Topical Bible: Commerce: Carried on by Means of Ships

◄ Commerce: Carried on by Means of Ships ►

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Commerce in the ancient world was a vital component of economic life, and the use of ships for trade is well-documented in the Bible. The Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and other bodies of water served as major conduits for the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture among various peoples and nations.

Biblical References and Historical Context

The Bible provides numerous references to maritime commerce, highlighting its importance in the ancient Near East. One of the earliest mentions is found in the account of King Solomon, who established a fleet of ships to enhance trade. In 1 Kings 9:26-28 , it is recorded: "King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. And Hiram sent his servants, men who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon."

Solomon's collaboration with Hiram, king of Tyre, underscores the international nature of maritime commerce. Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city, was renowned for its skilled sailors and shipbuilders, playing a crucial role in the trade networks of the ancient world.

Economic and Cultural Exchange

The use of ships facilitated not only the exchange of goods but also cultural and technological interactions. Ezekiel 27 provides a vivid description of Tyre as a bustling hub of commerce, likening it to a ship filled with diverse cargo. Ezekiel 27:9 states, "The elders of Gebal and their skilled workers were within you, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your merchandise."

This passage illustrates the extensive network of trade routes and the variety of goods exchanged, including metals, textiles, and luxury items. The ships of Tarshish, mentioned in Isaiah 23:1 , were emblematic of long-distance trade: "Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed, without house or harbor. From the land of Cyprus word has come to them."

Symbolism and Prophetic Imagery

Maritime commerce also serves as a powerful symbol in biblical prophecy. The fall of Babylon is depicted in Revelation 18, where the lament of the merchants and shipmasters highlights the city's role as a center of trade. Revelation 18:17-19 describes the reaction: "For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed! Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance and cry out as they see the smoke of her burning, ‘What city was ever like this great city?’"

This imagery underscores the transient nature of earthly wealth and the ultimate sovereignty of God over human endeavors.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

While commerce by sea was essential for economic prosperity, the Bible also addresses the moral and ethical dimensions of trade. Honest dealings and fair trade are emphasized, as seen in Proverbs 11:1 : "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight."

The prophets often condemned the exploitation and greed associated with commerce, calling for justice and righteousness in economic practices. Amos 8:5-6 highlights the corrupt practices of some merchants: "You say, ‘When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may open the grain market? We can reduce the ephah, increase the shekel, and cheat with dishonest scales. We can buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!’"

Conclusion

The Bible's portrayal of commerce carried on by means of ships reflects the complexity and significance of trade in the ancient world. It serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of nations and the ethical responsibilities that accompany economic activity.

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1 Kings 9:27,28
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
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1 Kings 10:11
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
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1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
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Psalm 107:23-30
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
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Proverbs 31:11
The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
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Revelation 18:19
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
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Library

Commerce
... labour afforded the means, and the only means, of manly ... But no sketch of commerce
among the early Jews, however ... both of the nature of the trade carried on, and ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 12 commerce.htm

From the Flood to Abraham
... Just when and where civilization began we have no means of telling. ... Commerce
was carried on extensively on both land and sea. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iii from the flood.htm

The Saviour's Last Command.
... What have they carried to thy shores ... Encyclopedia of Geography, or McCulloch's
Dictionary of Commerce, or Howitt's ... by thousands to the grave by means of deadly ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iv the saviours last.htm

Connecticut at the Close of the Revolution
... Connecticut's commerce was an import commerce exchanging natural products ... of the
Lord's Supper as a "means" of grace ... and the rebound had carried the churches as ...
/.../chapter xii connecticut at the.htm

The Birth of England's Foreign Missions
... Fever carried off his first child and brought himself ... Obligations of Christians to
use Means for the ... to our knowledge trading companies, whose commerce lies in ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ii the birth of.htm

Prayer and Science
... He has carried his life in his hand day ... anything,"if Christ being our example means
anything"then ... or meteorology, in navigation, or in commerce, adding to ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon iii prayer and science.htm

The Reconnoitering of Greece.
... He was taken up by the attendants, and carried home. ... You have all the means at your ...
so often mentioned in the Scriptures as a great pagan emporium of commerce. ...
/.../abbott/darius the great/chapter vi the reconnoitering of.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book iv.
... kind) are no better off than ships continually storm ... that in him lies, to gain this
means of strength. ... 142] 'Emporias, restricted here to commerce carried on by ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book 4.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... of transit, have diminished the revenue which the state drew from its foreign commerce. ...
The traffic carried on between Asia and the Delta by means of both ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

Essay vi. "The Way of Ancient Ordinance, Though it Winds, is yet ...
... extent to which it might be carried, and the ... to by the natives, and possess the means
of distinguishing ... not be trusted to the casualties of ordinary commerce. ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay vi the way of.htm