Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 27:12
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches, &c.] Some understand this of the sea, which is sometimes called Tarshish; so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it here: and the Targum, “from the sea, or they of the sea bring merchandise into the midst of thee:” that is, those who lived upon the coasts, or on the isles, of the Mediterranean sea. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it the Carthaginians, who were a colony of the Tyrians, and no doubt traded with them; but it seems most likely, with others, to intend Tartessus in Spain, a place not far from that where Cadiz now stands; a country which abounded with riches, and with the following things: with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs; Plinyf446 says, that almost all Spain abounded in metals of lead, iron, brass, silver, and gold; which takes in the several things here mentioned, excepting tin; and that the Spaniards might have from our Cornwall, which they might import into Tyre: though the Phoenicians carried on a commerce with our isle of Britain themselves, whither they came for tin, and disposed of other goods they brought with them. Gussetiusf447 observes, that the word Æynwbz[ does not signify the place of trade and traffic, as it is commonly rendered; but respects the goods traded in, and the manner of trafficking with them, by way of “exchange”, as the word should be rendered; and the sense is, that the things before mentioned were what they gave in exchange, battered, and “left”, with the Tyrians, for other goods they took of them; and so it is to be understood in all the following places where the word is used. So Ben Melech says it is expressive of merchandise. Ver. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they [were] thy merchants, &c.] Javan designs Greece, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it; especially that part of it called Ionia, from Javan the son of Japheth, (<011002>Genesis 10:2) and Tubal, and Meshech, were also sons of Japheth; the former are the Iberi and Albanians, as Jerom and others, among whom were a city called Thabilaca, by Ptolemyf448; and the latter the Cappadocians, with whom is a city called Mazacaf449. They traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy markets; or, “the souls of men”f450; they bought up men and women in the several countries to which they belonged, or where they traded, and brought them to Tyre, and sold them for slaves; and the Ionian and Grecian slaves were had in great esteem: and the best brass, of which vessels were made, was had from Corinth, Delus, and Aeginetus; according to Plinyf451, Cappadocia was famous for it also: in the first of these merchandises Tyrus was remarkably a type of antichrist, who is said to deal in such wares, the souls of men, (<661813>Revelation 18:13). The word here rendered “markets”, Gussetiusf452 also observes, does not design the place of commerce, but the act of negotiation or trade; and so it is rendered by manyf453.
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