Topical Bible: Ships: Worked by Mariners or Sailors

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In biblical times, ships were essential for trade, travel, and warfare, and they were operated by skilled mariners or sailors. The Bible provides several references to ships and the men who worked them, highlighting their importance in ancient society and their symbolic significance in biblical narratives.

Old Testament References

The earliest mention of ships in the Bible is found in Genesis 49:13, where Jacob blesses his son Zebulun, saying, "Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon." This passage indicates the maritime activities associated with the tribe of Zebulun, suggesting their involvement in trade and navigation.

The construction of ships is notably mentioned in the account of King Solomon, who built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. Solomon's ships, manned by his servants and the experienced sailors of Hiram, king of Tyre, were used for trading expeditions to Ophir, bringing back gold and other valuable goods (1 Kings 9:26-28; 2 Chronicles 8:17-18).

The prophet Isaiah also references ships in his prophecies, particularly in Isaiah 23, where he speaks of the ships of Tarshish, which were renowned for their long voyages and trade. Isaiah 23:1 states, "Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed, without house or harbor."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, ships play a significant role in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus often taught from a boat, using it as a platform to address the crowds gathered on the shore (Mark 4:1). The Sea of Galilee, a hub of fishing activity, was a familiar setting for Jesus and His disciples, many of whom were fishermen by trade.

The Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys frequently involved travel by sea. Acts 27 provides a detailed account of Paul's voyage to Rome, during which he encountered a violent storm. The narrative highlights the skills and decision-making of the sailors, as well as Paul's leadership and faith during the crisis. Acts 27:27-29 describes the sailors' actions: "On the fourteenth night, we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms deep. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight."

Symbolic Significance

Ships in the Bible often symbolize human endeavor and the journey of life, with the sea representing the chaos and unpredictability of the world. The mariners' reliance on their skills and the mercy of God reflects the biblical theme of human dependence on divine providence. The account of Jonah, who attempted to flee from God's command by boarding a ship to Tarshish, illustrates the futility of trying to escape God's will and the power of God over the natural elements (Jonah 1:3-4).

In Revelation, ships are mentioned in the context of the fall of Babylon, symbolizing the collapse of worldly commerce and power. Revelation 18:17-19 describes the lament of the shipmasters and sailors over the destruction of the great city, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly wealth and glory.

Overall, ships and the mariners who worked them are depicted in the Bible as integral to the economic and social fabric of the ancient world, while also serving as powerful symbols of human endeavor, divine sovereignty, and the journey of faith.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 27:9,27
The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in you your caulkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to occupy your merchandise.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jonah 1:5
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man to his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 27:30
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the bow,
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Library

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... It sailed past the places frequented by the mariners of the ... The lading of the ships
was a long and tedious ... the mines of Sinai, which had not been worked by the ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... developed it"Legendary accounts of the beginning of their colonization"Their commercial
proceedings, their banks and factories; their ships"Cyprus, its ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm