Ezekiel 27:2

Eze 27:2 Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;

Ver. 2. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus.] Fitly here compared to a goodly ship, {a} and her desolation to a dismal shipwreck. Theodoret’s note on the text is, that when we correct sinners, or threaten them, it should be done with commiseration and compassion. Here we have God’s own example for it.

“ Ille dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox. ”

{a} Apud Horat. Resp. navis nomine significatur. - Carm. lib. i. od. 14.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Eze 27:2-4. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus — This alludes to the mournful lamentations used at funerals, wherein the mourning women recounted every thing that was valuable or praiseworthy belonging to the deceased, and then lamented the loss of him; and say, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea — That art a sea-port, fitted by situation for carrying on trade with many countries: see Isa 23:1. Thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty — Thou hast boasted that thou hast every thing to render thee complete, and that there is nothing wanting to thee. Thy borders are in the midst of the seas — Thy dominions are not confined to the land, but extend far into the sea; where thou commandest without control, and sailest from place to place without interruption, to bring home thy riches. Thy builders have perfected thy beauty — Undoubtedly such a city as Tyre, which had store of riches, was built with great magnificence and beauty; but the following verses seem to show, that these words are chiefly to be understood of the builders of their ships, wherein the chief strength and glory of the Tyrians were placed.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 2. Take up a lamentation for Tyrus] This is a singular and curious chapter. It gives a very circumstantial account of the trade of Tyre with different parts of the world, and the different sorts of merchandise in which she trafficked. The places and the imports are as regularly entered here as they could have been in a European custom-house.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Eze_27:1-11. Tyre as a gallant ship

2. For the phrase “take up a lamentation” cf. Eze_19:1, Eze_26:17, Eze_28:12, Eze_32:2. The word is technical for the dirge.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus. Compose an elegy, and sing it; make a mournful noise, and deliver out a funeral ditty; such as the "praeficae", or mournful women, made at funerals, in which they said all they could in praise of the dead, and made very doleful lamentations for them: this the prophet was to do in a prophetic manner, for the confirmation of what was prophesied of by him; and it may teach us, that even wicked men are to be pitied, when in distress and calamity.

Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus. Compose an elegy, and sing it; make a mournful noise, and deliver out a funeral ditty; such as the "praeficae", or mournful women, made at funerals, in which they said all they could in praise of the dead, and made very doleful lamentations for them: this the prophet was to do in a prophetic manner, for the confirmation of what was prophesied of by him; and it may teach us, that even wicked men are to be pitied, when in distress and calamity.

Ezekiel 27:3

eze 27:3

eze 27:3

eze 27:3And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea,.... Of the Mediterranean sea; at the eastern part of it, not above half a mile from the continent; and so fit for a seaport, and a harbour for shipping; so mystical Tyre sits on many waters, Rev 17:1,

which art a merchant of the people for many isles; the inhabitants of many isles brought the produce of them to her; who took them off their hands, or sold them for them to others; these came from several quarters to trade with her in her markets; and who supplied other isles and countries with all sorts of commodities, for which they either resorted to her, or she sent by ships unto them; so Rome is represented as the seat of merchandise, Rev 18:7,

thus saith the Lord God, O Tyrus, thou hast said; in thine heart, in the pride of it, and with thy mouth, praising and commending thyself; which is not right:

I am of perfect beauty: built on a good foundation, a rock; surrounded with walls and towers; the streets arranged in order, and filled with goodly houses; having a good harbour for shipping, and being a mart for all manner of merchandise, Jerusalem being destroyed, Tyre assumes her character, Psa 48:2.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Lamentation. Such canticles were usual, and very poetical.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Pen a mournful narrative of Tyre’s fall, tell the world what she was, and what she is come to; both city and citizens too.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. A lamentation — Rather, dirge. (See also Eze_19:1; Eze_26:17; Eze_28:12; Eze_32:2.) So full of lifelike detail is this “dirge” that Dr. Plumptre can say, “Ezekiel, we must believe, had at some time or other in his life trod the sinful streets of the great city and noted the mingled crowd of many nations, in many costumes that he met there, just as we infer from Dante’s vivid descriptions of the dockyards of Venice (Inferno, Eze_21:7-15) that he had visited that city.”

