’And you, son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre,
verse value 1365
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 19 letters. Verse gematria: 1365 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "forgive" (שָׂ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·man" (בֶן־אָדָ֔ם, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "for·Tyre" (עַל־צֹ֖ר). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for·Tyre" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "son·of·man" (root בין, 145x in Ezekiel); "forgive" (root נשא, 76x in Ezekiel). Full calculation: וְאַתָּ֣ה [and·you] (412) + בֶן־אָדָ֔ם [son·of·man] (97) + שָׂ֥א [forgive] (301) + עַל־צֹ֖ר [for·Tyre] (390) + קִינָֽה [lamentation] (165) = 1365.
and say to Tyre, that dwells at the entry of the sea, that is the merchant of the peoples to many isles: Thus says the Lord Hashem: You, O Tyre, have said: I am of perfect beauty.
verse value 6521
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יֱהֹוִ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "sea" (יָ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "at·the·entry·of" (עַל־מְבוֹאֹ֣ת, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "that·dwells" ((הישבתי)), "that·dwells" (הַיֹּשֶׁ֙בֶת֙), "at·the·entry·of" (עַל־מְבוֹאֹ֣ת). The root אמר appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "at·the·entry·of" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'many·thus', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 9 words.
Rashi
“On the inlets of the sea.” This refers to the harbor, where ships come up to the wall and the gates. And many cities are situated on the sea, yet they are not a place of a harbor, and ships cannot approach them.
Mevuos Yam. The foreign term is "Port."
"Merchants of the nations." Thus was their custom: Merchants who came to it, one from the north and one from the south, were not permitted to conduct trade with each other; rather, the residents of the city would purchase from one and sell to the other.
"You said, 'I am complete in beauty.' Until now, everyone used to say about Jerusalem, 'Complete in beauty' (Lamentations 2:15–16), 'The joy of the whole earth' (Psalms 48:3). Now you boast, saying, 'I am complete in beauty,' meaning that the final perfection of beauty is encompassed within me."
Radak
"And you shall say, 'At the entrances of the sea.' This refers to places into which one enters via the sea, namely the harbor where ships dock."
"Merchant of the nations": She trades in the statement, "I am all beauty." You praised yourself, saying, "I am complete in all beauty and all goodness," and it goes on to recount her goodness and her beauty.
Metzudat David
To Tyre. Concerning Tyre:
“On the entrances of the sea.” On the harbor, the place where ships come in.
“merchant of the nations”: she who supplies merchandise to the nations, to bring it to many islands.
"Tyre, you said." This means: "You, O Tyre, said: I am encompassed in all kinds of beauty."
Metzudat Zion
Mevua'at. From the word for "entering" (bi'ah):
A female merchant. A woman who engages in trade, as it is stated: "In the city of merchants" (above 17:).
Kelilat. From the root of "kol" (all), and similarly, "from the totality of His beauty" (Psalms 50:2).
Malbim
“Your dwelling is at the entrances of the sea” – and all merchant ships come there and deposit their wares there, and thereby you are the trader of the nations. “To many islands” – the retailer is one who purchases the merchandise from the great merchant and carries it from place to place to sell it to individuals. And you receive the merchandise from the great merchants and sell it to the islands in the sea, like a retailer. “Tyre” – you said, “I am full of beauty,” meaning that you boast that your beauty is inherent in yourself, and this is a lie, for:
Your borders are in the heart of the seas, Your builders have perfected your beauty.
verse value 493
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 25 letters. Notable word values: "they·completed" (כָּלְל֖וּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "in·heart·of" (בְּלֵ֥ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·borders" (גְּבוּלָ֑יִךְ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "your·borders" (גְּבוּלָ֑יִךְ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "your·borders" (root גבול, 43x in Ezekiel); "seas" (root ים, 34x in Ezekiel); "in·heart·of" (root לב, 30x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·borders', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: בְּלֵ֥ב [in·heart·of] (34) + יַמִּ֖ים [seas] (100) + גְּבוּלָ֑יִךְ [your·borders] (71) + בֹּנַ֕יִךְ [your·builders] (82) + כָּלְל֖וּ [they·completed] (86) + יׇפְיֵֽךְ [your·beauty] (120) = 493.
Rashi
"Your builders" – "your master-builders (ardikhlayikh)," a term of building.
Radak
"In the midst of the sea are your boundaries." For on every side, the sea was her border.
“Your builders.” The artisans who build your walls, your towers, and your houses.
They perfected your beauty. They completed your beauty, for they built it with the finest of buildings and the most beautiful of them.
Metzudat David
"בלב ימים" – This means that this refers to your borders being "in the heart of the sea," which signifies in the place of the depth and strength of the sea. And it says "yamim" (seas) because from there they were able to extend into many seas.
"Your builders." Those who build you have placed in you all the beauty that is fitting for you.
Metzudat Zion
"בלב" (in the heart). The strength of a thing is called its "heart," just as the heart of a living creature is its strength and its core. Similarly, it is said of a ship: "in the heart of the sea" (Proverbs 30:19).
"Kollem." From the word "kol" (all):
Malbim
"In the heart of the sea are your boundaries" – your beauty depends on your boundaries, which are in the heart of the sea, for the island is set around it — the islands throughout the sea surrounding it mark its borders. That is to say, your beauty comes through the neighbors surrounding you, all the islands of the sea; through them you become enriched. And from the side of your builders, they encompassed your beauty, meaning they strove to encompass your beauty, and it was not from yourself, for the builders and the materials from which you are built are gathered from many peoples and from various places.
Of cypress-trees from Senir have they fashioned All your planks; They have taken cedars from Lebanon To make masts for you.
verse value 4321
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "to·you" (לָ֔ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·boards" (כׇּל־לֻחֹתָ֑יִם, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "from·Senir" (מִשְּׂנִיר֙), "they·sonned" (בָּ֣נוּ), "all·boards" (כׇּל־לֻחֹתָ֑יִם). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "to·do" (root עשה, 214x in Ezekiel); "they·took" (root לקח, 65x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root לבנון ("from·Lebanon") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all·boards', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words.
Rashi
“Of the cypresses from Senir.” Because it was built by the sea and perished in the sea, the prophet likened it to a fine ship that was heavily laden with cargo and sank in the east wind.
From the word "shaniir." The mountain of snow:
"All the planks thereof." The planks from which the ship was constructed.
"Cedar of Lebanon." The name of a forest in which cedars are found.
Turan. It is the tall, upright tree fixed in the ship, upon which they hang the sail — which they call "voile" in the French vernacular; and there are holes in its head, through which the rope by which they pull the sail enters and exits, which they call in the vernacular "mast."
Radak
“Of cypresses from Senir.” For on Mount Senir grew the beautiful cypresses.
"All your planks." Because all good merchandise used to come to her by sea in ships, and depart from her; he praised the matter of the ships that were in her, and said that the planks of the ships were made of cypress, and this is for greatness and beauty. And he said "planks" in the language of plurality, and in the language of the dual, meaning that the plurality is made in the form of two, or because the ship is made of two sides, for its two ends are pointed. And the wise man Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra explained that the reason is that there are ships that are made from two planks, and Jonathan translated, "All your bridges," meaning bridges that one would cross from ship to ship.
"To make a mast for you." The "mast" is the tall wooden pole erected on a ship, at the top of which the flag is placed.
“Upon you.” This means: upon your ships.
Metzudat David
“Cypresses from Senir.” Since Tyre was situated by the sea and was destroyed in its place, the verse employs an allusion to a fine ship that was laden with a heavy cargo and sank due to an east wind, and because of its heaviness the ship’s captains were unable to save it. Therefore, it says: “Behold, the cypresses from Senir, the finest of their kind, were used to construct all the planks and beams of the ship.”
"From Lebanon." From the forest of Lebanon, the place of the important cedar trees, from there they took cedar to make a mast for you.
Metzudat Zion
"Baroshim": The name of an important non-fruit-bearing tree.
From Senir. A place name:
Luchotim. From the language of "luch" (tablet) and "neser" (plank):
Tarneh. It is the upright mast on the ship, upon which they place the sail, as it says, “they cannot strengthen the base of their mast” (Isaiah 33:23).
Malbim
He likens the entire island [i.e., the city of Tyre] to a ship at sea, and explains that the entire ship and all its equipment were constructed from materials brought from various lands. The cypresses from which they built for you all the planks of the vessel were from Senir, not from Tyre; and the cedar which they took to make the mast for you, they took from Lebanon.
Of the oaks of Bashan Have they made your oars; Your deck have they made of ivory inlaid in larch, From the isles of the Kittites.
verse value 4120
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "they·did" (עָשׂ֖וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "daughter·of·Ashurim" (בַּת־אֲשֻׁרִ֔ים, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "oaks" (אַלּוֹנִים֙), "from·Bashan" (מִבָּשָׁ֔ן), "your·oars" (מִשּׁוֹטָ֑יִךְ). The root עשה appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·did" (root עשה, 214x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·oars', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: אַלּוֹנִים֙ [oaks] (137) + מִבָּשָׁ֔ן [from·Bashan] (392) + עָשׂ֖וּ [they·did] (376) + מִשּׁוֹטָ֑יִךְ [your·oars] (385) + קַרְשֵׁ֤ךְ [your·plank] (620) + עָֽשׂוּ־שֵׁן֙ [they·made·ivory] (726) + בַּת־אֲשֻׁרִ֔ים [daughter·of·Ashurim] (953) + מֵאִיֵּ֖י [from·isles·of] (61) + כִּתִּיִּֽם [Kittites] (470) = 4120.
Rashi
Alonim. From the fruitless tree called “quercus” in the vernacular.
“Your oars.” They are those that are broad at their heads, by which they steer the ship; *riem* in the vernacular.
“Your plank.” This is the broad plank at the stern of a ship, opposite the mast at its prow, by means of which they turn the ship to all its sides and steer it along its course, and the captain holds onto it. In the language of the Mishnah, it is called the “captain,” and in the foreign tongue, “gubernator.”
"Make a tooth of ivory." It cannot be anything other than wood, and this is "bat ashurim," as if it were a single term, akin to "Tehadar" and "Tashur" (Isaiah 41:19), both of which are rendered in the Targum as "ashkru'in" (cedar planks). He compared the captain of Tyre to a plank of cedar, overlaid with ivory by means of nails, for beauty and strength. For thus did Jonathan translate: "The planks of the cedars are fastened with ivory; the beams of the roof shall not be removed; its covering shall not fall." However, Jonathan interpreted this "captain" in accordance with the context of the city, referring to the planks of its gates.
Radak
"Oaks." They are chestnuts, and so did Jonathan translate it: "balutin" (oaks).
“Your oars.” From all who grasp an oar, yet it is a different grammatical pattern. For from the singular “mashot” (oar) one would say “meshotekha” with a shva under the mem and without a dagesh in the shin, just as from “place” one says “your places.” But “your oars” [here] has a hireq under the mem and a dagesh in the shin. And oars are the long wooden poles by which one steers, as in the verse: “I rowed.”
"Your oars." This means: the oars of your ships.
“Your planks shall be of ivory.” “Planks” refers to the planks of your ship, and this is a general term, for there is not a single plank alone; rather, he speaks of the planks of the tower that is built at the head of the ship. They construct this tower on other ships from fine and beautiful wooden planks, but in Tyrian ships they made it from ivory planks, for grandeur and splendor.
