sword (Judges, 3. 14, lamentation-a funeral dirge, eulogising her great attri- "short swordsmen." 12. Tarshish - Tartessus butes, to make the contrast the greater between her Spain, a country famed for various metals, which wer former and her latter state. 3. situate at the entry of exported to Tyre. Much of the "tin" probably was the sea-lit., plural, "entrances," i.e., ports or havens: conveyed by the Phoenicians from Cornwall to Tarshisi referring to the double port of Tyre at which vessels traded in thy fairs-"did barter with thee" [FAIRBAIRS entered round the North and South ends of the island, from a root, "to leave," something left in barter for so that ships could find a ready entrance from what something else. 13. Javan-the Ionians or Greeks Pr ever point the wind might blow (cf. ch. 28. 2.). merchant the Ionians of Asia Minor were the first Greeks whe of...people for many isles-i.e., a mercantile emporium of the Asiatics came in contact with. Tubal... Mestechthe peoples of many sea coasts, both from the East and the Tibareni and Moschi, in the mountain-resion be from the West, Isaiah, 23. 3, "A mart of nations." of tween the Black and Caspian seas. persons of mdperfect beauty (ch. 28. 12.). 4. Tyre, in consonance i.e., as slaves. So the Turkish harems are supplied with her sea-girt position, separated by a strait of half with female slaves from Circassia and Georgia. vesana a mile from the mainland, is described as a ship built-all kinds of articles. Superior weapons are st of the best material, and manned with the best manufactured in the Caucasus-region. 14. Togarmsh mariners and skilful pilots, but at last in tempestuous-Armenia: descended from Gomer Genesis, 14 seas wrecked (v. 26.). 5. Senir - the Amorite name of Their mountainous region South of the Caucasus wa Hermon, or the southern height of Antilibanus (Deu- celebrated for horses, horsemen - rather, "ridic teronomy, 3. 93; the Sidonian name was Sirion. "All horses," as distinct from "horses" for chariote thy...boards:" dual in Hebrew, "double-boards," viz., [FAIRBAIRN.] 15. Dedan-near the Persian sea, tha placed in a double order on the two sides of which the an avenue to the commerce of India. Not the Deda ship consisted. [VATABLUS.] Or, referring to the two in Arabia (v. 20,), as the names in the context be? sides or the two ends, the prow and the stern, which prove, but the Dedan sprung from Cush [BOCHART every ship has. [MUNSTER.] cedars-most suited for (Genesis, 10. 7.). merchandise of thine hand-ie, were "masts" from their height and durability. 6. Bashan-dependent on thee for trade (FAIRBAIRN); came celebrated for its oaks, as Lebanon was for its cedars. buy the produce of thy hands. (GROTIUS.] horas d the company of... Ashurites-the most skilful workmen ivory-ivory is so termed from its resemblance to Aut summoned from Assyria. Rather, as the Hebrew The Hebrew word for "ivory" means tooth; so that they orthography requires, "They have made thy (rowing) I cannot have mistaken ivory as if coming from the over her Sad Downfall. 33.). EZEKIEL, XXVIII. Dirge on the King of Tyre. called. Nebuchadnezzar is meant. The "sea" is the war with him which the "rowers," or rulers of the state vessel, had "brought" it into, to its ruin. 27. The detailed enumeration implies the utter completeness of the ruin. and in all thy company-"even with all thy collected multitude." [HENDERSON.] 28. The suburbs-The buildings of Tyre on the adjoining continent. 29. So on the downfall of spiritual Babylon (Revelation, 18. 17, &c.). shall stand upon ... landbeing cast out of their ships in which heretofore they prided themselves. 30. against thee- rather, “concerning thee." 31. utterly bald-lit., bald with baldness. The Phoenician custom in mourning; which, as being connected with heathenish superstitions, was forbidden to Israel (Deuteronomy, 14. 1.). 32. take up-lift up. the destroyed. - a destroyed one. Lit. (as opposed to its previous bustle of thronging merchants and mariners, v. 27,), "one brought to (death's) stillness." in... midst of... sea-insular Tyre. 33. out of the seas supply plentifully with wares. enrich...kings-with the custom dues levied on the wares. 34. In the time when shalt... shall-Now that thou art broken (wrecked), &c., thy merchandise, &c., are fallen. [MAURER.] 35. isles-sea coasts. 36. hiss-with astonishment; as in 1 Kings, 9. 8. CHAPTER XXVIII. horns of certain animals, instead of from the tusks of the elephant. a present-lit., a reward in return: a price paid for merchandise. 16. "Syria was thy mart for the multitude," &c. For Syria the LXX. read Edom. But the Syrians were famed as merchants. occupied-old English for "traded;" so in Luke, 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 (1 Kings, 6. 9, 11; Ezra, 3. 7; Acts, 12. 203; Minnith was formerly an Ammonite city (Judges, 11. "Pannag" is identified by GROTIUS with "Phenice," the Greek name for Canaan. "They traded... wheat," i.e., 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-brought on shore out of the ships. filledst-didst Arabia. Therefore, FAIRBAIRN translates, "Vedan:" perhaps the modern Aden, near the straits of Babelmandeb. 