In verse 2 of this chapter we are told that its contents is a lamentation over Tyre. The word in the original which is rendered "lamentation" implies rather a funeral dirge. At the same time Tyre is represented as a gallant ship, the greatest of its day, that sails forth from port and into stormy seas where it is wrecked and where there is indeed a great loss of property and life.

The chapter falls naturally into three divisions
I. Tyre, A Gallant Ship (vss. 1-11);
II. The Markets Where Tyre Did Business (vss. 12-25);
III. The Shipwreck (vss. 26-36).
 

Since Tyre was a maritime power, in fact the leading maritime power of the day, the ship was naturally the thing concerning which everyone thought when their attention was directed to the Tyrian nation. What Great Britain has been for the last few centuries among the nations in conducting world-trade, Tyre was in her day and time. Her supremacy and priority in this sphere of human activity was unquestioned.

Orators have used this figure of speech with telling effect. Constantly we read from their pens and hear from their lips references to the "ship of state." Thus the state is compared to a ship. It is quite likely that this metaphor was drawn from our passage.

In verse 3 Tyre is quoted as saying, "I am perfect in beauty." Naturally a people that engaged in trade and commerce would acquire the very best from all lands. Thus they would have the very best tools with which to build and with which to adorn their city. In comparison then with other cities of the world, we have a right to believe that Tyre stood in the foremost ranks. Of course it is to be understood that the Tyrians had a higher estimation of their own city than others doubtless would entertain. The word that is rendered "perfect in beauty" occurs in Psalm 50:1,2. In this passage reference is made to the millennial Jerusalem, which will indeed be the beauty spot of the entire world when our Lord returns and reigns there.

The Lord states that Tyre dwells at the entry of the seas. The word "entry" as we see from the footnote of the Revised Version, is in the plural number and means "entrances." The original city of Tyre was built on the mainland. About one-half mile out in the sea was an island. Thus ships coming from the south would enter the harbor from that direction, whereas those from the north would enter from the northern side of the island. All ships, as the word here is employed, would come into these two different harbors.

In verses 4-11 the prophet thinks of the Tyrian city-state and its great trade and commerce as a great ship which is the best of its kind and which has been built out of materials brought from various places. Its workmen, having the very best of materials and being experts in their field, are represented as building this most beautiful ship. According to verse 5 the planks were of fir trees which were brought from Senir. This word is the Aramaic for Sirion, which is just another word for Mount Hermon. Mount Hermon is in the Anti-Lebanon range and is visible by its snow-capped peak for miles in every direction. The cedars from Lebanon are likewise used in making the masts of this gallant ship. The oars are made of the oaks of Bashan (vs. 6). The benches are constructed of ivory inlaid in boxwood brought from the Island of Cypress. The sail of the ship is made from Egyptian linen which is inwrought with broidered work, and into which was woven the emblem of the Tyrian nation.

This description of the various materials used and the place from which they were brought is continued in verses 8-11. But this much of the description suffices to bring before our minds the prophet's thought. By his description and by this metaphor the prophet meant to say that all the nations mentioned as contributing certain things for the construction of this Tyrian ship actually did make a contribution to the civilization which Tyre built up.
 

In verses 12-25 we are given quite an extended list of the countries with which Tyre carried on commercial relations. Heading this list is Tarshish. There is quite a dispute as to the meaning of this term. Some have thought that it refers to Spain; others, to Britain. I am persuaded that, when all of the facts are taken into consideration, the probabilities are found to favor Britain's being the country to which reference is made. In verse 12 we are told that Tarshish was a merchant who traded with Tyre, and whose goods consisted of silver, iron, tin, and lead. There is an echo of the barter system in this verse. These different commodities are found in Britain.

