Ezekiel 27:18
Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar,
Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods
This phrase highlights the prosperity and economic strength of Tyre, a prominent ancient Phoenician city known for its trade and commerce. Tyre's wealth was largely due to its strategic location along the Mediterranean Sea, which facilitated trade with various nations. The city's prosperity is a recurring theme in Ezekiel, emphasizing the material wealth that often led to pride and eventual downfall. This wealth is reminiscent of other biblical warnings against the dangers of relying on material riches, as seen in Proverbs 11:28 and 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

Damascus traded with you
Damascus, the capital of Aram (modern-day Syria), was a significant trading partner with Tyre. This relationship underscores the interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern economies. Damascus was known for its own wealth and strategic location on trade routes, which made it a valuable partner for Tyre. The mention of Damascus also reflects the broader geopolitical landscape of the time, where alliances and trade agreements were crucial for maintaining power and influence.

wine from Helbon
Helbon, identified with modern-day Aleppo, was renowned for its high-quality wine. This wine was a luxury item, indicating the level of affluence and the demand for fine goods in Tyre. The reference to Helbon's wine highlights the cultural appreciation for luxury and the role of such goods in trade. Wine in the Bible often symbolizes joy and celebration, as seen in Psalm 104:15, but it can also represent excess and indulgence, as warned in Proverbs 20:1.

wool from Zahar
Zahar is less well-known, but it is believed to be a region famous for its fine wool. Wool was a valuable commodity in the ancient world, used for clothing and trade. The mention of wool from Zahar indicates the diversity of goods that Tyre imported, showcasing its role as a hub of commerce. Wool's significance in biblical times is also seen in its use in temple garments and offerings, as described in Exodus 35:6 and Leviticus 13:47-59. The trade in wool reflects the broader economic activities that sustained ancient societies and contributed to their wealth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Damascus
An ancient city, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, known for its trade and commerce. In Ezekiel 27, it is depicted as a trading partner of Tyre, exchanging goods and wealth.

2. Tyre
A prominent ancient Phoenician city known for its wealth and maritime trade. Ezekiel 27 is a lamentation over Tyre, describing its extensive trade network and eventual downfall.

3. Helbon
A location known for its high-quality wine, mentioned here as part of the trade goods exchanged with Tyre. It highlights the luxury and wealth involved in Tyre's trading activities.

4. White Wool
A valuable commodity in ancient times, used for making fine garments. Its mention signifies the high-quality goods that were part of Tyre's trade.

5. Ezekiel
A prophet of God who delivered messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. His prophecies often included vivid imagery and symbolic language.
Teaching Points
The Fleeting Nature of Wealth
The passage reminds us that material wealth and prosperity are temporary and can lead to pride and downfall if not grounded in righteousness.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
Just as God judged Tyre and Damascus, He remains sovereign over all nations today. This calls for humility and recognition of His ultimate authority.

The Dangers of Pride
Tyre's pride in its wealth and trade led to its downfall. Believers are cautioned to guard against pride and to seek humility before God.

The Importance of Righteous Trade
The passage highlights the importance of ethical and fair trade practices, reminding us to conduct our business dealings with integrity.

Trust in God, Not in Riches
The ultimate security and hope for believers lie in God, not in material possessions or economic success.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of Tyre's trade in Ezekiel 27:18 reflect the values and priorities of the city, and what can we learn from this about our own values?

2. In what ways does the fall of Tyre serve as a warning to modern societies that prioritize wealth and commerce over righteousness?

3. How can we apply the lesson of God's sovereignty over nations to our understanding of current global events?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that our business practices align with biblical principles of fairness and integrity?

5. How can we cultivate a heart that trusts in God rather than in material wealth, especially in a culture that often equates success with financial prosperity?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 17
This chapter also speaks of the judgment against Damascus, providing a broader context of God's sovereignty over nations and their eventual accountability.

Revelation 18
The fall of Babylon in Revelation parallels the fall of Tyre, symbolizing the ultimate downfall of worldly wealth and pride before God's judgment.

Proverbs 11:28
This verse warns against trusting in riches, which connects to the theme of Tyre's reliance on its wealth and trade.
The Beauty, Glory, and Replenishment of the City of TyreJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 27:1-25
A Celebration of Remarkable ProsperityW. Jones Ezekiel 27:1-36
A Proud CityW. Greenhill, M. A.Ezekiel 27:1-36
God's Observation of Our Business HoursEzekiel 27:1-36
Responsibility of City RulersT. De Witt Talmage.Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Fate of TyreJ. Parker, D. D.Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Position of Tyre on Land and SeaT. De Witt Talmage.Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Sin of TyreJohn Skinner, M. A.Ezekiel 27:1-36
Wreck of a Stately ShipJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 27:1-36
Great Fairs UniversalT. De Witt Talmage.Ezekiel 27:12-23
Home Industries to be EncouragedEzekiel 27:12-23
The Fairs of TyreT. De Witt Talmage.Ezekiel 27:12-23
A Picture of Extensive Commercial RelationsW. Jones Ezekiel 27:12-25
People
Aram, Ashurites, Dan, Dedan, Elishah, Ezekiel, Haran, Javan, Kedar, Kittim, Kittites, Lud, Lydia, Meshech, Phut, Tarshish, Togarmah, Tubal, Uzal, Zidon
Places
Arabia, Arvad, Asshur, Bashan, Canneh, Chilmad, Cyprus, Damascus, Dedan, Egypt, Elishah, Gamad, Gebal, Haran, Helbon, Helech, Javan, Kedar, Lebanon, Lud, Meshech, Minnith, Persia, Put, Sahar, Senir, Sheba, Sidon, Syria, Tarshish, Tigris-Euphrates Region, Tubal, Tyre, Uzal
Topics
Abundance, Abundant, Amount, Business, Customer, Damascus, Dealt, Goods, Handiworks, Helbon, Kind, Kinds, Making, Merchant, Multitude, Products, Reason, Riches, Substance, Trafficked, Wares, Wealth, Wine, Wool, Works, Zahar
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 27:18

     4684   sheep
     4693   wool

Ezekiel 27:1-25

     5407   merchants

Ezekiel 27:1-36

     5587   trade

Ezekiel 27:2-36

     5899   lament

Library
Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
^A Matt. IX. 35-38; X. 1, 5-42; XI. 1; ^B Mark VI. 6-13; ^C Luke IX. 1-6. ^b 6 And he ^a Jesus ^b went about ^a all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner sickness and all manner of sickness. [In the first circuit of Galilee some of the twelve accompanied Jesus as disciples (see [3]Section XXXIII.); in the second the twelve were with him as apostles; in the third they, too, are sent forth as evangelists to supplement
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ...
Humility is the root of charity, and meekness the fruit of both. There is no solid and pure ground of love to others, except the rubbish of self-love be first cast out of the soul; and when that superfluity of naughtiness is cast out, then charity hath a solid and deep foundation: "The end of the command is charity out of a pure heart," 1 Tim. i. 5. It is only such a purified heart, cleansed from that poison and contagion of pride and self-estimation, that can send out such a sweet and wholesome
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision F. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. ^C Luke XVI. 19-31. [The parable we are about to study is a direct advance upon the thoughts in the previous section. We may say generally that if the parable of the unjust steward teaches how riches are to be used, this parable sets forth the terrible consequences of a failure to so use them. Each point of the previous discourse is covered in detail, as will be shown by the references in the discussion of the parable.]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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