Topical Bible: The Sea: Commercial Nations: Derived Great Wealth From

◄ The Sea: Commercial Nations: Derived Great Wealth From ►

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The sea has long been a source of wealth and prosperity for nations engaged in maritime commerce. In biblical times, the sea was a vital conduit for trade, enabling the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas across vast distances. Several nations in the Bible are noted for deriving great wealth from their maritime activities.

Tyre and Sidon

The cities of Tyre and Sidon, located in ancient Phoenicia, were renowned for their maritime prowess and commercial success. Tyre, in particular, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a powerful and wealthy city-state due to its extensive trade networks. Ezekiel 27 provides a detailed account of Tyre's commercial activities, describing it as a "merchant of the peoples on many coasts" (Ezekiel 27:3). The chapter lists a variety of goods traded by Tyre, including silver, iron, tin, lead, and precious stones, highlighting the city's role as a hub of international commerce.

Tarshish

Tarshish is another significant maritime power mentioned in the Bible. Although its exact location remains uncertain, it is often associated with wealth and long-distance trade. The ships of Tarshish are noted for their capacity to carry large quantities of goods. In Isaiah 23:1, the fall of Tyre is lamented, and the ships of Tarshish are mentioned as being affected by this calamity: "Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor" . This indicates the interconnectedness of maritime trade routes and the reliance of various nations on the sea for economic prosperity.

Sheba and Ophir

The regions of Sheba and Ophir are also associated with wealth derived from maritime trade. The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, as recorded in 1 Kings 10, underscores the wealth and splendor of her kingdom, which was likely bolstered by trade across the sea. Similarly, Ophir is noted for its gold, which was highly prized and transported by sea. In 1 Kings 9:28, it is recorded that Solomon's fleet brought back 420 talents of gold from Ophir, demonstrating the significant wealth that could be acquired through maritime ventures.

Egypt

Egypt, with its strategic location along the Nile River and access to the Mediterranean Sea, also benefited from maritime trade. The sea facilitated the exchange of goods such as grain, papyrus, and linen, which were highly sought after in the ancient world. Isaiah 19:5-7 speaks of the drying up of the Nile and the subsequent economic impact, illustrating the importance of waterways for Egypt's prosperity.

Babylon

Babylon, though primarily a land-based empire, also engaged in maritime trade, particularly through its connections with the Persian Gulf. The wealth of Babylon is highlighted in Revelation 18, where its fall is lamented by the merchants of the earth who "grew rich from her excessive luxuries" (Revelation 18:3). This passage reflects the extensive trade networks that contributed to Babylon's wealth and influence.

In summary, the sea served as a critical avenue for commerce and wealth generation for several nations in biblical times. The prosperity of these nations was often tied to their ability to navigate and control maritime trade routes, underscoring the enduring significance of the sea in the economic and cultural exchanges of the ancient world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 33:19
They shall call the people to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

In Our Last Chapter we Sought to Show that in Rev. . .
... loans to Europe, each go back to commercial considerations ... sitteth, are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues ... and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in our last chapter we.htm

Alexandria and Rome - the Jewish Communities in the Capitals of ...
... We are still far out at sea, making for the port ... What a jostling crowd of all nations
in the streets ... separate, and from its convenience for commercial purposes. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v alexandria and rome.htm

Commerce
... homeless, weak minority among the nations of the ... 36, 37), which must have rendered
commercial transactions impossible ... at Ezion-geber, on the Red Sea, which port ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 12 commerce.htm

Egypt
... Greek influence; in older days the sea had been ... the village of Rakotis, became the
commercial and literary ... of society, and, alone among the nations of antiquity ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... Scriptures, are seen emptying themselves in the sea of historical ... longer be the tail
of the Nations, but the ... of wealth, and the growth of commercial power; for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

The Israelites
... who had planted themselves on the sea-coast shortly ... about to disappear from among
the nations of the world ... the supremacy of Judah, and commercial relations were ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... were too much absorbed in their commercial pursuits to ... order in Babylon, Sippara,
and the Country of the Sea. ... and threatened in the south by the nations of the ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... The list of the nations of the north who yielded ... of Tyre and Sidon had too many
commercial interests on ... attention on the regions bordering the Red Sea and the ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Birth of England's Foreign Missions
... Sea as they can through the Mediterranean or any lesser sea. ... It is no objection to
commercial men ... be found necessary here as in trade between different nations. ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ii the birth of.htm

The Land and the People.
... on the Mediterranean highway of the historic nations of antiquity ... angels in the air
across the sea to Loretto ... for good or evil in the commercial, political, and ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm