Merchandise from Tyre

Ezekiel 26:19-27:23 - This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD.

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

You say, O Tyre,
"I am perfect in beauty."

Your domain was on the high seas;
your builders brought your beauty to perfection.

They made all your timbers
of pine trees from Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.

Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.

Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple
from the coasts of Elishah.

Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
your skilled men, O Tyre, were aboard as your seamen.

Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were on board
as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to trade for your wares.

Men of Persia, Lydia and Put
served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,
bringing you splendor.

Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they brought your beauty to perfection.

Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.

Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise.

The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.

Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares.

Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.

Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.

Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you.' "

I wonder what it was that everyone wanted from Tyre. Since Tyre "will never again be found," we may never know the full scope of their wares. Perhaps the ships themselves were purchased in some cases, but it says there were "many products."

I wonder how many (if any) people have tried (unsuccessfully?) to find the ruins of Tyre.