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Take up a lamentation for Tyrus. The dirge over the merchant-city that follows, the doom sic transit gloria mundi, worked out with a fullness of detail which reminds us of the Homeric catalogue of ships ("Iliad," 2:484-770), is almost, if not altogether, without a parallel in the history of literature. It can scarcely have rested on anything but personal knowledge. Ezekiel, we must believe, had, at some time or other in his life, trod the sinful streets of the great city, and noted the mingled crowd of many nations and in many costumes that he met there, just as we infer from Dante"s vivid description of the dockyards of Venice ("Inf.," 21:7-15) that he had visited that city. Apart from its poetic or prophetic interest, it is for us almost the locus classicus as to the geography and commerce of that old world of which Tyre was in some sense the center. We may compare it, from that point of view, with the ethnological statements in Genesis 10.; just as, from the standpoint of prophecy, it has to be compared with Isaiah"s "burden" against Babylon, (Isa 13:, Isa_13:14) and with St. John"s representation of Rome as the spiritual Babylon of the Apocalypse. (Re 18)

Ver. 2. A lamentation for Tyre.

In the previous chapter the prophet denounced judgment on Tyre; in this chapter he utters a lamentation over the doomed city. The one is in the spirit of vengeance, the other in the spirit of sympathy. The prophet thus reveals to us two elements in the Divine treatment of sin first the wrath that punishes, then the tenderness that commiserates.

I TYRE IS IN A LAMENTABLE CONDITION. At present she is wealthy and prosperous. But the prophet looks into the future and sees her doom approaching. Therefore he sings her funeral dirge while the thoughtless city still revels in luxury. Christ uttered his lament over Jerusalem before a shadow of approaching calamity had fallen on the wicked city.

1. It is lamentable to be living under a doom of destruction. In ignorance, unbelief, or carelessness, men enjoy life although they are guilty of sins that must bring down the wrath of Heaven. "As in the days that were before the Flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark". (Mat_24:38) But to thoughtful spectators such unseemly gaiety is only a source of profound distress. Surely if men would but look up, the sword of Damocles above their heads should arrest the untimely mirth. It is fearful for the wise to be lamenting over the approaching fate which the foolish will not perceive.

2. It is more lamentable to be living in the sin that deserves this doom. Sin is worse than its punishment. Whatever men may believe about the future, the present case of the sinner is most deplorable. If he glories in his shame, that shame is only the more lamentable. The most wretched condition of the prodigal son is that before he has come to himself, when he revels insanely in his degradation.

II THE CONDITION OF TYRE EXCITES COMMISERATION IN THE SERVANT OF GOD. Ezekiel does not merely threaten vengeance, he bewails the ill-fated city. It was the crowning fault of Jonah that he had no pity for Nineveh. (Jon_4:1) No one is fit to speak of future punishment who is not moved to tenderness by a contemplation of its woes. A harsh denunciatory style is not in harmony with the example of Hebrew prophecy, much less does it agree with the New Testament model.

1. Sin should not destroy pity, but excite it. Jerusalem was most wicked; therefore Christ wept. (Luk_19:41)

2. The heathen call for our commiseration. Missionary enterprises are founded on two great motives the claims of Christ, and the pitiable condition of the Christless. Human brotherhood should excite sympathy for the condition of the most remote. This was here seen in Judaism; much more is it to be looked for in Christianity.

3. We should be most concerned at the sin and danger of our friends. Tyre was an old ally of Israel. If the Jews had been more faithful, possibly the Phoenicians might have been saved. Our negligence may be to blame for the fate of our friends.

III THE LAMENTATION FOR TYRE DID NOT SAVE THE CITY.

1. Lamentation will not save without repentance. The fear of future punishment will not give a means of escape from that punishment. We must go farther to a confession of sin and a desire for a better life.

2. The lamentation of others will not save the impenitent. Ezekiel"s elegy did not deliver Tyre. Even Christ"s tears did not save Jerusalem.

3. The cross of Christ is the supreme condition of salvation. Our own tears, a prophet"s tears, even Christ"s tears, will not save. But Christ"s death brings deliverance for all who will have it, by atoning for sin and reconciling the sinner to God. When no prophet"s lamentation will move the hardened sinner, the sight of Christ on the cross dying for him should melt him to penitence.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A lamentation - We ought to mourn for the miseries of other nations, as well as of our own, out of an affection for mankind in general; yea, tho' they have brought them upon themselves.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.