“Daughter of Ashurim.” The assembly of Ashurim made for you planks of ivory, which they brought from the isles of Kittim, for there elephants are found, and they make planks and vessels from their bones. Therefore, that bone is called in general terms “tooth,” for from the teeth of the elephant they make the fine work. And the Targum [renders]: “Daughter of Ashurim” as one word, from Tadar and Ta’ashur, which it translates as “boards of ashkare’im.” And similarly it translates “Ta’ashur” as “ashkare’im.” And similarly it translates “teromei tarakh” (the boards of your gate): “boards of ashkare’im, inlaid with elephant’s tooth, a covered house, le-atitron, from the province of Apulia.” And I did not understand the word “latitrone.” And in some manuscripts it reads “latar natrone.” And “ashkare’im” is what is called “bushut” in the foreign tongue.
“Kittim.” It is written with one yod, but read with two yods: the yod denoting the construct relationship and the yod denoting the plural, [rendering it] “Kittim,” just as in “Elohei Ha-Ivrim” (“the God of the Hebrews”).
Metzudat David
"From Bashan": A place of good oaks, from which they made for you oars to steer the ship with them.
“Your plank.” This is the broad plank that is placed at the stern of the ship, by means of which the ship is steered to the desired location. This plank was made from the tusk that the delegation of the Assyrians brought from the islands of Kittim, for it was the custom of the Assyrians to bring from the islands of Kittim the finest elephant tusk.
Metzudat Zion
"Elonim." The name of a barren (non-fruit-bearing) tree:
Your oars. From the term for gliding and swimming in water, as it says, “I glided” (ibid.). And it refers to the long poles by means of which the ship is guided to glide to the desired place.
Your plank. The term refers to a board or a plank, as in: "And you shall make the boards" (Exodus 26:15).
Tooth. This refers to the tusk of the elephant:
“Daughter of the Assyrians.” The community of the Assyrians; and likewise “daughter of Babylon” (Psalms 137:8):
Malbim
The oaks from which they made your oars were from Bashan; your planks, with which the ship is steered (the rudder), which they made from ivory, was born in Assyria, born in Ashur, and brought from the islands of Kittim.
Of fine linen with richly woven work from Egypt Was your sail, That it might be to you for an ensign; Blue and purple from the isles of Elishah Was your awning.
verse value 4385
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "to·you" (לָ֖ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "fine·linen·with·woven·work" (שֵׁשׁ־בְּרִקְמָ֤ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 140: a·sign, your·covering. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "fine·linen·with·woven·work" (שֵׁשׁ־בְּרִקְמָ֤ה), "your·sail" (מִפְרָשֵׂ֔ךְ), "a·sign" (לְנֵ֑ס). The root היה appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "was" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "from·Egypt" (root מצרים, 39x in Ezekiel); "to·you" (root לך, 29x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'a·sign', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: שֵׁשׁ־בְּרִקְמָ֤ה [fine·linen·with·woven·work] (947) + מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ [from·Egypt] (420) + הָיָ֣ה [was] (20) + מִפְרָשֵׂ֔ךְ [your·sail] (640) + לִֽהְי֥וֹת [to·be] (451) + לָ֖ךְ [to·you] (50) + לְנֵ֑ס [a·sign] (140) + תְּכֵ֧לֶת [blue] (850) + וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן [purple] (300) + מֵאִיֵּ֥י [from·isles·of] (61) + אֱלִישָׁ֖ה [Elishah] (346) + הָיָ֥ה [was] (20) + מְכַסֵּֽךְ [your·covering] (140) = 4385.
Rashi
“Fine linen of embroidery.” Corresponding to fine linen, it was made with pictures of embroidery:
“Your interpreter.” This is what they call in the vernacular “sigel” and in our language “veil” in the vernacular.
"To be a sign for you." To spread it upon the cedar poles and raise it on the uprights. "Sign" in the language of the Mishnah is *kelonus*, and in the foreign tongue it is *porca*.
"Your covering was" – [referring] to the awning and the roof over the entire ship.
Radak
"Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt." Sheets of linen made by the work of an embroiderer are brought to you from Egypt, for from there they bring linen vessels, and that fine linen was your sail.
"To be for you a banner." And it is the awning that is spread over the mast, as it says, "Let them not be strong," and the Targum translates it as "Let them not spread a banner." And it says that they used to make a great custom in Tyre, and the awnings of the ships were made of sheets of fine linen, beautifully crafted with the work of an embroiderer.
“Your covering was of blue and purple from the isles of Elishah.” This refers to garments dyed in blue and purple that were brought from the isles of Elishah. Alternatively, “Your covering” refers to your garment; or perhaps it refers to the covering of the ship’s awning, which served to protect the passengers of the ship from storm, rain, and heat. That awning or covering was made of sheets dyed in blue and purple for ornamentation.
"From the islands of Eliseh." Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it as "from the region of Italy."
Metzudat David
“Fine linen, embroidered.” A sheet of fine linen, made in the work of an embroiderer, coming from Egypt, the place of the beautiful fine linen. That sheet was spread over you to be for you a banner. It is the sail on the mast that catches the wind to propel the ship.
“Tekhelet and argaman.” These are strips dyed with the colors tekhelet (sky-blue) and argaman (purple), which are brought from the islands of Elishah. They are of the highest quality; from them was made a covering for the ship, to cover its people so that the sun and heat would not strike them, and to serve as a shelter from the downpour of rain.
Metzudat Zion
Shesh. It is the coarse flax:
LNS. It is the sail on the mast of the ship, as it is explained in the verse: "they did not spread a banner" (Isaiah 33:23):
“Blue and purple.” These are important types of dyes:
Malbim
The fine linen of embroidery, from which the sails of the ship and its flag were made, was from Egypt; and its covering, which was of blue and purple, was from the isles of Elishah. Thus, all the beauty of the ship was not from Tyre alone, but from various places. That is to say, the wealth, honor, and glory of Tyre are not of its own making, but rather through the trade of many nations and distant isles.
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad Were your rowers; Your wise men, O Tyre, were in you, They were your pilots.
verse value 1686
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "to·you" (לָ֑ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "Sidon" (צִידוֹן֙, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: to·you, abundance. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·Arvad" (וְאַרְוַ֔ד), "rowers" (שָׁטִ֖ים), "wise" (חֲכָמַ֤יִךְ). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel); "dwelling" (root ישב, 64x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root חכם ("wise") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: יֹשְׁבֵ֤י [dwelling] (322) + צִידוֹן֙ [Sidon] (160) + וְאַרְוַ֔ד [and·Arvad] (217) + הָי֥וּ [were] (21) + שָׁטִ֖ים [rowers] (359) + לָ֑ךְ [to·you] (50) + חֲכָמַ֤יִךְ [wise] (98) + צוֹר֙ [Tyre] (296) + הָ֣יוּ [were] (21) + בָ֔ךְ [in·you] (22) + הֵ֖מָּה [abundance] (50) + חֹבְלָֽיִךְ [your·pilots] (70) = 1686.
Rashi
They were rowing for you. Take hold of your oars to guide you:
"Your pilots." Those who grasp the rudder to steer and straighten the ship.
Radak
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were rowing for you; they were sailors for their needs. “Rowers” are those who hold the oars, the leaders of the ship. And Jonathan interpreted: “They were rowing on your behalf to bring merchandise to you; they were sailing and bringing merchandise into you.”
"Your wise men, O Tyre, were in you." "Tyre" is a term of address, meaning: "O Tyre, your wise men were in you"; you did not need to bring wise men from another city, those who know the sea, to guide the ship with wisdom, for they were in you.
"They are your sailors." The term "sailor" (chovel) refers to one who pulls the ropes of the sail in a proper manner, and one must pull them with wisdom, so as to receive the wind in a proper manner. There is one captain, the overseer of the ship, who teaches the other sailors how to pull according to what he sees fit. He is the one who holds the rudder, called "timon" in the foreign tongue, and likewise he guides the ship, directing them along the path that he sees fit, and all of this is done with wisdom.
Metzudat David
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad, who were expert in the navigation of ships, were they who sailed and steered the ship.
"Your sages, O Tyre." Because it is as if He were speaking to Tyre, therefore it says, "Your sages, O Tyre," etc. That is to say: the sailors of the ship, who pull the halyards to tilt the sail against the wind—which is great wisdom—these were of your sages, O Tyre; for there were found wondrous sages.
Metzudat Zion
And Arvad. A place name:
Shitim. From the language of "shetiyah" and "shechiyah" (swimming).
“Your sailors.” From the term for a rope or line. The ship’s officers are called so because they pull on the ropes of the sail. And likewise, “the captain of the ship” (Jonah 1:6).
Malbim
The inhabitants of Sidon: After he explained that the ship itself and its equipment were assembled and gathered from many nations, and they are not of Tyre, he will explain that also the leaders of the ship and those who perform its labor are likewise from other nations. And his meaning is: just as wealth and commerce came to her from outside, so too her sages and leaders in governance, and the craftsmen and artisans found within her, are also from other nations. For the inhabitants of Sidon were the rowers of the ship. And what is found in you—also your sages, O Tyre, are your pilots; they are the leaders of the ship and the rulers over it. His meaning is: from them came forth kings and princes.
The elders of Gebal and the wise men thereof Were in you your calkers; All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you To exchange your merchandise.
verse value 2023
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "in·you" (בָ֔ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·ships·of" (כׇּל־אֳנִיּ֨וֹת, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 22: in·you, in·you. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Gebal" (גְבַ֤ל), "and·her·wise·men" (וַחֲכָמֶ֙יהָ֙), "all·ships·of" (כׇּל־אֳנִיּ֨וֹת). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "sea" (root ים, 34x in Ezekiel); "in·you" (root בך, 26x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root אניה ("all·ships·of") in Ezekiel. First appearance of the root מערב ("your·merchandise") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·seam', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: זִקְנֵ֨י [elders·of] (167) + גְבַ֤ל [Gebal] (35) + וַחֲכָמֶ֙יהָ֙ [and·her·wise·men] (89) + הָ֣יוּ [were] (21) + בָ֔ךְ [in·you] (22) + מַחֲזִיקֵ֖י [repairers·of] (175) + בִּדְקֵ֑ךְ [your·seam] (126) + כׇּל־אֳנִיּ֨וֹת [all·ships·of] (517) + הַיָּ֤ם [sea] (55) + וּמַלָּֽחֵיהֶם֙ [and·their·mariners] (139) + הָ֣יוּ [were] (21) + בָ֔ךְ [in·you] (22) + לַעֲרֹ֖ב [to·exchange] (302) + מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ [your·merchandise] (332) = 2023.
Rashi
Elders of Gebal. Builders, as it is stated, “and the builders of Hiram and the Gebalites” (1 Kings 5:32).
"Those who repair your flashing": They repair your flashing so that water will not enter through it; in the vernacular, "apayton takrova."
All ships of the sea and their sailors. Their sailors:
"they were in you" – they were around you, to sail to distant lands and bring merchandise into you.
“Le’arev me’arvcha” – The term “arev” (pledge/security) refers to all of a person’s necessities, by which he lives, and his property serves as his security and means of preservation for his life, known in the vernacular as “garantia.”
Radak
The elders of Gebal and its wise men. They were builders, as it is stated regarding Solomon’s construction: “and the Gebalites,” and they would come to Tyre in order to maintain the repairs of the city, its walls, and its buildings.
"All ships of the sea and their sailors." As its Targum [translates]: "All who go down to the sea, and their ships, used to sail and bring merchandise into you." Those who row are called sailors.
"לערב מערבך" – The matter of merchandise, and likewise all that is in this passage, derives from this root. Thus, merchandise is called "me'arav," and merchants are called "orevim," because merchants mix with one another in their merchandise through their buying and selling.
Metzudat David
“The elders of Gebal and its wise men.” They were experts in the craft of construction, and therefore they were in you, to strengthen and repair the cracks of the ship and its weak spots.
"All ships of the sea." All the ships that sail on the sea, and their sailors are the captains of the ships; they all came to you to trade in your merchandise, for much merchandise is found in you.
