Golden evening on the open sea: a great Phoenician merchant ship under one square sail of white linen with an embroidered border, a blue-and-purple awning over the stern, oars along its side, low in the frame under an empty sky.

The nations judged

Ezekiel 27

What are you building your life on that one storm could sink?

36 verses≈ 6 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Visions of gloryBy the Kebar, about 593 BC: the throne, the scroll, the watchman
4–7Signs of the siegeA brick, a ration, a razor: the end has come
8–11The glory departsAbout 592 BC: the temple’s abominations, the mark, the glory goes east
12–15False hopesExile acted out, false prophets, a useless vine
16–19Parables and lamentsAn unfaithful bride, two eagles, the one who sins
20–24The sword drawnRebellion retold; the siege begins, about 588 BC
25–32The nations judgedAmmon to Egypt: the LORD is Judge of all the earthChapter 27
33–36A new heartThe city falls; the Good Shepherd; cleansed and made new
37–39Dry bones liveOne people raised up, and Gog of Magog defeated
40–48The LORD is thereAbout 573 BC: the new temple, the river, the land

A Lament for Tyre

God

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre. Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says:

You have said, O Tyre,

‘I am perfect in beauty.’

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God

Your borders are in the heart of the seas;

your builders perfected your beauty.

God

The men of Sidon and Arvad

were your oarsmen.

Your men of skill, O Tyre,

were there as your captains.

The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights,

repairing your leaks.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors

came alongside to barter for your merchandise.

God

Morning from the water: the city's stone sea wall with a long row of round shields and plain bronze helmets hung side by side along its outer face, the sea lapping below.

Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put

served as warriors in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets on your walls;

they gave you splendor.

Men of Arvad and Helech

manned your walls all around,

and the men of Gammad

were in your towers.

They hung their shields around your walls;

they perfected your beauty.

Question

Quick question

Look again at how Tyre’s great ship was built.

What was Tyre’s sail made of?

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Tyre’s trade

From Tarshish, far off the map to the west, to Sheba in the south and Asshur in the east: every road and sea lane of the known world ran to Tyre.

God

Bright morning on a stone quay at Tyre: Phoenician merchants among bales of purple-red cloth, cedar logs, tall jars and bundles of ivory, a ship moored behind.

Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.

The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.

The men of Dedan were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

God

Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.

God

Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar,

and casks of wine from Izal for your wares. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were exchanged for your merchandise.

Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.

Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.

God

A bright waterside market: bales of blue cloth and many-colored rugs bound with twisted cords, open sacks of red and golden spices, gold rings and polished stones on a dark cloth, traders bargaining, a ship moored behind.

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.

Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad.

In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.

God

Late afternoon on the open sea: two broad, heavily laden Phoenician merchant ships under single square sails, riding low in the water, cargo of jars and bales on their decks.

The ships of Tarshish

carried your merchandise.

And you were filled with heavy cargo

in the heart of the sea.

God

A Phoenician merchant ship far out on a dark heaving sea under a storm sky, its single mast snapping and its square sail torn loose, waves breaking over the deck, jars and bales washing over the side.

Your oarsmen have brought you

onto the high seas,

but the east wind will shatter you

in the heart of the sea.

God

Your wealth, wares, and merchandise,

your sailors, captains, and shipwrights,

your merchants and all the warriors within you,

with all the other people on board,

will sink into the heart of the sea

on the day of your downfall.

God

The countryside will shake

when your sailors cry out.

All who handle the oars

will abandon their ships.

The sailors and all the captains of the sea

will stand on the shore.

God

God

They will raise their voices for you

and cry out bitterly.

They will throw dust on their heads

and roll in ashes.

They will shave their heads for you

and wrap themselves in sackcloth.

They will weep over you

with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

Pray

Lord, every good thing I have came from Your hand. Keep me from trusting in what I own or what I can sell. When the east wind comes, let me be found in You. Amen.

God

A flat, calm, gray sea at dusk: a single broken mast spar and a torn piece of linen sail floating low in the frame, nothing else, a pale empty sky above.

As they wail and mourn over you,

they will take up a lament for you:

‘Who was ever like Tyre,

silenced in the middle of the sea?

When your wares went out to sea,

you satisfied many nations.

You enriched the kings of the earth

with your abundant wealth and merchandise.

Now you are shattered by the seas

in the depths of the waters;

your merchandise and the people among you

have gone down with you.

All the people of the coastlands

are appalled over you.

Their kings shudder with fear;

their faces are contorted.

Those who trade among the nations

hiss at you;

you have come to a horrible end

and will be no more.’”

0:36

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

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Ezekiel 27

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A verse to carry with you

Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea.

Ezekiel 27:26

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