We sometimes think that the nations and cities and economies of the world will always be as they are, but Ezekiel presents a very different picture. The Lord will bring righteousness and justice and all will be judged according to their actions. The city of Tyre is a great center of commerce, a place of wealth and influence and great beauty. But as they saw the fall of Israel, they were not moved by compassion, instead, they gloated and looked on looters would on empty stores when there is riot in the streets. The Lord issues a decree in Ezekiel 26:21 “you shall no longer exist” and the world will lament their fall.
The Gates are Broken I Shall Be Filled
Ezekiel 26:1–10
The people of Tyre had no compassion for the fall of Jerusalem. Instead, they saw the siege of Jerusalem as an opportunity to take advantage. They could now take whatever they wanted because the city walls were broken down and the government and military had been removed. They said in
Ezekiel 26:2 “Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Ah! The gates of the peoples are broken; it has swung open to me; I shall be filled, for it lies in ruins!’
This is as looters we see in our day, These thought to pillage the city because it was unprotected and free for the taking. Who could stop them? There wasn’t anyone to prevent them from carrying out the evil that had come into their hearts against their neighbors.
You Shall No Longer Exist
Ezekiel 26:11–21
The word of the Lord against Tyre continues as the city is overtaken as in war. These who had thought to take advantage of Jerusalem’s demise will themselves be plundered so there is nothing left of value. No wealth, no merchandise, no protection, no buildings, and even the ground itself in
Ezekiel 26:12 “they will plunder your wealth, and they will loot your merchandise, and they will break down your walls, and the houses of your delight they will break down, and your stones and your timbers and your earthen dirt they will cast into the midst of the water”.
And also the people will be killed in Ezekiel 26:15 and they will no more be a place in Ezekiel 26:17 “inhabited from the seas”. So that in Ezekiel 26:21 “you shall no longer exist; and you will be sought, and you will not be found again forever”.
Merchant of the Peoples to Many Coastlands
Ezekiel 27:1–11
Tyre has occupied a special place in not only the geography of the earth, but in the economy of the world. It is representative of the world system of trade. The Lord describes the city as, in Ezekiel 27:3 “the one who sits at the entrance of the sea as the merchant of the peoples to the many coastlands”. They were the center for distribution, for trade and so much so that in Ezekiel 26:16 “all the princes of the sea will go down from their thrones, and they will remove their robes” at their demise.
The city describes itself in Ezekiel 27:3 “I am perfect in beauty”. Certainly this city and her ships were made of the finest materials: pine and cedar and oak with “inlaid ivory” and sails of “fine linen with colorful weaving from Egypt” in Ezekiel 27:5-7. This city also had the most “skilled men”, “seamen”, “mariners”, “soldiers”, and “people … on the walls” and these people were immigrants from many other places in Ezekiel 27:8-11.
They Exchanged All These for Your Merchandise
Inhabitants of the Coastlands Are Appalled Over You
Ezekiel 27:25–36
The scale of trade is apparent through these chapters as the flow of goods and the employ of people is described in
Ezekiel 27:25 “The ships of Tarshish were carrying for you your wares, and you were filled, and you became very heavy in the heart of the seas”.
And in Ezekiel 27:26 “into many waters” and in Ezekiel 27:27 “Your wealth and your merchandise, your wares, your mariners, and your seamen, your shipwrights and the barterers of your wares and all of your soldiers who are in you, along with all of your crew”
The word of the Lord continues and to emphasize the impact of the fall of this city and the failure of this economic system on the world he says in Ezekiel 27:33 “When your merchandise went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples with the abundance of your wealth, and by your wares you made rich the kings of the world. But now, in Ezekiel 27:34-36 “you are broken … you have sunk … All of the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled … their kings shudder in horror”.
Will You Indeed Still Say “I am a god!”
Ezekiel 28:1–10
Study Verses
- Ezekiel 26:11–21 You Shall No Longer Exist
- Ezekiel 27:1–11 Merchant of the Peoples to Many Coastlands
- Ezekiel 27:25–36 Inhabitants of the Coastlands Are Appalled Over You
Today’s Reading
- Ezekiel 26:1-21
- Ezekiel 27:1-36
- Ezekiel 28:1-10