EZEKIEL 27


3 And say unto Tyrus [Tzor ], O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea [yam], which art a merchant of the people for many isles [coastlands], Thus saith Adonai Yahweh; O Tyrus [Tzor], thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.

Now, this is a common picture among the peoples and nations of the present day; and the spectacle of their undisturbed, unrighteous might is liable to trouble righteous minds. Because of this, how profitable to listen to the divine estimate of these things in the case of Tyre:

The application of these facts to our own day must be obvious in view of the existence of just precisely the same state of things. We are here in the midst of a small but great country, exercising a wide empire. Britain is the centre of the world's commerce. By reason of her wisdom in a variety of directions, she has multiplied riches; and because of her riches her heart is lifted up. Pride and arrogance prevail on every hand. It is considered the right sentiment to foster, nationally and individually.

Successful commerce is looked at as the result of skill wisely applied, and a man is considered to be justified in being proud of his abilities, and, therefore, of their results. The popular philosophy on this point is very shallow. The true key is struck in the words of Moses to Israel on the plains of Moab, on the eve of their entry into the land of promise. He told them of the prosperity that awaited them in the event of obedience, and then cautioned them against wrong "views" on the subject: He told them to beware, lest in the midst of their prosperity, they should say,

"My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth" (Deut. 8:17).



11 The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.

The Wooden Walls of Old England


-"‬Ships of Tarshish were thy walls‭" (‬Ezek.‭ ‬27:25‭)‬.‭ ‬Ships of Tarshish were comparatively speaking what our Indiamen are in the present days.‭ ‬They are called‭ "‬the walls of Tyre‭" ‬for the same reason as we speak of our ships of war as‭ "‬the wooden walls of old England.‭" ‬They were the glory and defence of the merchant city.‭"

‭-‬Henderson's Translation.

The Christadelphian, June 1888



13 Javan, Tubal, [Yavan, Tuval] and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass [nefesh adam and kelim (vessels) of nechoshet] in thy market.

Thus, then, we discern the modern names of Russia and of Moscow, of Moskwa, in the ancient names of Ros and Mosc, or Muse. It is not difficult to recognise in Tobl, Tubl, or Thobel, a name which naturally connects itself with them; and which, in conjunction with them, tends, in a very remarkable manner, to determine and fix the proper object of the prediction. The river Tobol gives name to the city Tobolium, or Tobolski the metropolis of the extensive region of Siberia, lying immediately eastward of the territories of Moscovy, or Mosc.

Tobol and Mosc are mentioned together by Ezekiel, who characterises them as nations trading in copper (Ezek. 27:13); a metal which, it is notorious, abounds in the soil of Siberia; a region which includes all the northern part of Asia which borders on Russia to the west, on the Ice-Sea [Artic Ocean] to the north, on the Eastern Ocean [Pacific Ocean] on the east, and on Great Tartary [central Asia] to the south.

And thus the three denominations Ros, Mosc, and Tobl, united in the prophecy, point out, with equal capacity and conciseness, those widely extended regions, which, at the present day, we denominate collectively THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.

Elpis Israel 3.5.



14 They of the house [Bais] of Togarmah traded in thy fairs [for thy wares] with horses and horsemen and mules [susim and parash and peradim].

There is little said about Togarmah in history beyond conjecture. He was a son of Gomer [Gen. 10:3], therefore his posterity would migrate originally from the same locality as Gomer's other descendants -- namely, from the mountains of Taurus and Amanus; but, instead of going westward with their brethren, they diffused themselves over "the north quarters," [Ezek. 38:6] that is, relatively to Judea.

... Hence doubtless they were a nomadic people, tending flocks and herds in the pasture lands of the north, where nature favoured their production with little care and expense. Russian, and Independent, Tartary are the countries of Togarmah, from which in former times poured forth the Turcoman cavalry, "which," says Gibbon, "they proudly computed by millions." Georgia and Circassia, probably, are "bands of Togarmah's house."

Elpis Israel 3.5.



32 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?

A detailed and interesting catalogue of the goods wherein she traded with all the earth, accurately naming and identifying the products of many geographical localities: all sound fact and history. But, like modern Babylon - papal Rome - all was to be cast into the sea.

Why so much about Tyre, of whom we hear relatively little in the history of Israel? We have no record of them fighting Israel: relations were usually very friendly. The answer is that there are several factors that brought special judgment on Tyre: pride, responsibility, corruption, vindictiveness, and religious presumption.

God hates pride. Whatever is exalted must be brought to shame, that man may learn wisdom. Tyre was very proud and prosperous, the great central world mart of nations. It claimed, with a certain amount of truth, that-

"I am of perfect beauty" (27:3).

Tyre was more responsible than most nations, because of its close contact and relationship with Israel. In the days of David and Solomon it was highly privileged to be a key factor in the building of God's Temple, as to both material and workmanship. There appears evidence that its religious beliefs were influenced by Israel: at least it was very intimately exposed to the Law of God. Its king Hiram, the "lover of David," speaks with a reverence for Yahweh indicating intelligent belief.

But later, through Ahab and Jezebel, it became a source of dreadful corruption and abomination, enforced from the throne and threatening to obliterate the worship of God. This was the great issue and showdown that Elijah forced at Carmel: Tyre's Baal or Israel's Yahweh.

Bro Growcott - Prophecies in the captivity