Ezekiel 27:27-32

Thy riches, &c., and all thy company, shall fall into the midst of the seas Shall be as utterly ruined and destroyed as if they were sunk in the sea by a shipwreck. Or, this may signify their falling in a sea- fight. The suburbs shall shake, &c. The cry of thy wounded seamen shall make the inhabitants of the suburbs shake for fear: See Ezekiel 26:15. The mariners, &c., shall come down from their ships Seafaring men, finding no encouragement to follow their employment, now thy traffic is destroyed, shall lay aside their trade, and mourn over thee. They shall stand upon the land Bishop Newcome reads, upon the shore, understanding it of “the shore of the adjoining island, from which they viewed the conflagration of their city.” St. Jerome tells us, from the ancient histories of the Assyrians, that when the safety of the city was despaired of, great numbers of Tyrians secured themselves and their riches in their ships. See notes on Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 23:12. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee Or rather, over thee, as the LXX. and Vulgate translate it. And shall cry bitterly For the common ruin, and their own share in it. And shall cast up dust upon their heads Shall use expressions of the deepest mourning and lamentation. They shall wallow themselves in ashes As having bid a final farewell to all ease and comfort. They shall make themselves utterly bald for thee Another expression of public sorrow. And They, who used to wear fine linen; shall gird them with sackcloth According to the custom of great mourners. And shall weep for bitterness of heart Instead of singing, as formerly, their merry songs. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee The words allude to the public lamentations made at funerals. See note on Jeremiah 9:17. Saying, What city is like Tyrus Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such depth of adversity? Like the destroyed in the midst of the sea Alas! what was once her safeguard, and the source of her wealth, is now her grave.