Topical Bible: Commerce: from Tarshish

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Topical Encyclopedia

Tarshish, a significant location in biblical narratives, is often associated with commerce and trade, particularly in the context of maritime activities. The exact geographical location of Tarshish has been a subject of debate among scholars, with suggestions ranging from the western Mediterranean region, such as southern Spain, to locations in the eastern Mediterranean. Regardless of its precise location, Tarshish is consistently depicted as a distant and wealthy place, known for its trade and valuable goods.

Biblical References and Significance

The Bible frequently mentions Tarshish in the context of trade and commerce. In the book of Ezekiel, Tarshish is noted for its wealth and the variety of goods it traded. Ezekiel 27:12 states, "Tarshish was your trading partner because of your abundant wealth of every kind; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise." This passage highlights the diverse and valuable commodities that were associated with Tarshish, indicating its importance as a trading hub.

The ships of Tarshish are another prominent feature in biblical texts, symbolizing the extensive maritime trade network of the ancient world. In Isaiah 23:1, the prophet laments the downfall of Tyre, a major Phoenician city, and mentions the ships of Tarshish: "Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed, without house or harbor." This reference underscores the reliance of ancient economies on maritime trade routes and the role of Tarshish as a key player in these networks.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The commerce from Tarshish had a significant impact on the economies of the ancient Near East. The wealth and goods that flowed from Tarshish contributed to the prosperity of trading cities and regions. The mention of metals such as silver, iron, tin, and lead in Ezekiel suggests that Tarshish was a source of raw materials essential for various industries, including metallurgy and craftsmanship.

Moreover, the cultural exchanges facilitated by trade with Tarshish likely influenced the societies involved. The movement of goods, people, and ideas across the Mediterranean and beyond would have contributed to the cultural and technological development of the regions connected by these trade routes.

Symbolism and Prophetic Imagery

In addition to its economic significance, Tarshish holds symbolic meaning in biblical literature. The ships of Tarshish are often used metaphorically to represent human pride and the futility of relying on material wealth. In Isaiah 2:16, the prophet speaks of a day when "all the ships of Tarshish and all their beautiful vessels" will be brought low, emphasizing the transient nature of human achievements in contrast to the eternal sovereignty of God.

The account of Jonah also features Tarshish as a destination representing disobedience and flight from God's will. Jonah 1:3 recounts, "But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish." Here, Tarshish symbolizes the farthest point from God's calling, illustrating the prophet's initial attempt to escape his divine mission.

Conclusion

The commerce from Tarshish, as depicted in the Bible, reflects the interconnectedness of ancient economies and the significant role of maritime trade in the biblical world. Through its wealth, trade goods, and symbolic representations, Tarshish serves as a testament to the complexities of human enterprise and the overarching themes of divine sovereignty and human reliance on God.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 10:9
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
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Ezekiel 27:25
The ships of Tarshish did sing of you in your market: and you were replenished, and made very glorious in the middle of the seas.
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Library

Psalm XLVIII.
... by some interpreters the word is translated Carthage, by some Tarshish: and from
this ... she built Carthage, the ships which had been prepared for commerce in his ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlviii.htm

Pride of Prosperity
... He was enabled to bring gold from Ophir and silver from Tarshish in great ... The enormous
revenues acquired through commerce with many lands were supplemented by ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 3 pride of prosperity.htm

"Nineveh, that Great City"
... Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that Thou art a gracious God ... Into
the busy world, filled with the din of commerce and the altercation of trade ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 22 nineveh that great.htm

Solomon's Reign.
... married a daughter of Pharoah and carried on with Egypt an extensive commerce and
for ... to be in the most southern part of Arabia, Ophir and Tarshish, and from ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xii solomons reign.htm

The Birth of England's Foreign Missions
... in the latter days (of which the whole chapter is undoubtedly a prophecy), commerce
shall subserve the spread of the gospel. The ships of Tarshish were trading ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ii the birth of.htm

The Northern Iron and the Steel
... very trembling, and though he never ventured, like Jonah, to flee unto Tarshish,
yet he ... the heart of the Alps, and made a passage for the commerce of nations. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the northern iron and the.htm

'A Dew from the Lord'
... And here is the other one: 'The kings of Tarshish and of the isles ... our science, our
Western civilisation, still less the products of our commerce, for all of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a dew from the lord.htm

Claim of Missions on Ministers of Influence.
... To-morrow, he has engaged his passage to Tarshish, has paid his fare, has ... The existence
and religious prosperity of a nation whose commerce is so great, and ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter vi claim of missions.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... I. and the enlargement of Tyre"The voyages to Ophir and Tarshish"The palace ... of its
strategic position and its favourable situation for commerce, but this ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm