Cities: Designated as Merchant
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In the biblical narrative, certain cities are recognized for their significant roles in trade and commerce. These cities, often strategically located, served as hubs for the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas. Their mention in Scripture highlights the economic and cultural interactions of the ancient world.

Tyre

Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a major center of commerce. Its wealth and influence are noted in several passages. Ezekiel 27 provides a detailed account of Tyre's extensive trade network, describing it as a "merchant of the peoples on many coasts" (Ezekiel 27:3). The chapter lists various goods traded by Tyre, including silver, iron, tin, and lead from Tarshish, and horses and mules from Beth Togarmah. Tyre's prosperity and eventual downfall serve as a powerful symbol of the transient nature of earthly wealth.

Sidon

Sidon, another key Phoenician city, is often mentioned alongside Tyre. Known for its skilled artisans and trade, Sidon played a crucial role in the distribution of goods across the Mediterranean. In Isaiah 23, Sidon is addressed in the context of Tyre's judgment, indicating its close economic ties and shared fate. The city's reputation as a merchant hub is further underscored by its mention in the context of trade with Israel and other nations.

Babylon

Babylon, while primarily known for its empire and cultural achievements, was also a significant commercial center. The city is depicted in Revelation 18 as a symbol of economic power and moral corruption. The lament over Babylon's fall highlights its role as a marketplace for luxury goods: "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore" (Revelation 18:11). This passage lists a variety of commodities, emphasizing Babylon's extensive trade network and its impact on global commerce.

Tarshish

Tarshish is often associated with distant lands rich in resources. While its exact location remains debated, it is frequently mentioned in the context of trade. Ships of Tarshish are noted for their role in transporting goods, as seen in 1 Kings 10:22: "For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks" . This highlights Tarshish's importance in the ancient trade routes and its contribution to the wealth of Israel under Solomon.

Sheba

The kingdom of Sheba, located in the southern Arabian Peninsula, is renowned for its wealth and trade in spices, gold, and precious stones. The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, as recorded in 1 Kings 10, underscores the region's significance as a trading partner. Sheba's merchants are also mentioned in Ezekiel 27:22, where they are noted for trading "the finest of all kinds of spices and all precious stones and gold" .

Damascus

Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, served as a vital trade center in the ancient Near East. Its strategic location along major trade routes facilitated the exchange of goods between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean. In Ezekiel 27:18, Damascus is mentioned as a trading partner of Tyre, dealing in "wine from Helbon and white wool" , highlighting its role in regional commerce.

These cities, designated as merchant hubs, played crucial roles in the economic landscape of the biblical world. Their interactions with Israel and other nations are woven throughout the biblical narrative, providing insight into the complexities of ancient trade and its impact on society.
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Isaiah 23:11
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD has given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
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Ezekiel 17:4
He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.
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Ezekiel 27:3
And say to Tyrus, O you that are situate at the entry of the sea, which are a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus said the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, you have said, I am of perfect beauty.
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Library

The "Little Knife" Insurrection
... with knives or small swords, the society is designated by the ... at Hai-teng, and
Chioh-be (cities fifteen and ... It is only at great risk that any merchant junk can ...
/.../fagg/forty years in south china/vi the little knife insurrection.htm

Jewish Homes
... field, orchard, and dairy; the foreign merchant or pedlar ... streets were wider than
those of modern Eastern cities. ... there were what may be designated as special ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 6 jewish homes.htm

Introduction. Chapter i. --Life of S. Cyril.
... in a monastery: they commonly lived in cities, only in ... by Reischl [21] that Cyril
had been designated in the ... that it had been sold to her by a merchant, and to ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction chapter i life of s.htm

The Jewish World in the Days of Christ - the Jewish Dispersion in ...
... extent that a later writer actually designated them the ... could be safely stored in
these cities and transported ... These merchant princes were keenly alive to all ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the jewish world.htm

In Judaea
... it may have been added to the cities of Judaea ... to her rival Alexandria, which was
designated "the little ... Mishnah discusses how much profit a merchant is allowed ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

Philo of Alexandria, the Rabbis, and the Gospels - the Final ...
... and most influential families among the Jewish merchant-princes of ... according to the
number of the cities of refuge ... but as revealing Himself, is designated Memra ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv philo of alexandria.htm

Egypt and Greece.
... of Europe and Asia, in merchant ships, over ... by the employment of a certain designated
means of ... and their successors, were rebuilding the cities and reoccupying ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter ii egypt and greece.htm

Homilies on the Statues.
... gave warning of sorrow before reward, [711]449; judgment of, on cities, [712]457 ...
445; under training like heirs: with heaven in view like the merchant, [724]450 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/homilies on the statues.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... between Thebes, Memphis, and the Asiatic cities, was thronged by ... of flutes and
flageolets, are designated in Egyptian ... there is question of a merchant who had ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... is unknown to us, but who is designated in the ... of races was found in other cities,
and Memphis ... There was henceforward no scribe or merchant, however poor he ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

Resources
What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Abraham bargain with God in regard to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18)? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites? | GotQuestions.org

Cities: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Cities

Cities of Refuge

Cities of Refuge of Christ

Cities of Refuge of the Hope of the Gospel

Cities of Refuge: (The Way To) Christ

Cities of Refuge: Afforded No Asylum to Murderers

Cities of Refuge: Design of

Cities of Refuge: Names of

Cities of Refuge: Required to Be: Easy of Access

Cities of Refuge: Required to Be: Open to all Manslayers

Cities of Refuge: Strangers Might Take Advantage of

Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to not Protected Outside of

Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to Obliged to Remain In, Until the High Priest's Death

Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to Were Put on Their Trial

Cities of the Plain

Cities were Called For: The Country in Which Built

Cities were Called For: The Family of the Founder

Cities were Called For: The Proprietor of the Land

Cities were Frequently: Besieged

Cities were Frequently: Burned

Cities were Frequently: Depopulated

Cities were Frequently: Made Heaps of Ruins

Cities were Frequently: Pillaged

Cities were Frequently: Razed and Sown With Salt

Cities were Frequently: Stormed

Cities were Frequently: Wasted by Famine

Cities were Frequently: Wasted by Pestilence

Cities: A Great Defence to a Country

Cities: Afforded Refuge in Times of Danger

Cities: Ancient

Cities: Arranged in Streets and Lanes

Cities: Artificial Mode of Supplying Water To

Cities: Built in Desert Places

Cities: Built in Plains

Cities: Built in Pleasant Situations

Cities: Built of Brick and Mortar

Cities: Built of Brick and Slime

Cities: Built of Stone and Wood

Cities: Built with Compactness

Cities: Built: Beside Rivers

Cities: Built: Often of a Square Form

Cities: Built: On Hills

Cities: Built: On Solid Foundations

Cities: Church Triumphant

Cities: Densely Inhabited

Cities: Designated as Chariot

Cities: Designated as Merchant

Cities: Designated as Royal

Cities: Designated as Treasure

Cities: Designed for Habitations

Cities: Different Kinds of Chariot

Cities: Different Kinds of Commercial

Cities: Different Kinds of Fenced

Cities: Different Kinds of Levitical

Cities: Different Kinds of Refuge

Cities: Different Kinds of Royal

Cities: Different Kinds of Store

Cities: Different Kinds of Treasure

Cities: Difficulty of Taking, Alluded To

Cities: Entered Through Gates

Cities: Figurative

Cities: First Mention of

Cities: Fortified

Cities: Furnished With Stores

Cities: Garrisoned in War

Cities: Government of, by Rulers

Cities: Heavenly Inheritance

Cities: Infested by Dogs

Cities: Inhabitants of, Called Citizens

Cities: Numerous

Cities: Often Built to Perpetuate a Name

Cities: Often Deserted on the Approach of an Enemy

Cities: Often Fortified by Art

Cities: Often Fortified by Nature

Cities: Often Founded and Enlarged by Blood and Rapine

Cities: Often Great and Goodly

Cities: Often had Citadels

Cities: Often Insignificant

Cities: Often of Great Antiquity

Cities: Perishable Nature of

Cities: Prosperity of, Increased by Commerce

Cities: Protected at Night by Watchmen

Cities: Provided With Judges

Cities: Riches

Cities: Saints

Cities: Sometimes had Suburbs

Cities: Suburbs of

Cities: Surrounded With Walls

Cities: The Apostasy

Cities: Town Clerk of

Cities: Under Governors

Cities: Visible Church

Pentapolis

Related Terms

Store-cities (5 Occurrences)

Chariot-cities (3 Occurrences)

Treasure-cities (1 Occurrence)

Storage (7 Occurrences)

Shephe'lah (10 Occurrences)

Argob (6 Occurrences)

Siddim (3 Occurrences)

Castles (10 Occurrences)

Settlements (27 Occurrences)

Kiriath (34 Occurrences)

Adullam (10 Occurrences)

Suburbs (75 Occurrences)

Azekah (7 Occurrences)

Allotted (54 Occurrences)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Shrines (40 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Cabul (2 Occurrences)

Cuthah (2 Occurrences)

Arvad (2 Occurrences)

Arvadites (1 Occurrence)

Stores (53 Occurrences)

Circuit (27 Occurrences)

Aroer (17 Occurrences)

Kedesh (12 Occurrences)

Shemesh (24 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Anakim (10 Occurrences)

Several (40 Occurrences)

Kohath (30 Occurrences)

Sennacherib (13 Occurrences)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Kirjathaim (6 Occurrences)

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Baal-meon (3 Occurrences)

Beth-marcaboth (2 Occurrences)

Counteth (7 Occurrences)

Chephirah (4 Occurrences)

Calneh (2 Occurrences)

Conquered (20 Occurrences)

Crete (7 Occurrences)

Counts (15 Occurrences)

Aro'er (15 Occurrences)

Anathoth (16 Occurrences)

Ain (6 Occurrences)

Accidentally (5 Occurrences)

Ajalon (10 Occurrences)

Sepharvaim (6 Occurrences)

Suburb (5 Occurrences)

Smyrna (2 Occurrences)

Signed (8 Occurrences)

Salchah (1 Occurrence)

Survivors (49 Occurrences)

Salcah (4 Occurrences)

Salecah (4 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)

Villages (106 Occurrences)

Village (21 Occurrences)

Kiriathjearim

Spoiled (69 Occurrences)

Surrounding (78 Occurrences)

Bashan (54 Occurrences)

Agrarian

City

Sodom (49 Occurrences)

Settled (112 Occurrences)

Sihon (34 Occurrences)

Calah (2 Occurrences)

Ammonite (22 Occurrences)

Ciccar

Clan (96 Occurrences)

Kartan (1 Occurrence)

Cities: Designated as Chariot
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