Metzudat Zion
Gebal. A name of a nation, and they were builders, as it is stated: “And the builders of Hiram and the Giblites” (1 Kings 5:32).
“Supporters.” From the language of strength and repair:
“badekcha” – the place of the break and the weak spot, like “badek habayit” (II Kings 3). And the verse uses the language of “badek” because it requires inspection and searching for the break and the place of the weakness in order to find it.
"And their sailors." So too, they call the sailors "sailors," as it is stated, "And the sailors feared" (Jonah 1:5). This is a matter of mixing, as in the phrase "pure salt, mixed" (Exodus 30:35). See there that the sailors mix the water with the oars.
“L’eruv me’arvcha.” The merchandise is called “me’arav” and the merchants are called “orvaya,” because the merchants become mutually obligated to one another through their extending credit for merchandise to one another. And “arev” denotes a matter of obligation, as in: “Let my lord make a wager” (Isaiah 36:8), and likewise: “Who is this who has set his heart to approach Me?” (Jeremiah 30:21).
Malbim
The elders of Gebal and its sages, who were expert in construction (as it is stated [in Kings I 6]: “And Solomon’s builders and the Gebalites”), were those who supported your upkeep to repair the ship. This means that from among them, sages would enact decrees and customs in the land. All the ships of the sea and their merchants were with you as guarantors for your pledge. “Your pledge” refers to the deposit, which is the pledge given for goods purchased on credit. And the ships of the sea were guarantors for you (since all their trade was through you), such that the trust to give you goods on credit was not by your own strength, but by the strength of others.
Persia and Lud and Put were in your army, Your men of war; They hanged the shield and helmet in you, They set forth your comeliness.
verse value 2917
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "Persia" (פָּרַ֨ס, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·battle" (מִלְחַמְתֵּ֑ךְ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "they·hanged·in·you" (תִּלּוּ־בָ֔ךְ). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root פוט ("and·Put") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·battle', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: פָּרַ֨ס [Persia] (340) + וְל֤וּד [and·Lud] (46) + וּפוּט֙ [and·Put] (101) + הָי֣וּ [were] (21) + בְחֵילֵ֔ךְ [in·your·valor] (70) + אַנְשֵׁ֖י [man] (361) + מִלְחַמְתֵּ֑ךְ [your·battle] (538) + מָגֵ֤ן [shield] (93) + וְכוֹבַע֙ [and·helmet] (104) + תִּלּוּ־בָ֔ךְ [they·hanged·in·you] (458) + הֵ֖מָּה [abundance] (50) + נָתְנ֥וּ [they·gave] (506) + הֲדָרֵֽךְ [your·majesty] (229) = 2917.
Radak
Persia, Lod, and Put. They were skilled in warfare, and they would come to Tyre whenever it was necessary to wage war against others.
"A shield and helmet are hung upon you." It appears that they were bringing from their land weapons of war that were superior; therefore, it says, "Behold, they gave you splendor," for they adorned and embellished the city with good and beautiful weapons of war. And it is the custom of people to hang shields and helmets on the tops of towers and on the walls. Similarly, it says, "A thousand shields are hung upon him."
Talu. From the po'el binyan with dagesh:
Metzudat David
“Were in your army men of war.” This means that those nations fought on your behalf in exchange for the wealth you gave them as their reward.
“Hanging upon you.” Such was their custom to hang weapons of war upon the towers, as it is stated, “A thousand shields hang upon it” (Song of Songs 4:4).
"They." These weapons of war bestowed glory and splendor upon your city.
Metzudat Zion
“With your might.” From the language of “might” and wealth.
"And a helmet." It is a vessel that protects the head.
Talu. From the language of "talyah" (hanging):
Malbim
Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army; moreover, the men of your army were not from Tyre at all, but only from other nations, and they hung upon you in great numbers. They provided shields and helmets, and through this they gave way to the external appearance, for the glory of a nation is when it has an army and a people prepared for war, as I have said.
The men of Arvad and Helech were upon your walls round about, and the Gammadim were in your towers; they hanged their shields upon your walls round about; they have perfected your beauty.
verse value 3400
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 76 letters. Notable word values: "they·completed" (כָּלְל֥וּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 3400 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "son" (בְּנֵ֧י, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·your·walls" (עַל־חוֹמוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 590: upon·your·walls, upon·your·walls. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Arvad" (אַרְוַ֣ד), "and·Helech" (וְחֵילֵ֗ךְ), "and·Gammadim" (וְגַ֨מָּדִ֔ים). The root חומה appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel); "around" (root סביב, 112x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'were', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 7 words.
Rashi
The children of Arvad and your army. And the rest of the army, the children of men dwelling within you:
And "gamadim." The Targum translates: "And even the kaputukai." I heard in the name of Rabbi Menachem that they are called "gamadim" because they descend into the sea down to the abyss, to the gates of the "gamadim," which is a measure of cubits in depth. In the vernacular, they are called "andoyish." And some explain that they are dwarfs who enter according to the measure of a cubit.
Their quivers. These are the containers in which arrows are placed, as it is written (Jeremiah 21): “Gird up the arrows, fill the quivers.” In the vernacular, they are called *quivers*.
Telo. Many heaps upon heaps:
Radak
“Sons of Arvad and your army.” The sons of Arvad are also sons of war, and they were with your army, like Persia and Lud that he mentioned, and together they were: “They were upon your walls all around,” when enemies came to fight against you.
“And the gomeads in your towers.” There were men of short stature, of small measure, from “a gomed was its length” (Judges 3:16). And Jonathan rendered it as “kapotkai” (dwarfs).
Their shields. Their shields, like all the shields of the mighty warriors.
“Hang them on your walls.” This too is from the emphatic stress.
Metzudat David
And your troops. And also the men of your troops, from among your people:
“Upon your walls.” They stood upon the walls all around to guard the city from the enemy.
And the dwarfs: These were men of short stature who were stationed on the watchtowers to observe from there what was happening in the enemy camp, and because of their small size, the enemy did not see them to shoot arrows at them.
"They are the rocks hanging on the wall, which have bestowed upon you all the beauty that is fitting for you."
Metzudat Zion
And your host. The matter of the armies of a people:
And "gamadim." Thus are called people of short stature, and it is from the language of "gamad arkha" (Judges 3:16), which means the cubit of the arm.
Their shields. They are like its shields:
Malbim
The men of Arvad were your warriors, who guarded your walls. For it has already been stated that the men of Arvad were those who maintained her repairs, and they also guarded it from external enemies. And the pygmies were in your towers: when they ascended your high towers, they appeared from below as tiny people, with their stature diminished, and this was due to the great height of the towers. And they placed their shields in countless rows upon your walls, and thereby they completed and encompassed your beauty. And not as you said, “I am all beauty,” for your beauty is gathered from various peoples.
Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for your wares.
verse value 4131
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "from·multitude·of" (מֵרֹ֣ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·wares" (עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "in·silver" (בְּכֶ֤סֶף), "alloy" (בְּדִ֣יל). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "all" (root כל, 129x in Ezekiel); "from·multitude·of" (root רב, 52x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root סחר ("your·merchant") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 6 words. Full calculation: תַּרְשִׁ֥ישׁ [Tarshish] (1210) + סֹחַרְתֵּ֖ךְ [your·merchant] (688) + מֵרֹ֣ב [from·multitude·of] (242) + כׇּל־ה֑וֹן [all] (111) + בְּכֶ֤סֶף [in·silver] (162) + בַּרְזֶל֙ [iron] (239) + בְּדִ֣יל [alloy] (46) + וְעוֹפֶ֔רֶת [and·lead] (762) + נָתְנ֖וּ [they·gave] (506) + עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ [your·wares] (165) = 4131.
Rashi
Tarshish. A sea whose name was Tarshish:
"From the abundance of all wealth." That which was within you, and the merchants were confident that they would find in you merchandise suitable for them.
Tin. In Old French: estain.
“Your might.” Your might and your power. Just as it is written (Nehemiah 3:8): “And they left Jerusalem, even to the wall,” and a person’s wealth is his strength, that which establishes him on his feet.
Radak
“Tarshish is your merchant.” It brings merchandise to you, for it is situated on the sea. And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated “Tarshish” as “from the sea.”
“Because of the abundance of all wealth.” “Because of the abundance of all wealth” that it brings to you, it is called your merchantess; and in what is your merchantess engaged in trade?
“Silver, iron, tin.” When spelled without a vav, the usage is like that of [the words] shemesh, yareach, Reuven, Shimon.
"Your wares." Your merchandise. And Jonathan [the Aramaic translator] rendered it: "They gave [it] in your treasury."
Metzudat David
Tarshish. The men of Tarshish brought you rich merchandise, from their abundance of wealth; and he goes on to explain that with silver and iron, etc., they provided your merchandise, for in their land are found mines that yield all these metals.
Metzudat Zion
"Your merchandise." This refers to merchandise, and it is possible that it derives from the language of "and they abandoned Jerusalem" (Nehemiah 3), which denotes strengthening; likewise, merchandise serves as a source of strength for those engaged in it.
Malbim
Tarshish: Now we shall elucidate how its trade and wealth were gathered from various peoples from all over the world. And behold, one should consider four matters regarding the trade of Tyre: they are mascher (trade), merchalta (retail/commerce), ezbon (deposit), and arbon (collateral). This is to say: the great merchants brought their trade to Tyre, and this is called mascher; there they left their merchandise in treasuries in the hands of the people of Tyre, and this is called ezbon; and the retailers, who are the small merchants, purchased from there the merchandise found in the deposit and carried it to various countries, and this is called rochel and merchalta; and at the time they took the merchandise for retail, they gave other merchandise that they had brought to serve as collateral for the money, and this is called ma’ariv and arbon. He said that Tarshish was your great merchant, abundant in all wealth, and the merchandise they brought was silver, iron, tin, and lead, which were found mostly in Tarshish, which is ancient Spain, as it is stated (in I Kings); and they gave your deposits, meaning that they left their merchandise with you.
Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traffickers; they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass for your merchandise.
verse value 3333
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "Javan" (יָוָ֤ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·traders" (רֹכְלָ֑יִךְ, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 432: Tubal, in·soul·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Javan" (יָוָ֤ן), "and·Meshech" (וָמֶ֔שֶׁךְ), "and·vessels·of" (וּכְלֵ֣י). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel); "in·soul·of" (root נפש, 42x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root תבל ("Tubal") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·traders', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: יָוָ֤ן [Javan] (66) + תֻּבַל֙ [Tubal] (432) + וָמֶ֔שֶׁךְ [and·Meshech] (366) + הֵ֖מָּה [abundance] (50) + רֹכְלָ֑יִךְ [your·traders] (280) + בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ [in·soul·of] (432) + אָדָם֙ [man] (45) + וּכְלֵ֣י [and·vessels·of] (66) + נְחֹ֔שֶׁת [copper] (758) + נָתְנ֖וּ [they·gave] (506) + מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ [your·merchandise] (332) = 3333.
Rashi
“in a human soul.” Slaves and maidservants to sell:
Radak
Javan, Tubal, with human beings. For they bring slaves and maidservants to sell, and they bring copper vessels from there, likewise. And all the places that each one remembers according to the wares found there—they bring them to one place to sell. And he said that from all the places they would bring [their goods] to Tyre, due to the abundance of its merchandise.
Metzudat David
"They" — those nations were your merchants; and it returns to explain that they traded in human souls, selling men and women as slaves, as well as copper vessels. Hence it says, "Your merchants," for it was their way to engage in commerce with these items.
