Ezekiel 27:1-25

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_27:1-25.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 27:1–25"
+date = "2023-05-15"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel27.1-25)
+
+Chapter 27 is a lament that Ezekiel is instructed to raise over Tyre. It is the
+kind of lament that shows how far the mighty have fallen by first detailing the
+great heights they no longer occupy. I suspect the Lord has Ezekiel include
+this section for our benefit because his contemporaries would have already
+known how great Tyre's power was. Ever since it fell, the memories of its
+greatness would fade quickly.
+
+The lament begins by comparing Tyre to a beautiful ship constructed of
+expensive materials: fir from Senir for planks, cedar from Lebanon for a mast,
+oaks from Bashan for oars, pine from Cyprus for the deck, and inlaid with
+ivory. The sail was embroidered linen from Egypt, and the awnings were dyed
+blue and purple from Elishah (probably Cyprus), the most expensive colors. The
+ship's rowers were from Sidon and Arvad while the skilled men, the officers and
+pilots were from Tyre itself. All these places were near the city of Tyre on
+the Mediterranean coast.
+
+What does this beautiful ship do? It goes out to all the other lands and trades
+with them: Persia, Put, Lud, Arvad, Helech, and Gamad provided soldiers and
+weapons of war; Tarshish traded silver, iron, tin, and lead; Javan, Tubal, and
+Meshech sold slaves and bronze; Beth-togarmah traded horses and mules; and the
+list goes on and on. Now the locations range from as far as Spain to Ethiopia
+to Iran. A great variety of wares are traded with Tyre: precious stones, food
+of many kinds including expensive spices and wine, textiles, and rare woods.
+
+All of these connections made Tyre an economic superpower in its day, and it
+was no slouch militarily, either. (Remember it fought back against Babylon, a
+great empire, for thirteen years before being defeated.) Its future seemed
+secure because its might was so great. Who could defeat it?
+
+* * *
+
+You are ever-victorious, and no power at all can stand against Your strength.