Ezekiel 27:22, commentary and pictures

The verse names Sheba and Raamah as merchants of Tyre who occupied its fairs and markets with the chief of all spices and with all precious stones and gold. The listing shows the reach, breadth and wealth of her commerce, for Tyre was then the merchant city of the world and the commercial emporium of Phoenicia. It belongs to the lamentation over Tyre in Ezekiel 26 to 28, which foretells her utter ruin and overthrow until the very place where she stood would become a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea. That predicted ruin stands as an object lesson of fulfilled prophecy whose fulfillment is evident today. It holds up Tyre to show how God deals with nations and brings down their pride, for its trade represents a commercial spirit that exalts wealth and becomes corrupt, a warning to cities and people who forget and defy God until doom comes.

Tyre's Commerce Described

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded in the fairs and markets of Tyre, bringing the chief or best of all spices together with precious stones and gold. Their traffic is part of the chapter's account of extensive commerce, naming those peoples among Tyre's trading partners and listing their merchandise of spices, stones, and gold. The listing shows the reach, breadth, and wealth of that commerce and gives a vivid picture of vast wealth and greatness and a multitude of goods and riches.

Tyre was the merchant city of the world at that time. It was the commercial emporium of Phoenicia and one of the greatest and most famous cities of the ancient world, the port where Paul landed after passing Cyprus. Its fairs drew all nations in all manner of merchandise, like world's fairs 2,500 years ago.

Prophecy of Tyre's Fall

Ezekiel 27:22 belongs to the lamentation over Tyre in Ezekiel 26 to 28, a stirring prophecy against the nations predicting the utter ruin and destruction of Tyre. That lament stands among the prophecies concerning the nations around Judah, in which Ammon, Moab, Tyre, and Egypt pass under the prophet's vision in Ezekiel 25 to 31. Within that setting the chapter describes Tyre as a merchant city destined to become desolate, one of the greatest and most famous cities of the ancient world and the commercial emporium of Phoenicia.

The prophecy foretells the overthrow of Tyre and Sidon and the utter ruin, destruction, and desolation of Tyre. Tyre, the great commercial city of the world and ancient commercial metropolis, would be utterly wiped out of existence. The very place on which she stood would become a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea.

Nebuchadnezzar would capture Tyre, and from Tyre would conquer Jerusalem, although false prophets said he was not coming against Jerusalem.

Tyre's predicted ruin is an object lesson of fulfilled prophecy, a remarkable prophecy whose fulfillment is evident today. Its site becoming a place for spreading nets shows the predicted ruin accomplished.

Warning to Later Cities

Ezekiel 27:22 belongs to God's prophecy against Tyre, the great commercial city of the world, set alongside the kingdoms on every side of Israel to show how God deals with nations and humbles their pride. That judgment meant utter wiping out, so that the very site of the city would become a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea. Nebuchadnezzar would take Tyre and from there move on to conquer Jerusalem, despite false prophets insisting he was not coming against Jerusalem.

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah bringing chief spices, precious stones and gold into its markets display the reach and wealth of its trade. That trade embodies a widespread commercial spirit that exalts wealth, grows corrupt, and is brought low by God, a pattern Babylon repeats on a worldwide scale. The warning against Tyre, joined to the judgments upon Babylon, stands as a lesson for cities and people who forget and defy God, whose warnings go unheeded until doom falls. In that light San Francisco is likened to Tyre as a major sea-trading city and commercial center of great wealth and broad commerce.