Malbim
And the Yonians, Tubal, and Meshech—they are your merchants. They took merchandise from Tarshish to sell to others, for this is called a "rokel" (merchant). And the pledges they gave, to ensure that they would be secure for the merchandise they had taken, were human lives and copper vessels. In this regard, it says, "your pledge" (me'arevcha), meaning they left slaves and copper vessels as security for the merchandise they had taken.
They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses and horsemen and mules.
verse value 2929
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "from·house·of" (מִבֵּ֖ית, 4 letters) and the longest is "your·wares" (עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·mules" (וּפְרָדִ֔ים). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "from·house·of" (root בית, 159x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Togarmah', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 5 words. Full calculation: מִבֵּ֖ית [from·house·of] (452) + תּוֹגַרְמָ֑ה [Togarmah] (654) + סוּסִ֤ים [horses] (176) + וּפָרָשִׁים֙ [and·horsemen] (636) + וּפְרָדִ֔ים [and·mules] (340) + נָתְנ֖וּ [they·gave] (506) + עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ [your·wares] (165) = 2929.
Radak
“From Togarmah, horses and horsemen.” Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated: “From the land of Germamia.” And some explain that “horsemen” are distinguished from horses, referring to good and swift horses which are called “horsemen” in contrast to other horses, just as men who are elite warriors have a superiority over other people in battle. And there is another interpretation according to its plain meaning: human beings who are horsemen. For in those places where human beings are sold, just as today the Kushites are sold as slaves, some of them are fit to be slaves, and some of them are fit to be horsemen—riders of horses. And Tubal and Meshech would bring those who are fit to be slaves; therefore it says “in the soul of man.” And from the house of Togarmah they would bring those who are fit to be horsemen.
“Your goods have been given.” This is what Jonathan’s Targum renders: “Your merchandise is brought into you.”
Metzudat David
“From the house of Togarmah.” This is the name of the place from which horses originate; men riding with great valor are found there, and mules are also found there. All of these they brought and gave to you in exchange for merchandise.
Metzudat Zion
And horsemen. They are horsemen who ride with strength and agility:
"And mules." They are those born from the donkey and the horse.
Malbim
From the house of Togarmah they gave your belongings; horses and horsemen: This means that they left them with you as a deposit.
The men of Dedan were your traffickers; many isles were the mart of your hand; they brought you as tribute horns of ivory and ebony.
verse value 3617
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "tooth" (שֵׁן֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "ebony" ((והובנים), 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "isles" (אִיִּ֥ים), "merchandise" (סְחֹרַ֣ת), "horns·of" (קַרְנ֥וֹת). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "your·hand" (root יד, 75x in Ezekiel); "they·rendered" (root שוב, 61x in Ezekiel); "son" (root בן, 54x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root דדן ("Dedan") in Ezekiel. First appearance of the root קרן ("horns·of") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֤י [son] (62) + דְדָן֙ [Dedan] (58) + רֹכְלַ֔יִךְ [your·traders] (280) + אִיִּ֥ים [isles] (61) + רַבִּ֖ים [many] (252) + סְחֹרַ֣ת [merchandise] (668) + יָדֵ֑ךְ [your·hand] (34) + קַרְנ֥וֹת [horns·of] (756) + שֵׁן֙ [tooth] (350) + (והובנים) [ebony] (119) + וְהׇבְנִ֔ים [and·ebony] (113) + הֵשִׁ֖יבוּ [they·rendered] (323) + אֶשְׁכָּרֵֽךְ [your·tribute] (541) = 3617.
Rashi
“Your hand.” – “Your place.”
"Horns of a tooth and ebony." Horns of gazelles, bones of an elephant, and peacocks—birds whose name is called "pawn" in the vernacular.
"They repaid your tribute." They brought you a gift:
Radak
The children of Dedan, your merchants. Many isles, from the region of the children of Dedan, were trading through you:
“Horns of ivory and ebony.” He compared the elephant’s tusks to horns, because they resemble them and one makes work from them. According to the view of Jonathan, “horns of ivory” are two distinct things, namely horns and ivory, lacking the conjunction vav, like “sun, moon” and similar phrases; and the word attached to “horns” is lacking [the vav]. And so did Jonathan translate: “horns of ibexes and ivory of the elephant.” And “the sons” he explained hovnim, referring to the wood called in Arabic abnus; and Jonathan translated it as “peacocks,” which is the bird called in the vernacular “pavo.”
"They rendered your tribute." "They rendered" means your gift, just as it says, "and he rendered [tribute] to the king of Israel," meaning that he brought the gift repeatedly.
"Your reward" – "Your meal-offering," just as it is written: "They shall bring a reward."
Metzudat David
Your merchants. They traded with you:
"Your trade" – the trade of your place, which was brought from many islands:
“They returned your tribute.” This means: They brought [the gift], and then they brought it to you again as a present.
Metzudat Zion
"Your hand" – meaning, "Your place," as it is written: "a hand you saw" (Isaiah 57:8).
"Karnot shin." The tusk of the elephant is as large as a horn.
"and the peacocks": The name of a bird called "peacock," and its feathers are beautiful to behold; so too does the Targum translate it.
They replied: Since they brought [it] many times, therefore it says, "They replied."
Ashkarcha. The meaning of matanah and minchah is like "ashkar yikrivu" (Psalms 72):
Malbim
“And the sons of Dedan were your merchants.” They were the merchants who took the horses and the horsemen to sell them to the various islands around. Likewise, your merchants were on many islands. “Your wares” — the merchandise that they took from you, namely, the wares that you made with your own hand, that is, the wares of Tyre, which its inhabitants and artisans produced in Tyre. And they bring back in exchange for your wages: tusks of ivory and ebony. That is, in payment and profit that accrues to you, they bring tusks of ivory.
Aram was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your wealth; they traded for your wares with carbuncles, purple, and richly woven work, and fine linen, and coral, and rubies.
verse value 3886
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָ֥ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "for·your·wares" (בְּעִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Aram" (אֲרָ֥ם), "with·carbuncles" (בְּ֠נֹ֠פֶךְ), "purple" (אַרְגָּמָ֨ן). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "from·multitude·of" (root רב, 52x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·works', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: אֲרָ֥ם [Aram] (241) + סֹחַרְתֵּ֖ךְ [your·merchant] (688) + מֵרֹ֣ב [from·multitude·of] (242) + מַעֲשָׂ֑יִךְ [your·works] (440) + בְּ֠נֹ֠פֶךְ [with·carbuncles] (152) + אַרְגָּמָ֨ן [purple] (294) + וְרִקְמָ֤ה [and·variegated·stuff] (351) + וּבוּץ֙ [and·fine·linen] (104) + וְרָאמֹ֣ת [and·corals] (647) + וְכַדְכֹּ֔ד [a·precious·stone] (54) + נָתְנ֖וּ [they·gave] (506) + בְּעִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ [for·your·wares] (167) = 3886.
Rashi
"Aram, your merchant" – [refers to] the precious stones mentioned in the Bible, as well as crimson dye, embroidered work, and fine linen.
“Because of the multitude of your deeds.” Since they knew that your princes and your officers showed them works of beauty and splendor for adornment:
On the word "nopech." In the vernacular: "Ikarbonkel."
Radak
"Aram, because of your many deeds." Because of the multitude of precious deeds and crafts that were in you, they would bring you Aram as merchandise: precious stones and embroidered garments. And the Targum [renders it]: "In nofach, purple, in shrouds of purple." And I wondered at its translation, for "nephakh" is the name of a precious stone mentioned in the Torah.
“Your wares.” Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated: “In your treasury.”
Metzudat David
Aram. The people of Aram traded with you in many precious crafts that were made there.
“With Nophach, etc.” – This means: at the price of Nophach and purple, etc., which they gave in your merchandise; for in exchange for the precious crafts performed in you, they gave all these.
Metzudat Zion
“Nofech.” The name of a precious stone.
Argaman. Garments dyed with argaman, and it is the name of an important dye:
"And embroidered work." Garments made by an embroiderer, through the interchange of colors:
And "boz." It is the fine flax:
And coral and rubies. These are names of precious stones:
Malbim
"Aram was your trader" – they are your merchants, and through the majority of your transactions, they bring [to you] nophach and argaman, etc. "They have placed [their goods] in your storehouse" – they deposit their merchandise with you in your storehouse.
Judah, and the land of Israel, they were your traffickers; they traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, and balsam, and honey, and oil, and balm.
verse value 3718
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 55 letters. Verse gematria: 3718 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "abundance" (הֵ֖מָּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Judah" (יְהוּדָה֙, 5 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·land·of" (וְאֶ֣רֶץ), "in·wheat·of" (בְּחִטֵּ֣י), "Minnith" (מִ֠נִּ֠ית). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "and·land·of" (root ארץ, 176x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·traders', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: יְהוּדָה֙ [Judah] (30) + וְאֶ֣רֶץ [and·land·of] (297) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + הֵ֖מָּה [abundance] (50) + רֹכְלָ֑יִךְ [your·traders] (280) + בְּחִטֵּ֣י [in·wheat·of] (29) + מִ֠נִּ֠ית [Minnith] (500) + וּפַנַּ֨ג [and·Pannag-an edible food] (139) + וּדְבַ֤שׁ [and·honey] (312) + וָשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ [and·oil] (396) + וָצֹ֔רִי [and·balm] (306) + נָתְנ֖וּ [they·gave] (506) + מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ [your·merchandise] (332) = 3718.
Rashi
“With the wheat, Minit.” Minit is the name of a place where the wheat is fine, just as it says, “until you come to Minit” (Judges 18:29). And in an aggadic midrash, it is taught: “The wheat is fine and coarse, sold by the count.” And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it as “with the wheat, richush,” a term denoting a collection of many counts, “trokas” in the vernacular. And its companion passage in Pesiqtah states: “Just as the blood is ‘richush’ [abundant] in leaves, so too Leah was ‘richushah’ [abundant] in children.” And I do not know what it means. From the mouth of Rabbi Shimon I found that he found in the Jerusalem Targum: “With the wheat, Minit, and the sound of the threshing floor.” And “kalmah” [husks]—the husks of the threshing floor. In the Gemara we recite: “Husked barley.” And I say that Minit is a term for portions of prepared food. And even according to the pointing with a dagesh, it is the way of Jonathan to translate a word sometimes according to its plain meaning and sometimes according to its homiletical interpretation. Thus he translated it. And also regarding the name of the city, Munit, we point it as “Munit,” and “ha-munit” [the Munit] does not vocalize the heh. And he translated it even as: “And they will be gathered there, the inhabitants of the city, whose population is great.”
And "paneg." I saw in the book of Yosef HaKohen that the "etz afarsamon" is the paneg, and they were found in Jericho, and on account of their good fragrance, Jericho is called "alsam" in the foreign language.
Radak
Judah: “with wheat, from Minnith.” [This refers to] a place in the Land of Israel where the wheat is fine, and we found [the phrase] “until you come to Minnith,” and likewise [the word] “Pang” [is] a place name. And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated [the word] “barley” as “richush” and “qulya.” And I did not understand what the word “richush” is. And “qulya” we found in the words of our Sages of blessed memory: “One mixes [it] with qulya,” and it is a field vegetable that is eaten. And the author of the Arukh explained that it is a herb that they burn and place its ash in the borit [an alkaline cleansing agent]. And Yosef ben Gurion explained [that] “Pang” [is] balsam oil, called “balsamum” in Arabic, and it was found in Jericho, for therefore is Jericho named, from the matter of fragrance, that its fragrance is good. And behold, it says in the verse “and tzori,” and they explain it that it is balsam oil.
"They gave your merchandise." Jonathan translates, "Give in your shops," and he has already explained that "your merchandise" refers to the matter of commerce.
Metzudat David
“They are your merchants.” They traded with you. And he goes on to explain: “With wheat coming from Minnith, whose wheat is fine, and with Paneg, etc., they dealt in your merchandise.”
Metzudat Zion
Manit. A place name; and likewise, “until you come to Manit” (Judges 11:33).
And "pang" is balsam.
And the tzari. It is the resin mentioned among the ingredients of the incense, and it is the sap of a tree; and likewise, "there is no balm in Gilead" (Jeremiah 8:22).
Malbim
And Judah and the Land of Israel are the merchants of this merchandise, and they take the deposited goods to sell to certain people in the towns, and the security for the merchandise they gave was "wheat of Minnith," etc., things that are common in the Land of Israel.
Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your wealth, by reason of the multitude of all riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
verse value 2931
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "for·multitude·of" (בְּרֹ֥ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·merchant" (סֹחַרְתֵּ֛ךְ, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "in·wine·of" (בְּיֵ֥ין), "Helbon" (חֶלְבּ֖וֹן), "and·wool·of" (וְצֶ֥מֶר). The root רב appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all" (root כל, 129x in Ezekiel); "for·multitude·of" (root רב, 52x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root דמשק ("Damascus") in Ezekiel. First appearance of the root צמר ("and·wool·of") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: דַּמֶּ֧שֶׂק [Damascus] (444) + סֹחַרְתֵּ֛ךְ [your·merchant] (688) + בְּרֹ֥ב [for·multitude·of] (204) + מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ [your·works] (440) + מֵרֹ֣ב [from·multitude·of] (242) + כׇּל־ה֑וֹן [all] (111) + בְּיֵ֥ין [in·wine·of] (72) + חֶלְבּ֖וֹן [Helbon] (96) + וְצֶ֥מֶר [and·wool·of] (336) + צָֽחַר [white] (298) = 2931.
Rashi
Regarding "Helbon wine": white wine that has been cooked and Menachem connected it with the fat of wheat. The verse (Psalms 146) states: "Good."
"And wool of a white color." And "wool" is the term for "laundering" on the day that the lamb is born and its mother cleanses it by licking it, they make a garment and launder it around it with pins so that its wool will be clean.
Tzchar. White, like white donkeys (Judges 5).
Radak
Damascus, with wine of Helbon. It is the name of a place in Damascus where their wine is good, and Jonathan rendered it in the Targum as “in wine of Cheilat, boiled.”
"And the wool was white." White. And likewise, "white donkeys" means white. And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it as "and the wool was of the color of snow."
Metzudat David
"In the majority of your deeds." In the majority of the precious crafts that are made in Tyre, a craft rich in most wealth:
“With wine of Chelbon.” This means: at the price of wine that comes from Chalbon, which is the name of a place in Damascus where wine is esteemed, and at the price of white wool, for these were given in exchange for the work of the crafts which they traded from you.
Metzudat Zion
Chalbon. A place name:
Tzchar. The matter refers to whiteness, as in “white donkeys” (Judges 5).
Malbim
Damascus, it is the royal city of Aram; and besides what they bring from Aram—dye, purple, etc. (as stated above in chapter 16)—they are your merchants, who, due to the multitude of your transactions, bring white wool to make garments from it there, and, due to the abundance of all your wealth, bring Helbon wine for drinking. He did not say, “In your merchandise they gave,” because the sons of Tyre themselves were taking these precious items for themselves.
Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares; massive iron, cassia, and calamus, were among your merchandise.
verse value 2528
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "Vedan" (וְדָ֤ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "for·your·wares" (בְּעִזְבוֹנַ֖יִךְ, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Vedan" (וְדָ֤ן), "and·Javan" (וְיָוָן֙), "from·Uzal" (מְאוּזָּ֔ל). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "was" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "massive" (root עשה, 214x in Ezekiel); "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·gave', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְדָ֤ן [Vedan] (60) + וְיָוָן֙ [and·Javan] (72) + מְאוּזָּ֔ל [from·Uzal] (84) + בְּעִזְבוֹנַ֖יִךְ [for·your·wares] (167) + נָתָ֑נּוּ [they·gave] (506) + בַּרְזֶ֤ל [iron] (239) + עָשׁוֹת֙ [massive] (776) + קִדָּ֣ה [a spice-cassia] (109) + וְקָנֶ֔ה [and·branch] (161) + בְּמַעֲרָבֵ֖ךְ [among·your·merchandise] (334) + הָיָֽה [was] (20) = 2528.
Rashi
And Dan and Yavan. They are nations:
From Uzal. Spun silk thread:
"Wrought iron." They are made like "esheshiyot," which is the term used in the foreign tongue, and it is "parzela handua."
Radak
"And Dan and Yon are from 'ozel.' With a vav with dagesh, and its meaning is 'going,' like 'azalt yad' (the hand has gone), 'azlu mayim minni yam' (the waters have gone from the sea), and 'azal lo' (he went away). And so Jonathan translated: 'halkh' is 'ozel.' And he said that 'ma'ozel' is in the po'al conjugation, denoting the continuous nature of traveling in caravans. And so Jonathan translated: 've-dan ve-yon' as 'b-shira.'"
"Given." The nun is written with a dagesh for the honor of the reading, due to the pause:
"of iron they shall make." "Ashot" means bright, as in "eshet shen" (a polished bar of ivory); and this is the iron they call "alhindi," and Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it as "of iron bars."
“Your merchandise.” Jonathan [ben Uzziel] rendered it: “Your shops.”
Metzudat David
“From a merchant.” This means one who constantly travels from place to place to engage in trade.
"they gave it in your merchandise." This means that they, too, were among your merchants and brought you goods.
"Of iron they shall make." [This refers to] good iron, which is bright and shiny. And cassia and cane, each of them, were in your merchandise, for you also traded in these.
Metzudat Zion
From the root ozal. The matter of walking, as in "and I will walk to him" (Proverbs 20:14):
"to make." This is a declaration and a warning, as it is written: "They have made" (Jeremiah 5:).
Kedah and kanah: names of types of spices.
Malbim
(19-20) Dan and Javan: “From Uzal, they gave into your deposits” — Dan and Javan brought merchandise that they had left there to sell, and it was from Uzal, goods of fine quality. They also brought merchandise as a pledge for the provisions they had purchased, and it was wrought iron and cassia. And it was already stated above (verse 13) that the merchants of Javan were with Tubal and Meshech, and they gave as a pledge human lives and copper vessels. And Dan also gave wrought iron, and the like. And the merchants of Dedan took also your merchandise, the merchandise of Tyre, which were garments of fine linen for your chariots, which were made from the fine linen and the weaving that the sons of Dan (who are the sons of Dedan) brought. And they took the garments of fine linen, which were made from Uzal's goods, for retail trade.
Dedan was your trafficker in precious cloths for riding.
verse value 1394
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 21 letters. The shortest word is "Dedan" (דְּדָן֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·precious·cloths" (בְּבִגְדֵי־חֹ֖פֶשׁ, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "with·precious·cloths" (בְּבִגְדֵי־חֹ֖פֶשׁ), "for·riding" (לְרִכְבָּֽהֿ). 4 unique roots are used. Full calculation: דְּדָן֙ [Dedan] (58) + רֹֽכַלְתֵּ֔ךְ [merchandise] (670) + בְּבִגְדֵי־חֹ֖פֶשׁ [with·precious·cloths] (409) + לְרִכְבָּֽהֿ [for·riding] (257) = 1394.
Rashi
"In garments of freedom for her chariot." In precious attire for chariots:
Radak
Dedan, your merchandise is in garments of a free man, for the chariot. Garments of value, fit for a free man and a son of liberty. For the chariot, for the repair of the chariot; and so did Jonathan translate: “In garments of splendor for the yokes.”
Metzudat David
"In the garments of freedom." This means in expensive garments, suitable for free men and those of noble birth, to spread over the chariot.
Metzudat Zion
Ḥofesh. A free man, as it is said, "they shall send him away free" (Exodus 21).
"to mount it." – To the chariot:
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, and rams, and goats, in these were they your merchants.
verse value 2600
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 48 letters. Verse gematria: 2600 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "in·them" (בָּ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·all·princes·of" (וְכׇל־נְשִׂיאֵ֣י, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 272: Arabia, in·lambs. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Arabia" (עֲרַב֙), "and·all·princes·of" (וְכׇל־נְשִׂיאֵ֣י), "Kedar" (קֵדָ֔ר). The root סחר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·rams" (root איל, 238x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel); "your·hand" (root יד, 75x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root קדר ("Kedar") in Ezekiel. First appearance of the root עתוד ("and·goats") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: עֲרַב֙ [Arabia] (272) + וְכׇל־נְשִׂיאֵ֣י [and·all·princes·of] (427) + קֵדָ֔ר [Kedar] (304) + הֵ֖מָּה [abundance] (50) + סֹחֲרֵ֣י [merchants·of] (278) + יָדֵ֑ךְ [your·hand] (34) + בְּכָרִ֤ים [in·lambs] (272) + וְאֵילִם֙ [and·rams] (87) + וְעַתּוּדִ֔ים [and·goats] (536) + בָּ֖ם [in·them] (42) + סֹחֲרָֽיִךְ [your·merchants] (298) = 2600.
Rashi
"Lambs." The Targum translates [the word] "lamb" as "oxen," and likewise it translates "a hundred thousand rams" [in the verse concerning] Mesha, king of Moab (II Kings 3:4).
Radak
"Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar." Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated: "and all the great men of Nabatea."
Regarding "rams": [meaning] like lambs. And Jonathan translated it as "on oxen." It appears that he read it as "on bulls" in place of "on rams."
Metzudat David
"Merchants of your hand": They are the merchants of your place, and he returns to explain that "with lambs, etc." they traded with you, for in their place they were select and fat.
Metzudat Zion
Arav. They are the Arabs who dwell in the wilderness:
Your hand. Your place:
“Becharim.” Fat sheep:
Atudim. They are the male goats:
Malbim
"Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar are yours; they are your merchants, they trade for you, namely, with lambs and rams, etc., your merchants trade with them, and this is an acquisition for your needs for full money for food."
“Rekeli sheva u’r’emah” (the sons of Re’emah, Sheva, and Dedan): “They are your merchants.” The merchandise that was initially purchased in Sheva, they now take from you, because “the head of all spices, and of every precious stone, and gold”—all of these are the trade goods of Sheva, as it is stated (1 Kings 10) that all of these were brought by the Queen of Sheva to Solomon—“they were placed in your wares.” They are stored with you in your merchandise, and the merchants take from you the goods that they used to purchase initially in Sheva and which came from there. And similarly:
The traffickers of Sheba and Raamah, they were your traffickers; they traded for your wares with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
verse value 3226
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "Sheba" (שְׁבָא֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·stone" (וּבְכׇל־אֶ֤בֶן, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·Raamah" (וְרַעְמָ֔ה), "all·name" (כׇּל־בֹּ֜שֶׂם), "all·stone" (וּבְכׇל־אֶ֤בֶן). The root רכל appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·gave" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel); "all·name" (root כל, 129x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root שבא ("Sheba") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·traders', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: רֹכְלֵ֤י [traders·of] (260) + שְׁבָא֙ [Sheba] (303) + וְרַעְמָ֔ה [and·Raamah] (321) + הֵ֖מָּה [abundance] (50) + רֹכְלָ֑יִךְ [your·traders] (280) + בְּרֹ֨אשׁ [in·head·of] (503) + כׇּל־בֹּ֜שֶׂם [all·name] (392) + וּבְכׇל־אֶ֤בֶן [all·stone] (111) + יְקָרָה֙ [precious] (315) + וְזָהָ֔ב [and·gold] (20) + נָתְנ֖וּ [they·gave] (506) + עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ [your·wares] (165) = 3226.
