Ezekiel 27:18
Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
The verse stands in the lament over Tyre that foretells her utter ruin and destruction. It describes Damascus trading with Tyre, exchanging wine of Helbon and white wool for the multitude of her manufactured wares and riches, picturing Tyre as the great merchant city and commercial center of the world. Her far-reaching trade made her rich and proud until she forgot and defied God, so her fall to become a place for spreading nets shows the certainty of fulfilled prophecy. That corrupt commercialism that exalts wealth above God lives on in Babylon as a modern Tyre, and its judgment warns proud and prosperous cities today.
Setting and Trade Meaning
The verse stands in the lamentation over Tyre given in Ezekiel 26 to 28, which predicts the utter ruin and destruction of the city. It stands within the prophecies of other nations in Ezekiel 25 to 31 concerning Ammon, Moab, Tyre and Egypt, remarkable prophecies whose fulfillment is evident today. It describes Damascus as a trading partner that exchanged abundant goods for Tyre's manufactured wares and great wealth, including wine from Helbon and white wool.
It belongs to the prophecy and chapter setting forth Tyre as a great commercial center of vast riches and extensive commerce and greatness. It shows Tyre was the merchant city of the world at that time, dealing in a multitude of wares and riches, which explains why men of Tyre brought in fish and all manner of ware and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah in Jerusalem. It belongs to the prophecy in Ezekiel 26-28 that speaks of Tyre, the commercial emporium of Phoenicia and one of the greatest and most famous cities of the ancient world, the port where Paul landed after passing Cyprus.
It shows Damascus coming to Tyre's fairs with wine of Helbon and white wool, as one of all nations trading all manner of merchandise there in Tyre's glory before her fall, proving that world's fairs existed 2,500 years ago.
Prophecy Fulfillment and Warning
Ezekiel 27:18 belongs to the prophecy about Tyre, the great commercial city whose pride and power would be brought down and whose site would become a place for spreading nets. That fate of a once-great trading city illustrates the fulfillment of prophecy. The prophecy says Nebuchadnezzar would capture Tyre and then conquer Jerusalem.
The far-reaching trade in abundant goods pictures corrupt commercialism whose traffic enriches and exalts the city, while the pursuit of wealth becomes dishonorable and forgets God. Babylon is a modern Tyre and a worldwide federation following the same pattern, trading in every kind of commodity, even human bodies and souls. When Babylon falls the merchants mourn the sudden loss of her great riches.
The lament over Tyre, with Damascus exchanging abundant goods for its wares including wine of Helbon and white wool, is a lesson about the judgment that comes upon places that forget and defy God. That warning about a proud, prosperous city facing judgment for open defiance of God applies to modern cities. It applies also to cities such as New York and Chicago.
The picture of Tyre as a wealthy merchant city of abundant merchandise and riches is matched by San Francisco as a major center of trade and riches. San Francisco is compared to a modern Tyre because of its extensive trade and wealth, including commerce like that with Damascus in wine and white wool and many kinds of goods.