In verse 13 Javan, Greece, is first mentioned. Of course, Greece was on the mainland of the European continent. But the Greeks were a maritime people who did quite a bit of colonization and engaged in trade and commerce. Thus there were commercial relations between the Tyrians and the Greeks. But in no sense did the Greeks constitute a rival for them. Along with Greece is mentioned Tubal and Meshech. By many scholars Tubal is considered as the phonetic equivalent to Tobolsk, which is one of the large cities of Russia. Meshech is the modern Moscow of Russia. These two latter cities "traded the persons of men and vessels of brass" for merchandise. Of course these came overland to some port and then were carried to Tyre. It is altogether possible that they might have come overland down through Asia Minor and then along the Syrian coast to Tyre.

Next in the list is Togarmah, who traded with Tyre with horses, war horses, and mules. Togarmah was probably ancient Armenia, which has now been swallowed up by Turkey and Russia. The war horses and mules were used most efficiently in warfare as it was conducted in Ezekiel's day.

Dedan likewise carried on a lucrative trade with the Tyrians. These brought to the mart of Tyre ivory and ebony. The Syrians traded with Tyre in emeralds, purple, and broidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies. Judah and Israel's articles of commerce were "wheat of Minnith, and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm."

This list continues on through verse 25, but the examination thus far is sufficient to enable us to see the meaning of this passage.

III. The Shipwreck (vss. 26-36).

In the last paragraph of this chapter, verses 26-36, the prophet reverts to his metaphor in thinking of Tyre as a gallant ship that puts out to sea, and that eventually by its pilots is run into rough waters and a stormy sea. This storm wrecks the ship. There is a total loss of it with all its cargo. It therefore goes down never to reappear. All of those that were carrying on traffic and trade in this city of Tyre and the officials of the government directing the national life are all represented as being aboard the ship. For instance, the pilot, directing the movements of the ship, would represent the officials of the government. The marines in like manner would symbolize the people who were the merchants and the traders of the city. The artisan classes on the ship would represent the working classes of Tyre. When the ship is wrecked, it goes down, nothing being salvaged. It is never raised, brought back to port, and repaired—as is often done in connection with modern vessels that suffer shipwreck.

Tyre as the commercial, maritime nation of that day and time did suffer shipwreck. It went down and ceased to be the mighty mistress of commerce and trade. And yet Tyre has continued through the centuries to the present day as a small insignificant town on the island, where it stood when it fell. Of course by the action of the sea Alexander's causeway which he built has developed into an isthmus; but Tyre remains there an insignificant place today. The Word of God is always sure of fulfillment.

The repercussions from the fall of Tyre reverberated throughout the Mediterranean world, causing economic chaos in the commercial world at that time. All students of prophecy can compare Tyre and its fall, together with the results, to that of the fall of Babylon the Great in the very end of the age. As all students know, the prophecies concerning Babylon (Isa., chaps. 13 and 14; Jer., chaps, 50 and 51) have never been fulfilled completely. Since these predictions still await fulfillment, it will become necessary for Babylon to arise from the dust of the past and to gain the ascendancy and control over the nations there foretold. At the end of the Tribulation, as we see in Revelation, chapter 18, Babylon, the pride of the Chaldeans and of the men of the world, will fall. When that occurs, the reverberations will be heard throughout the entire world. With the fall of Babylon will come the end of the Tribulation, when the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven to the earth, lift the curse, take the world situation in hand, and establish a reign of righteousness and peace that will endure for one thousand years.

As we consider the fall of Babylon, the city described in Revelation, chapter 18, we must differentiate clearly Babylon the city of this chapter from Babylon the harlot of Revelation, chapter 17. Those who are familiar with the Book of Revelation know that Babylon the harlot will be the ecclesiastical octopus that will be supported by the world government during the first half of the Tribulation. In the middle of the Tribulation the Antichrist will become so very jealous of those having in charge this religious world-system that he will cause it to be dissolved and overthrown in order that he might receive the worship, praise, and adoration of the entire world. Thus the overthrow of Babylon the harlot occurs in the middle of the Tribulation; the overthrow of Babylon the city takes place at the very end of the Tribulation.

Amid a world that is torn by strife, and that is wrecked by warfare, we who know the prophecies concerning earth's golden era long for that day to dawn. Thus we say, Even so, come, Lord Jesus—come quickly!