Ezekiel 27:15

men of Dedan lit. sons of Dedan; LXX. sons of the Rhodians(rbeing read for d, as often). Dedan occurs again Ezekiel 27:20, in connexion with Arabian tribes, and in Ezekiel 25:13 it appears to be placed S. of Edom, being either part of that country or bordering on it (cf. Jeremiah 49:8; Jeremiah 25:23; Isaiah 21:13). Here, however, Dedan is connected with coast lands and must be another. Hence it has usually been placed on the Persian Gulf. Ivory and ebony, the articles in which it traded, might be Indian products. On the other hand the Phœnicians certainly had colonies in Rhodes; and if Rhodians were the true reading the "isles" would be the coasts of the Mediterranean.

merchandise of thine hand If "merchandise" be the right reading the abstract term is used for "merchants." The phrase "of thy hand" means under thee, doing thy service, cf. Ezekiel 27:21.

horns of ivory Tusks of elephants, so called from their resemblance to horns. Ebony, the other article referred to, was brought from India and Ethiopia. The African ebony was most esteemed. If Rhodians be read reference would be to the traffic between Phœnicia and the interior of Africa, the intermediaries of which were Rhodes and the sea-coasts of the Mediterranean. Rawlin. (Phœnicia, p. 287) mentions that many objects in ivory have been found in Cyprus.

brought thee for a present. Rather: horns of ivory … they rendered to thee as tribute, lit. rendered as thy tribute. Tyre is the mistress to whom the nations are subject, and the merchandise they bring is a tribute which they render to her.