Ezekiel 27:16
Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate. Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.
Syria traded as a merchant in the markets of Tyre, exchanging emeralds, purple cloth, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and agate. Tyre was a great and ancient merchant city and commercial metropolis that drew riches and merchandise of every kind from many lands and peoples, with Syria as one among them, and the costly wares show the variety, abundance and richness of its commerce. The verse belongs to the prophecies against Tyre in Ezekiel 26 to 28, which foretold its utter overthrow and ruin until its site would become a place for the spreading of nets in the sea, a fulfillment still evident in its ruins. Its downfall stands as a warning that a proud city that forgets and openly defies God will meet judgment for its wickedness. Its wealthy traffic illustrates the corrupt commercial spirit condemned in Ezekiel 28 and fulfilled in Babylon, a worldwide system where the pursuit of wealth overrides honor, integrity and devotion to God, even to trafficking in human lives.
Tyre's Trade with Syria
Syria was a merchant trading in the fairs and markets of Tyre with emeralds, purple cloth and purple work, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and agate. Tyre was a great and ancient merchant city, commercial center and metropolis, whose trade drew goods, riches, and all manner of merchandise from many lands, nations, and peoples, with Syria as one among them. Its site was to become a place for spreading nets in the sea, and its ruins illustrate the fulfillment of the prophecy against it.
The list of costly, valuable, luxury wares illustrates the variety, abundance, range, and richness of the merchandise exchanged in Tyre's commerce. The fairs at Tyre show that world's fairs are not peculiar to modern times but existed at Tyre 2,500 years ago, when all nations traded there in all manner of merchandise. Nehemiah's account of Tyrian merchants selling in Jerusalem further illustrates Tyre's role in commerce with goods from many lands.
In one reading, Syrian merchants bought goods made or traded by Tyre, including the listed wares.
Prophecy of Judgment and Warning
Ezekiel 27:16 belongs to the prophecies against the nations in Ezekiel 26 to 28, which give the ruin of Tyre and the lamentation over her destruction. It is part of the prophecy of the overthrow of Tyre and Sidon, concerning Tyre as one of the nations around Judah. The chapter sets forth Tyre as a merchant city whose destruction is foretold.
The prophecy foretold the utter destruction of Tyre, until its site became a place for spreading nets in the sea. That fate makes the once-great ancient commercial metropolis a fulfilled object lesson, with Syria named as one trading partner supplying its markets with luxury goods such as emeralds, purple cloth, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and agate. Its ruins illustrate the fulfillment, which is evident in the present day. In this downfall is a prophetic lesson and warning to cities that forget and defy God, that they can face judgment as Tyre did. A proud city openly defying God may meet the consequences of its wickedness.
Tyre's standing as a center of extensive trade in valuable goods reflects a commercial spirit linked to the corrupt traffic condemned in Ezekiel 28. That same spirit is applied to Babylon as a worldwide system whose pursuit of wealth overrides honor, integrity, and devotion to God, even trafficking in human lives. The picture of Tyre as a wealthy merchant city drawing goods and riches from many peoples, with Syria among its merchants in costly wares, is applied to San Francisco as a modern Tyre. As a major seaport and commercial center, its extensive commerce, shipping, merchandise, wealth, and riches from many places made it like Tyre.