Radak
“Rakali, they have given away your property.” Jonathan’s Targum renders it: “They have deposited it in your treasury.”
Metzudat David
"They are your merchants." They traded with you. And it goes on to explain: "At the head of every spice"—that is, the foremost and most esteemed spices among all of them; "and every precious stone, and gold dust"—with these your merchants provided (their wares).
Metzudat Zion
At the head. The matter of “the best” is like “the beginning of their strength” (Jeremiah 49:35):
Haran and Canneh and Eden, the traffickers of Sheba, Asshur was as your apprentice in traffic.
verse value 2303
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "Haran" (חָרָ֤ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "merchandise" (רֹכַלְתֵּֽךְ, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Haran" (חָרָ֤ן), "and·Canneh" (וְכַנֵּה֙), "and·Eden" (וָעֶ֔דֶן). The root רכל appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. First appearance of the root עדן ("and·Eden") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Sheba', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: חָרָ֤ן [Haran] (258) + וְכַנֵּה֙ [and·Canneh] (81) + וָעֶ֔דֶן [and·Eden] (130) + רֹכְלֵ֖י [traffickers·of] (260) + שְׁבָ֑א [Sheba] (303) + אַשּׁ֖וּר [Asshur] (507) + כִּלְמַ֥ד [Chilmad] (94) + רֹכַלְתֵּֽךְ [merchandise] (670) = 2303.
Rashi
Ashur: Chilmad. And the Targum: "Media and Ashur."
Radak
Choron, Kenah, and Eden. Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated: “Charvan, Netzivin (Nisibis), and Hadyav (Adiabene).”
"Assyria was ke-limmad of your merchandise." My master and father, of blessed memory, explained that they were as ones accustomed (lemudim) to come to you with their merchandise constantly; "ke-limmad" is an adjective in the construct state — the absolute form is "limmad," on the pattern of "kaved," and the construct is as in "kevad peh" (heavy of mouth). And Jonathan rendered it: "The provinces of Assyria and Media are your merchants."
Metzudat David
The traders of Sheba. They are accustomed to go to Sheba to take merchandise:
Your merchants. All these traded with you:
Metzudat Zion
Chilmad. This is Media; so rendered Targum Yonatan:
Malbim
Charn, Kena, and Eden, which were also merchants of Sheba. Ashur, as it learned your merchandise — just as Ashur learned and grew accustomed to take your merchandise. From that time on, these goods were no longer taken from Sheba, where their place of origin was; rather, they were brought from Sheba to Tyre, and from Tyre the merchants took them and transported them to Ashur, to show that it was Tyre's merchandise, since they had learned to purchase only Tyre's merchandise.
These were your traffickers in gorgeous fabrics, in wrappings of blue and richly woven work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords and cedar-lined, among your merchandise.
verse value 3592
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 65 letters. The shortest word is "abundance" (הֵ֤מָּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·gorgeous·fabrics" (בְּמַכְלֻלִ֔ים, 7 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "in·gorgeous·fabrics" (בְּמַכְלֻלִ֔ים), "in·wrappings·of" (בִּגְלוֹמֵי֙), "and·in·chests·of" (וּבְגִנְזֵ֖י). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "abundance" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'rich·apparel', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: הֵ֤מָּה [abundance] (50) + רֹכְלַ֙יִךְ֙ [your·traffickers] (280) + בְּמַכְלֻלִ֔ים [in·gorgeous·fabrics] (172) + בִּגְלוֹמֵי֙ [in·wrappings·of] (91) + תְּכֵ֣לֶת [blue] (850) + וְרִקְמָ֔ה [and·variegated·stuff] (351) + וּבְגִנְזֵ֖י [and·in·chests·of] (78) + בְּרֹמִ֑ים [rich·apparel] (292) + בַּחֲבָלִ֧ים [in·cords] (92) + חֲבֻשִׁ֛ים [bound] (360) + וַאֲרֻזִ֖ים [and·cedar] (264) + בְּמַרְכֻלְתֵּֽךְ [among·your·merchandise] (712) = 3592.
Rashi
"In all that is for the purpose of a whole." In matters that are considered a single unit, known in the vernacular as a "parmonit," and what are these wholes? The threads of blue and the embroidery; cloaks of blue, embroidered.
“And in the treasures of the Romans.” In ornaments of beauty which are stored in chests called “ashkari” in the vernacular, and they are covered with leather and decorated for ornamentation with rows of nails and designs. In Aramaic they are called kamtarin, and in Hebrew they are called barumin, and they are bound and tied with cords of linen for ornamentation.
“And packed.” Targum Jonathan renders it: “And the myrtle trees.” Those chests were placed in towers made of myrtle wood, and they brought them into the towers and the small boxes within them, and the ornaments within the small boxes—all together as merchandise. And so is the interpretation of the language in a concise manner: “And in the treasuries of Rome, bound with cords and packed within cedar wood.” The “Rome” [barumim] refers to the small boxes, which were bound with cords and placed in the myrtle towers, which is a species of cedar. And the containers within the small boxes, Jonathan [ben Uzziel] called “koshpin,” which is Aramaic for cedar, in the Aramaic of the land of Zeharita. These are ornaments that require fine protection, which are placed in small boxes. And the “towers” in the Targum are like what we learn: “A house and a tower,” which is a “Schipfer” in the German language.
Radak
"They are your merchants, in perfection." As its Targum [renders it] in the completion of all kinds: "All your praises."
“On his garments.” [They were] blue and embroidered. “Garments of blue” – the term *glimah* is known in the words of our Sages of blessed memory. And there are those who explain it as folds of clothing, *Trossel* in the vernacular.
"And in the chests of the *barumim*." These are chests made of leather, and within them are stored the fine garments called *barumim*. My honored father, of blessed memory, brought me proof from the Arabic, which says of fine and honorable garments: *ta'ab min baruma*.
“Bound with cords.” The garments mentioned as being placed in chests are bound with cords:
“And stored in your treasury.” Like “strung” from your neck, referring to the strings that are the pendants hanging from the throat. And Jonathan rendered it as “in the shearings of blue wool, and in the seals, etc.” The explanation is: “treasuries,” like “the king’s storehouses” in the language of our Sages of blessed memory. And “seals” – it is possible that this is like “goshpan” (seal), and in the language of our Sages of blessed memory, “they seal with two seals.” The explanation is: “seals.” “Imlyon” is the Targumic rendering of “storehouses,” and I did not find for it a companion word. “Komterin” is like “komterei sefarim” (bookcases), which are the compartments in which books are placed. And Jonathan rendered it as “that which is upon the wardrobe,” “kamtara.”
Metzudat David
"They are your merchants." They traded with you in things comprised of all kinds of beauty, and then He goes on to explain that they were in bundles of blue-dyed garments and embroidered work, and in the treasuries of the Baromites, which are boxes made of leather for storing in them desirable items.
“Bound with cords.” Those boxes were tied and arranged with beautiful and handsome cords.
And strung. Gold ornaments and pearls strung on a cord for necklaces:
"In your merchandise." This means: All these were in your trade; you traded with all of them.
Metzudat Zion
“in all its aspects.” From the root of “all,” meaning that it is included in all beauty.
“in the folds.” The meaning is wrapping, as it is said, “And Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together” (2 Kings 2:8), and the explanation is that he made it into a single fold.
And in the treasuries: from the language of "hidden" and "concealed":
“Barumim.” These are boxes made of hard leather, in which pleasant things are placed.
"Bound." The matter is one of being tied and adorned, and similarly, "Your adornment is bound upon you" (above 24:).
"Urozim" – like "ucharuzim," for the letters alef, heh, chet, and ayin are interchangeable, and its meaning is things strung upon a thread, as it says, "Your neck is like a chain of gold" (Song of Songs 5:14).
Malbim
These are your merchants, and they took merchandise from you to sell to others. And what are the goods? They are included in bundles of blue and embroidered fabrics, and in chests of precious items. These goods were placed in ropes, bound and packed, in chests of cedar, and they tied ropes over them. Thus they used to do with your wares.
The ships of Tarshish brought you tribute for your merchandise; So were you replenished, and made very heavy In the heart of the seas.
verse value 4053
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "very" (מְאֹ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·caravans" (שָׁרוֹתַ֖יִךְ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "ships·of" (אֳנִיּ֣וֹת), "your·caravans" (שָׁרוֹתַ֖יִךְ), "and·you·were·filled" (וַתִּמָּלְאִ֧י). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·you·were·filled" (root מלא, 37x in Ezekiel); "seas" (root ים, 34x in Ezekiel); "in·heart·of" (root לב, 30x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·merchandise', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: אֳנִיּ֣וֹת [ships·of] (467) + תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ [Tarshish] (1210) + שָׁרוֹתַ֖יִךְ [your·caravans] (936) + מַעֲרָבֵ֑ךְ [your·merchandise] (332) + וַתִּמָּלְאִ֧י [and·you·were·filled] (487) + וַֽתִּכְבְּדִ֛י [and·you·was·heavy] (442) + מְאֹ֖ד [very] (45) + בְּלֵ֥ב [in·heart·of] (34) + יַמִּֽים [seas] (100) = 4053.
Rashi
Ships of Tarshish. Your merchants were a plain and level land, just as the plain is a well-trodden path for bringing merchandise into a city situated in the interior; so too, under them were ships of Tarshish, a track for bringing your merchandise into you.
"Your plains." This is the language of Sharon, meaning a plain or level area, and its parallel is "they rose up in their plain" (Jeremiah 5).
“And you shall be filled, and you shall be greatly burdened.” They brought upon you a heavy load and made your burden heavier than necessary.
Radak
"Ships of Tarshish are your caravans": caravans go forth with your merchandise, meaning many together, like a caravan.
"And you shall fill, and you shall make heavy." Like "and you shall multiply," and similarly, "a heavy people."
“Beleiv yamim” – as if you were in the midst of the seas, for ships come to you from all the seas. Or perhaps “Beleiv yamim” is stated because it was built within the sea, as we explained above. And when it says “yamim” in the plural, it is because this sea flows into another sea. And similarly it is stated in the account of Creation: “And He called the gathering of waters ‘yamim’” (Genesis 1:10).
Metzudat David
Ships of Tarshish. The ships that sailed on the Sea of Tarshish were your caravans to bring your merchandise; that is to say, many ships came to you with merchandise, like a caravan of people.
And you were filled. He returns to the beginning of the matter, which he likened to an important ship; therefore he said: "Behold, because of the abundance of cargo, you became full and exceedingly heavy when you were in the midst of the seas."
Metzudat Zion
Your caravans. The word is from the root shirah, meaning a caravan, and it refers to many people traveling together on the road. This usage is well-known in the teachings of our Sages of blessed memory.
In the heart of the sea. In the depths of the sea:
Malbim
And the ships of Tarshish: all the ships were in your service, and they served you; and your associates were guarantors for you, because they were all yours. And by this means, you were filled with merchandise; and by this means, you became exceedingly heavy in the heart of the seas.
Your rowers have brought you Into great waters; The east wind has broken you In the heart of the seas.
verse value 2192
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "you" (אֹתָ֑ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "they·brought·you" (הֱבִא֔וּךְ, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 34: they·brought·you, in·heart·of. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "they·brought·you" (הֱבִא֔וּךְ), "rowers" (הַשָּׁטִ֖ים). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "many" (root רב, 52x in Ezekiel); "east" (root קדים, 52x in Ezekiel); "wind·of" (root רוח, 49x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: בְּמַ֤יִם [in·water] (92) + רַבִּים֙ [many] (252) + הֱבִא֔וּךְ [they·brought·you] (34) + הַשָּׁטִ֖ים [rowers] (364) + אֹתָ֑ךְ [you] (421) + ר֚וּחַ [wind·of] (214) + הַקָּדִ֔ים [east] (159) + שְׁבָרֵ֖ךְ [breakinged·you] (522) + בְּלֵ֥ב [in·heart·of] (34) + יַמִּֽים [seas] (100) = 2192.
