World of the Bible

Tyre sat just off the Phoenician coast of today’s Lebanon. It was an island city at “the entrance to the sea.” Deep water wrapped it like a moat. Two harbors faced the world—Sidonian to the north, Egyptian to the south. Ships could come and go in most weather. That made Tyre rich and hard to attack.

Bad news from the prophet

Ezekiel pictures Tyre as a great ship. Builders used cedar from Lebanon’s mountains. They cut oars from Bashan’s oaks. They raised a mast from Cyprus (Kittim). They sewed fine sails. Local dye-makers colored them Tyrian purple from murex shells. The city’s wealth rode the wind.

Business on the high seas

Trade routes spread out from Tyre in every direction. To the north stood Arvad (Aradus) and Gebal (Byblos). Their workers sealed hulls and rigging. Inland roads climbed to Damascus, home of Helbon wine. Farther on were Harran, Canneh, and Chilmad in Mesopotamia.

East and south, Arabian caravans arrived from Dedan, Sheba, and Raamah. They carried ivory, ebony, spices, and gems. West across the open sea sailed the “ships of Tarshish.” Think far markets that sent silver, iron, tin, and lead. To the north and northeast were Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Beth-Togarmah. They supplied metals, horses, and war gear.

Breaking Tyre

Ezekiel’s point is simple. Geography made Tyre. Harbors, sea lanes, and mountain passes fed it. The same winds and waves could break it. In one storm, the cargo goes overboard, and pride with it.