Ezekiel 27:6
Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars;

Bashan’s forests east of the Jordan supplied timber renowned for strength and durability. Tyre’s ships were equipped with the finest materials available, displaying the city’s wealth, skill, and far-reaching commercial influence.

Zec 11:2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen;…
Isa 2:13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up…
Amo 2:9 Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them……

of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck,

Cyprus, known as Kittim, provided valuable timber for Mediterranean shipbuilding. The deck joined strength with beauty, reflecting Tyre’s ability to draw resources from distant lands through its extensive trade network.

Jer 2:10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look;…
Num 24:24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;…
Dan 11:30 Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will…

inlaid with ivory.

Ivory ornamentation turned a working vessel into a display of luxury and pride. Yet the splendor of Tyre’s commerce could not preserve her from the judgment of God. Earthly wealth may adorn human achievement, but only the precious blood of Christ provides lasting redemption.

1Ki 10:18 Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory…
2Ch 9:17 Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory…
Amo 3:15 I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God who ministered to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. He is the author of the book of Ezekiel, which contains prophecies and visions concerning Israel and the surrounding nations.

2. Bashan
A region known for its strong and durable oak trees. It was located east of the Jordan River and was famous for its fertile land and robust livestock.

3. Cyprus
An island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, known for its valuable cypress wood. It was a significant center for trade and commerce in the ancient world.

4. Tyre
A prominent Phoenician city-state known for its wealth and maritime prowess. Ezekiel 27 is a lamentation over Tyre's impending downfall due to its pride and reliance on material wealth.

5. Ivory
A precious material often used in ancient times for decoration and luxury items. It symbolizes wealth and opulence.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Pride and Materialism
Tyre's reliance on its wealth and resources led to its downfall. Believers are reminded to place their trust in God rather than in material possessions.

The Transience of Earthly Wealth
Just as Tyre's opulence could not save it, earthly wealth is temporary and cannot provide ultimate security or salvation.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
The judgment on Tyre demonstrates God's control over all nations and His ability to humble the proud. Believers should live in humility and reverence before God.

The Importance of Using Resources Wisely
While resources like the oaks of Bashan and cypress wood are valuable, they should be used in ways that honor God and serve His purposes.

The Call to Reflect on Our Own Lives
This passage encourages self-examination regarding where we place our trust and how we use the resources God has given us.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of Tyre's wealth in Ezekiel 27:6 challenge our modern views on material success and security?

2. In what ways can the account of Tyre's downfall serve as a warning for individuals and nations today?

3. How can we ensure that our trust remains in God rather than in the material resources we possess?

4. What are some practical ways we can use our resources to honor God and serve others?

5. How do the themes of pride and judgment in Ezekiel 27 relate to the broader biblical account of God's sovereignty and justice?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 2:12-17
This passage speaks of the Lord's judgment against the pride of man, similar to the judgment pronounced on Tyre in Ezekiel 27. Both passages highlight the futility of relying on material wealth and human achievements.

Revelation 18:11-17
The fall of Babylon in Revelation parallels the fall of Tyre, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly riches and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all nations.

1 Kings 10:22
This verse describes King Solomon's wealth, including his acquisition of ivory, illustrating the historical significance and value of such materials in ancient times.
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
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
Ashurim, Ashurites, Bashan, Bench, Benches, Blades, Boxwood, Box-wood, Branch, Chittim, Coastlands, Coasts, Company, Cypress, Cyprus, Deck, Driving, Floors, Inlaid, Islands, Isles, Ivory, Kittim, Kittites, Larch, Oaks, Oak-trees, Oars, Pines, Sea-lands, Wood
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 27:6

     4339   ivory

Ezekiel 27:1-25

     5407   merchants

Ezekiel 27:1-36

     5587   trade

Ezekiel 27:2-36

     5899   lament

Ezekiel 27:3-6

     4552   wood

Ezekiel 27:3-7

     4248   islands

Ezekiel 27:3-9

     5517   seafaring

Ezekiel 27:5-6

     4528   trees

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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