Rashi
"In many waters, your rowers have brought you" – this refers to the manner in which large ships are set adrift into the open sea, and because they become filled and heavy, the east wind comes and breaks them in the midst of the sea. And regarding the analogy of the city: because it became filled with wealth, your heart grew haughty, and calamity came upon you.
Radak
“With many waters they have brought you; the plunderers have brought you.” “They” is spelled without an aleph, and its meaning is “they plundered” and “they looted.” The Targum translates it as “they plundered,” and “they looted,” and the meaning of “they plundered” and “they looted” is one and the same. “With many waters” is a metaphor for troubles, as if it said, “With many troubles they brought you.” And the Targum [renders it]: “As great waters rose over you, and they plundered you.”
“The east wind has broken you.” You who were in the heart of the seas, the east wind has broken you. And since the east wind breaks Tarshish ships, therefore the strong one, who is Nebuchadnezzar, is compared to the east wind. And so did Jonathan translate: “A king mighty as the east wind, he will break you in the sea.”
Metzudat David
“Those who row you.” The leaders of the ship who navigate you across the waters—they have brought you to a place of abundant waters, a place of danger, and the fierce east wind among the winds has broken you in the midst of the seas; and due to the abundance of waters and the heaviness of the cargo, it was difficult to save her.
Metzudat Zion
The rowers. From the language of "shetiyah" and "shichyah" (swimming):
Malbim
"Into many waters your rowers have brought you": Sidon and Arvad, who were your rowers (as stated above in verse 8), they brought you into many waters, meaning that Sidon had a stake in the downfall of Tyre, as it is written (Isaiah 23:4): "Be still, O inhabitants of the isle, you whom the merchants of Sidon, who pass over the sea, have sustained." And "Be confounded, O Sidon." I explained there that Sidon envied the greatness of Tyre and aided in its downfall. Consequently, the east wind broke her in the heart of the sea, for when a storm arises and a ship is near the shore, there is hope; but not so in the heart of the sea.
Your riches, and your wares, your merchandise, Your mariners, and your pilots, Your calkers, and the exchangers of your merchandise, And all your men of war, that are in you, With all your company which is in the midst of you, Shall fall into the heart of the seas In the day of your ruin.
verse value 5217
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 102 letters. The shortest word is "which" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·your·wares" (וְעִזְבוֹנַ֔יִךְ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 332: your·merchandise, your·merchandise. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "your·wealth" (הוֹנֵךְ֙), "and·your·wares" (וְעִזְבוֹנַ֔יִךְ), "your·mariners" (מַלָּחַ֖יִךְ). The root מערב appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·in·you" (root אשר, 341x in Ezekiel); "in·day·of" (root יום, 112x in Ezekiel); "in·your·midst" (root תוך, 111x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·your·pilots', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 15 words.
Radak
“Your wealth,” they shall fall in the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall. For after Nebuchadnezzar conquered Tyre and gathered its spoils within the city to carry them away as they departed from the city, and they were in their camps outside the city, the sea rose up over the city and swept away all the spoils and the slain, along with the dust of the city—it swept everything away—and the sea returned to its place, leaving only the rock upon which the city had been built.
Metzudat David
“Your wealth, your riches, and your merchandise, and the leaders of the ships, and those who repair the breach, and the traders of your merchandise, and the men of war within you, and all your congregation that is in you, from the common people of the land—all of them shall fall into the heart of the seas on the day that your downfall comes, when the east wind shall break you.” This means: on the day that the enemy conquers you, he shall plunder all your spoil and destroy all remembrance of you, leaving no remnant.
Metzudat Zion
Honekh. From the language of wealth and riches:
"Your wares." Your merchandise:
“Your merchandise.” The duplication of the word in the verse serves to indicate that everything was lost.
"Malchich." Those who hold the oars:
And your pilots. Those who pull the ropes of the curtain.
“Those who hold your leaks.” These are the ones who patch the cracks in the ship.
"And the merchants of your merchandise. The merchants of your merchandise:"
Malbim
And according to this, your wealth is your own, and your abandoned merchandise is the cargo that was left with you; your merchandise is the merchandise that was given as a pledge; and this encompasses all property. And against the men, He counts your mariners, the leaders of the ship, and your sailors, namely the captain, meaning the people and the princes; those who repair your hull are the leaders; and the guarantors of your merchandise are the wealthy and all the men of war who are in you; and likewise, “and all your assembly,” meaning all the people who are in you, will fall in the heart of the seas, which encompasses both the people and all the property.
At the sound of the cry of your pilots The waves shall shake.
verse value 2348
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 24 letters. The shortest word is "to·voice·of" (לְק֖וֹל, 4 letters) and the longest is "pasture-of" (מִגְרֹשֽׁוֹת, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "to·voice·of" (לְק֖וֹל), "cry" (זַעֲקַ֣ת), "pasture-of" (מִגְרֹשֽׁוֹת). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·voice·of" (root קול, 29x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root מגרש ("pasture-of") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·pilots', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: לְק֖וֹל [to·voice·of] (166) + זַעֲקַ֣ת [cry] (577) + חֹבְלָ֑יִךְ [your·pilots] (70) + יִרְעֲשׁ֖וּ [they·will·quake] (586) + מִגְרֹשֽׁוֹת [pasture-of] (949) = 2348.
Rashi
"Outskirts." Like the outskirts of the city:
Radak
"To the sound of your cry," [the word] *megareshot* [is written] with a cholam, and it is like *megareshim* [i.e., "those who drive out"], and the matter is by way of hyperbole, meaning that the environs of Tyre, which were on dry land, will tremble at the sound of the cry of your sailors, which they will cry out when their destruction comes upon them.
Metzudat David
To the sound. To the hearing of the sound of the cry of the leaders of the ship, the suburbs of the cities adjacent to the place of the broken ship shall tremble.
Metzudat Zion
They shall tremble. From the language of trembling and terror:
Migraishot. These are the houses that are outside the city wall and are close to the sea, and they are called so because they appear as though they have been exiled from the city. And likewise, “and the suburbs of the cities” (Numbers 35:2).
Malbim
“to the sound” — by means of the cry of the pilots (who are the officers), the surrounding suburbs will tremble around the city; and this means all the ships that are opposite this mighty ship, like suburbs surrounding it; and this means all the islands that are in the sea.
And all that handle the oar, The mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, Shall come down from their ships, They shall stand upon the land,
verse value 2723
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·their·ships" (מֵאֳנִיּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: all, all, pilots·of. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "from·their·ships" (מֵאֳנִיּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם), "oar" (מָשׁ֔וֹט), "mariners" (מַלָּחִ֕ים). The root כל appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·land" (root איל, 238x in Ezekiel); "all" (root כל, 129x in Ezekiel); "they·will·stand" (root עמד, 37x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sea', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 2 words. Full calculation: וְֽיָרְד֞וּ [and·they·shall·come·down] (226) + מֵאֳנִיּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם [from·their·ships] (562) + כֹּ֚ל [all] (50) + תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י [combatants·who·engaged] (790) + מָשׁ֔וֹט [oar] (355) + מַלָּחִ֕ים [mariners] (128) + כֹּ֖ל [all] (50) + חֹבְלֵ֣י [pilots·of] (50) + הַיָּ֑ם [sea] (55) + אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ [to·the·land] (327) + יַעֲמֹֽדוּ [they·will·stand] (130) = 2723.
Rashi
"And they shall stand upon the land." What need have we anymore of ships? To where shall we carry our merchandise?
Radak
"And they shall come down from their ships; upon the land they shall stand." "El" here is like "al" (upon); and likewise "el the mountains he did not eat" (Ezekiel 18:6) — "el" like "al" (upon).
Metzudat David
“All who grasp the oar.” All those accustomed to holding oars, namely the sailors and the crew, would disembark from the ships and stand on land, for they would fear to continue traveling by ship, lest something similar to the incident of that ship befall them. This is a matter of rhetoric.
Metzudat Zion
Those who hold. Those who grasp:
“Oars.” These are the long poles with which they propel the ship.
Malbim
“And they went down from their ships” – all the captains: the *meshutim* are the leaders of the small oars, and the *malachim* are the leaders of the medium-sized ships; and all the “pilots of the sea” are the leaders of the large ships, which is called: “the captain.”
And shall cause their voice to be heard over you, And shall cry bitterly, And shall cast up dust upon their heads, They shall roll themselves in the ashes;
verse value 3426
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "bitter" (מָרָ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·their·heads" (עַל־רָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·they·caused·to·hear" (וְהִשְׁמִ֤יעוּ), "in·their·voice" (בְּקוֹלָ֔ם), "and·they·will·cry" (וְיִזְעֲק֖וּ). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "over·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "and·they·shall·cast·up" (root עלה, 61x in Ezekiel); "and·they·caused·to·hear" (root שמע, 52x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'bitter', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְהִשְׁמִ֤יעוּ [and·they·caused·to·hear] (437) + עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ [over·you] (130) + בְּקוֹלָ֔ם [in·their·voice] (178) + וְיִזְעֲק֖וּ [and·they·will·cry] (199) + מָרָ֑ה [bitter] (245) + וְיַעֲל֤וּ [and·they·shall·cast·up] (122) + עָפָר֙ [dust] (350) + עַל־רָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם [upon·their·heads] (656) + בָּאֵ֖פֶר [in·the·ashes] (283) + יִתְפַּלָּֽשׁוּ [they·shall·roll·themselves] (826) = 3426.
Rashi
Let them wallow. Let them be rolled:
Radak
"And they shall make them hear," [means] they shall roll themselves. Like "roll yourself in ashes," the matter of rolling oneself to be covered in ashes:
Metzudat David
“and they shall make heard.” This means: they shall raise a lament for you with their voices, and cry out with a bitter cry.
"And they raised up dust." Thus was their custom to express grief and mourning:
“יתפלשו” – They shall roll themselves. They shall roll in ashes, and this too is a manner of grief and mourning.
Metzudat Zion
"Let them wallow." The matter of being rolled in the dust and being covered with it is like [the verse] "Roll in the dust" (Micah 1:10).
Malbim
And "they shall make heard"—they shall make heard a voice with bitter crying, and they shall also go up in dust and sit in ashes, as it is stated: "They shall come down from their thrones, all the princes of the sea."
And they shall make themselves utterly bald for you, And gird them with sackcloth, And they shall weep for you in bitterness of soul With bitter lamentation.
verse value 2573
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "bitter" (מָֽר, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·shall·make·bald" (וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 61: to·you, to·you. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·they·shall·make·bald" (וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ), "and·they·will·weep" (וּבָכ֥וּ), "in·bitterness·of·soul" (בְּמַר־נֶ֖פֶשׁ). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·you" (root אל, 204x in Ezekiel); "in·bitterness·of·soul" (root נפש, 42x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sackcloth', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ [and·they·shall·make·bald] (335) + אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ [to·you] (61) + קׇרְחָ֔ה [baldness] (313) + וְחָגְר֖וּ [and·they·will·gird] (223) + שַׂקִּ֑ים [sackcloth] (450) + וּבָכ֥וּ [and·they·will·weep] (34) + אֵלַ֛יִךְ [to·you] (61) + בְּמַר־נֶ֖פֶשׁ [in·bitterness·of·soul] (672) + מִסְפֵּ֥ד [wailing] (184) + מָֽר [bitter] (240) = 2573.
