Revelation 18:13

“And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, etc.] Things for delight and pleasure, for the gratifying of the senses; cinnamon, and odours were used for perfuming, (<200717>Proverbs 7:17) anointing with oil was used at feasts, (<192305>Psalm 23:5) and “frankincense”, or censings, at banquets, and for the regaling of persons after food f419: these customs obtained among the eastern people. Tyre had its merchants for these things, (<262719>Ezekiel 27:19,22) and Mr. Brightman thinks Italy is Rome's merchant in these, which it fetches from Greece, Arabia, and Egypt; it may be these rather respect the ecclesiastical use of them; “cinnamon, odours”, and “frankincense”, may signify…”

“cinnamon--designed by God for better purposes: being an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a plant in the garden of the Beloved (Sol 4:14); but desecrated to vile uses by the adulteress (Pro 7:17). odours--of incense. A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac prefix "and amomium" (a precious hair ointment made from an Asiatic shrub). English Version reading is supported by Coptic and ANDREAS, but not oldest manuscripts. ointments--Greek, "ointment." frankincense--Contrast the true "incense" which God loves (Psa 141:2; Mal 1:11). fine flour--the similago of the Latins [ALFORD]. beasts--of burden: cattle. slaves--Greek, "bodies." souls of men-- (Eze 27:13). Said of slaves. Appropriate to the spiritual…”

“And cinnamon - Cinnamon is the aromatic bark of the Laurus Cinnamomam, which grows in Arabia, India, and especially in the island of Ceylon. It was formerly, as it is now, a valuable article in the Oriental trade. And odours - Aromatics employed in religious worship, and for making perfumes. Mr. Gibbon (vol. i. p. 34) mentions, among the articles of commerce and luxury, in the age of the Antonines, “a variety of aromatics that were consumed in religious worship and the pomp of funerals.” It is unnecessary to say that the use of such odors has been always common at Rome. And ointments - Unguents - as spikenard, etc. These were in common use among the ancients. See the Matthew 14:7 note; Mark…”

“Amomum - A shrub whose wood is a fine perfume. And beasts - Cows and oxen. And of chariots - a purely Latin word is here inserted in the Greek. This St. John undoubtedly used on purpose, in describing the luxury of Rome. And of bodies - A common term for slaves. And souls of men - For these also are continually bought and sold at Rome. And this of all others is the most gainful merchandise to the Roman traffickers. Revelation 18:14”

“18:13 bodies: Rome developed a huge slave market, which some historians have estimated at nearly 20% of the population.”

“cinnamon: Kg1 10:10, Kg1 10:15, Kg1 10:25; Ch2 9:9; Pro 7:17; Sol 1:3, Sol 4:13, Sol 4:14, Sol 5:5; Amo 6:6; Joh 12:3-8 slaves: or, bodies, Exo 21:16; Deu 24:7, Deu 28:68; Neh 5:4, Neh 5:5, Neh 5:8; Isa 50:1; Eze 27:13; Amo 2:6; Amo 8:6; Ti1 1:10 and souls: By the sale of indulgences, dispensations, absolutions, masses, bulls, etc. Pe2 2:3 Revelation 18:14”