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 (Genesis, 13. 27.). The metropolis of Arabia Ver. 1-26. PROPHETICAL DIRGE ON THE KING OF Felix, or Yemen: called also Sanaa. [BOCHART.] TYRE, AS THE CULMINATION AND EMBODIMENT OF English Version gives a good sense, thus, All peoples, THE SPIRIT OF CARNAL PRIDE AND SELF-SUFwhether near as the Israelite "Dan," or far as the FICIENCY OF THE WHOLE STATE. THE FALL OF Greeks or "Javan" who were wont to go to and fro" ZIDON, THE MOTHER-CITY. THE RESTORATION OF from their love of traffic, frequented thy marts, bring- ISRAEL IN CONTRAST WITH TYRE AND ZIDON. 2. ing bright iron, &c., these products not being necessarily Because, &c. Repeated resumptively in v. 6; the represented as those of Dan or Javan. bright iron- apodosis begins at v. 7. "The prince of Tyrus" at the Yemen is still famed for its sword blades. calamus- time was Ithobal, or Ithbaal II.: the name implying aromatic cane. 20. Dedan-in Arabia; distinct from his close connection with Baal, the Phoenician supreme the Dedan in v. 15 (see Note). Descended from Abraham god, whose representative he was. I am... god, I sit and Keturah (Genesis, 25. 3.). [BOCHART.] precious in... seat of God... the seas-As God sits enthroned clothes-splendid coverlets. 21. Arabia-The nomadic in His heavenly citadel exempt from all injury, so I sit tribes of Arabia, among which Kedar was pre-eminent. secure in my impregnable stronghold amidst the occupied with thee-lit.," of thy hand," i.e., they traded stormiest elements, able to control them at will, and with thee for wares, the product of thy hand (Notes, make them subserve my interests. The language, see v. 15, 16.). 22. Sheba Raamah-in Arabia, though primarily here applied to the king of Tyre, as spices, &c.-obtained from India and conveyed in similar language is to the king of Babylon (Isaiah, 14. caravans to Tyre. chief of... spices — i.e., best spices 13, 14,), yet has an ulterior and fuller accomplishinent (Deuteronomy, 33. 15.). 23. Haran-the dwelling place in Satan and his embodiment in antichrist (Daniel, 7. of Abraham in Mesopotamia, after he moved from 25; 11. 36, 37; 2 Thessalonians, 2. 4; Revelation, 13. 6.). Ur (Genesis, 11. 31.). Cauneh-Caineh, an Assyrian city This feeling of superhuman elevation in the king of on the Tigris: the Ctesiphon of the Greeks (Genesis, Tyre was fostered by the fact that the island on which 10. 10.). Eden-probably a region in Babylonia (see Tyre stood was called "the holy island" (Sanconiathon), Genesis, 2. 8.). Chilmad-a compound; the place desig- being sacred to Hercules, so much so that the colonies nated by Ptolemy Gaala of Media. The Chaldee version looked up to Tyre as the mother-city of their religion, interprets it of Media. HENDERSON refers it to as well as of their political existence. The Hebrew Carmanda, which Xenophon describes as a large city for "God" is El, i.e., the Mighty One. yet, &c.-keen beyond the Euphrates. 24. all sorts of things-Hebrew, irony. set thine heart as...heart of God-Thou thinkest perfections:" exquisite articles of finery. [GROTIUS.] of thyself as if thou wert God. 3. Ezekiel ironically clothes-rather, "mantles" or " cloaks;" lit., wrappings. alludes to Ithbaal's overweening opinion of the wisdom For "blue," HENDERSON translates, "purple." chests of himself and the Tyrians, as though superior to that of rich apparel, bound with cords-treasures or reposi- of Daniel, whose fame had reached even Tyre as tories of damask stuffs, consisting of variegated threads eclipsing the Chaldean sages. "Thou art wiser," viz., woren together in figures. [HENDERSON.] cedar- in thy own opinion (Zechariah, 9. 2.). no secret-viz., The "chests" were made of cedar, in order to last the forgetting riches (v. 4.). that they can hide-i.e.. that longer: and also it keeps off decay, and has a sweet can be hidden. 5. (Psalm 62. 10.). 6. Because, &c.odour. 25. sing of thee-personification; thy great resumptive of v. 2. 7. therefore- apodosis. strangers merchant ships were palpable proofs of thy greatness.... terrible of the nations -- the Chaldean foreigners Others translate from a different Hebrew root," were noted for their ferocity (ch. 30. 11; 31. 12). against the thy (mercantile) travellers." FAIRBAIRN translates, beauty of thy wisdom-i.e., against thy beautiful posWere thy walls." But the parallelism to "thou wast sessions acquired by thy wisdom on which thou so glorious" favours English Version, "sing of thee." pridest thyself (v. 3-5.). defile thy brightness-obscure 26. In contrast to her previous greatness, her downfall the brightness of thy kingdom. 8. the pit-i.e., the is here, by a sudden transition, depicted under the bottom of the sea; the image being that of one conimage of a vessel foundering at sea. east wind-blow- quered in a sea-fight. the deaths-plural, as various ing from Lebanon, the most violent wind in the kinds of deaths are meant (Jeremiah, 16. 4.). of them Mediterranean (Psalm 48. 7.). A Levanter, as it is... slain-lit., pierced through. Such deaths as those |