Radak
"And they shall shave you, a shaving." With an aleph in place of a he:
Metzudat David
"And they shall shave them." They will pluck out the hair of their heads, leaving the place bald.
"And they shall weep unto thee." They shall weep over you with bitter grief at the time they perform bitter mourning.
Metzudat Zion
“And they shall shave them.” The matter of plucking out the hair is to leave it smooth, without hair; and so too is the meaning of “kerach” (Leviticus 13).
Qerachah. Like qerachah spelled with a he:
Malbim
"And they shall shave a shaving" – just as one makes a shaving for a corpse, along with a sackcloth belt, weeping, and lamentation.
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for you, And lament over you: Who was there like Tyre, fortified In the midst of the sea?
verse value 1962
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 45 letters. Verse gematria: 1962 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "who?" (מִ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·shall·lament" (וְקוֹנְנ֖וּ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·they·shall·lament" (וְקוֹנְנ֖וּ), "like·Tyre" (כְצ֔וֹר), "like·one·silenced" (כְּדֻמָ֖ה). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "over·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "to·you" (root אל, 204x in Ezekiel); "in·midst·of" (root תוך, 111x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root קון ("and·they·shall·lament") in Ezekiel. First appearance of the root דמה ("like·one·silenced") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'over·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְנָשְׂא֨וּ [and·they·shall·bear] (363) + אֵלַ֤יִךְ [to·you] (61) + בְּנִיהֶם֙ [in·their·wailing] (107) + קִינָ֔ה [lamentation] (165) + וְקוֹנְנ֖וּ [and·they·shall·lament] (218) + עָלָ֑יִךְ [over·you] (130) + מִ֣י [who?] (50) + כְצ֔וֹר [like·Tyre] (316) + כְּדֻמָ֖ה [like·one·silenced] (69) + בְּת֥וֹךְ [in·midst·of] (428) + הַיָּֽם [sea] (55) = 1962.
Rashi
“And they shall bring their sons to you.” Their lament:
Just as it is similar. So too, the name of the chiefs of Edom was called "Dumah," as it is stated: "The burden of Dumah" (Isaiah 21:11). And the Targum says: "There is nothing comparable to it."
Like it. Like its likeness:
Radak
“And they shall bring their sons to you.” The meaning is wailing and mourning; it is another root according to the grammarians, and according to my view, that the yod and ayin of the root are changed to a heh, and I have already elaborated on this in my book Mikhlol, in the section on roots.
“Who is like Tyre, that is comparable in the midst of the sea?” They say in their lamentation: “Who was like Tyre in stature, and who is like her, that she is comparable in the midst of the sea?” And “comparable” [domah] means cut off, as also in “my soul would dwell in dumah [silence]” (Psalms 94:17). And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] rendered it in the Targum: “Who is like Tyre? There is none who resembles her in the midst of the seas.”
Metzudat David
“And they shall lift up for you.” They shall raise against you a lamentation with a voice of wailing customary among them, and they shall mourn over you. And likewise they shall say, “Who is like Tyre,” etc. This means: Who is the city to be esteemed like Tyre, and who is like it, that it is similar to and cut off within the sea, and there is none to compare it to, neither in times of peace nor in times of its downfall?
Metzudat Zion
B'nihem. From the language of mourning and lamentation.
Like the one cut off. The matter of cutting off and desolation is as it is also said: "Also Madmen shall be cut off" (Jeremiah 48:2).
Malbim
"And they shall take up..." [a lament], etc. "Who was like Tyre, ke-dumah" — meaning: who was comparable to Tyre in her tranquility, and who is comparable to her at the time she was silenced in the midst of the sea, in her destruction. (And this explains: "Who is like Tyre?")
When your wares came forth out of the seas, You did fill many peoples; With the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise Did you enrich the kings of the earth.
verse value 3996
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 56 letters. Verse gematria: 3996 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "with·abundance·of" (בְּרֹ֤ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·wares" (עִזְבוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "when·came·forth" (בְּצֵ֤את), "you·filled" (הִשְׂבַּ֖עַתְּ), "your·riches" (הוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙). The root רב appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "when·came·forth" (root יצא, 75x in Ezekiel); "peoples" (root עם, 58x in Ezekiel); "many" (root רב, 52x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root עשר ("you·enriched") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'many', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: בְּצֵ֤את [when·came·forth] (493) + עִזְבוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙ [your·wares] (165) + מִיַּמִּ֔ים [from·seas] (140) + הִשְׂבַּ֖עַתְּ [you·filled] (777) + עַמִּ֣ים [peoples] (160) + רַבִּ֑ים [many] (252) + בְּרֹ֤ב [with·abundance·of] (204) + הוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙ [your·riches] (91) + וּמַ֣עֲרָבַ֔יִךְ [and·your·merchandise] (348) + הֶעֱשַׁ֖רְתְּ [you·enriched] (975) + מַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ [kings·of·earth] (391) = 3996.
Rashi
"When you went out, your belongings..." All of this they will lament over you in their dirge.
Radak
“B’tze’at” – When they went out, “your abandoned ones” – you satisfied many nations, due to the abundance of your merchandise that went out from the sea. That is to say, from you, who dwelled within the sea, you satisfied and enriched many.
Metzudat David
“B’tzeat” – Now he will explain his words, saying: “Behold, even in your prosperity, when your merchandise goes forth by sea, you have satisfied many nations with the abundance of your wares.”
“Barov.” With the abundance of your wealth and your merchandise, you have enriched the kings of the land.
Malbim
“Concerning the going out of your merchandise”: This refers to the goods that belonged to others, which merchants had left with you, and from there they went out to the ends of the earth. “When it went out from the sea”: You satisfied many nations, those who purchased all the goods that had been given to you as a pledge for your own merchandise. This is the wealth of Tyre itself, and its merchandise enriched the kings of the earth, for through the wealth of Tyre all the kings became rich. (Now it explains who is like this):
Now that you are broken by the seas In the depths of the waters, And your merchandise and all your company Are fallen in the midst of you,
verse value 3071
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "time" (עֵ֛ת, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·depths·of·waters" (בְּמַֽעֲמַקֵּי־מָ֑יִם, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "broken" (נִשְׁבֶּ֥רֶת), "in·depths·of·waters" (בְּמַֽעֲמַקֵּי־מָ֑יִם). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·your·midst" (root תוך, 111x in Ezekiel); "they·fell" (root נפל, 58x in Ezekiel); "from·seas" (root ים, 34x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·depths·of·waters', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: עֵ֛ת [time] (470) + נִשְׁבֶּ֥רֶת [broken] (952) + מִיַּמִּ֖ים [from·seas] (140) + בְּמַֽעֲמַקֵּי־מָ֑יִם [in·depths·of·waters] (352) + מַעֲרָבֵ֥ךְ [your·merchandise] (332) + וְכׇל־קְהָלֵ֖ךְ [and·all·your·assembly] (211) + בְּתוֹכֵ֥ךְ [in·your·midst] (448) + נָפָֽלוּ [they·fell] (166) = 3071.
Radak
The time when it was broken by the seas. The time when it would be broken by the seas, all your merchandise and all your assembly fell within you; that is to say, your people. It says: from the seas was your wealth and your riches, and the seas swept away everything.
Metzudat David
“Time is broken.” And now, at this time when it is broken due to the waters in the depths of the sea, behold, your merchandise and all your multitudes—no one is missing; they have all fallen within you.
Malbim
“Time of breaking” means: Just as Your greatness was demonstrated through the sea, so too the time of breaking came from the sea, due to the waters of the sea. And there your merchandise and all your congregation fell, because the people and the property were lost in the depths of the waters.
All the inhabitants of the isles Are appalled at you, And their kings are horribly afraid, They are troubled in their countenance;
verse value 2747
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·their·kings" (וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "they·haired" (שָׂ֣עֲרוּ), "they·thundered" (רָעֲמ֖וּ). The root שער appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "at·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "face" (root פנים, 150x in Ezekiel); "all" (root כל, 129x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'at·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: כֹּ֚ל [all] (50) + יֹשְׁבֵ֣י [dwelling] (322) + הָאִיִּ֔ים [the·isles] (66) + שָׁמְמ֖וּ [they·was·desolate] (386) + עָלָ֑יִךְ [at·you] (130) + וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙ [and·their·kings] (151) + שָׂ֣עֲרוּ [they·haired] (576) + שַׂ֔עַר [gate] (570) + רָעֲמ֖וּ [they·thundered] (316) + פָּנִֽים [face] (180) = 2747.
Rashi
"Re’emu panim." This means "angry countenances." Similarly, in the verse "because of the anger" (1 Samuel 1:6), the word is rendered as such. And likewise, every expression of complaint is termed "tir’emta."
Radak
"All the inhabitants of the isles": Since you were sitting as an island, [the verse says] "all the inhabitants of the other isles were desolate."
And their kings shrank in fear. They were afraid for themselves, lest it befall them as it befell you; the matter of se'ar is known, and it is equivalent in the letters Samekh and Shin.
“They contorted their faces.” This refers to the matter of wrath and anger; similarly, “because of the raging.”
Metzudat David
They have become desolate over you. They marvel at your downfall:
They shuddered with dread. “Trembling shall seize them, and they shall tremble like the wind of a storm, for they shall be afraid lest something happen to them like your calamity, and they shall be angry-faced, like one who is vexed and angry with himself.”
Metzudat Zion
"Shemmo." The matter of astonishment:
“Sh’aru sha’ar.” From the word for “storm” (sa’arah) spelled with a samekh.
"Ramo." The meaning is anger and wrath, and similarly, "because of her anger" (1 Samuel 1:6).
Malbim
"Every" (at first, you satisfied many nations, but) now all the inhabitants of the isles are desolate because of you, as it is stated above: "Now the isles shall tremble on the day of your downfall." (At first, you enriched the kings of the earth, but) now their kings are inwardly horrified, and their faces are contorted outwardly, because they feared that destruction would also come upon the other isles.
The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; You are become a terror, And never shall be any more.’
verse value 2391
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "hiss" (שָׁרְק֖וּ, 4 letters) and the longest is "for·ever" (עַד־עוֹלָֽם, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "traders" (סֹֽחֲרִים֙), "hiss" (שָׁרְק֖וּ). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "you·were" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "at·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "among·the·peoples" (root עם, 58x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'at·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: סֹֽחֲרִים֙ [traders] (318) + בָּֽעַמִּ֔ים [among·the·peoples] (162) + שָׁרְק֖וּ [hiss] (606) + עָלָ֑יִךְ [at·you] (130) + בַּלָּה֣וֹת [terrors] (443) + הָיִ֔ית [you·were] (425) + וְאֵינֵ֖ךְ [and·you·are·not] (87) + עַד־עוֹלָֽם [for·ever] (220) = 2391.
Rashi
"Sharku." Shuvli'r, in the vernacular: This is how one whistles concerning something that has passed and gone away.
Radak
Merchants. It is clear:
Metzudat David
Merchants among the nations. The merchants among the nations raised a cry of whistling against you, which is produced by rounding the lips, and the manner of making it is when they see the loss of something of great value.
You were in a state of distress. You shall be full of alarm:
And you shall not be. You shall not be again, forever, to return to your former state:
Metzudat Zion
"Sharku." The meaning is the emission of a sound by gathering the lips together; similarly, "and its inhabitants shall hiss" (Micah 7).
“Blahut.” It is the reverse of “behalut.”
Malbim
And even the merchants among the nations who are on dry land whistled at you because their trade was lost; you were a horror, like demons, whose existence was only in imagination, and you are not forever, as if you were a demon, a terror, and you lifted your wing and passed from the world forever and ever.
Radak