This verse shows that Tyre’s fame and Damascus’s resources created a dynamic commercial bond that exemplified the breadth of wealth in the ancient Near East.
“Damascus was also your customer because of the abundance of your goods, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth, because of the wine of Helbon and white wool” (v.18). In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel lists Damascus among the many trading partners of Tyre. Damascus, an ancient city located northeast of Tyre in what is now Syria, was known for its strategic position and commercial importance. By Ezekiel’s era in the 6th century BC, Damascus had already existed for over a thousand years and stood as a key regional power in the Aramean kingdom until it was conquered by the Assyrians around 732 BC. In Ezekiel’s vision, the city’s ongoing trade relationship with Tyre demonstrates Tyre’s vast economic network, reaching inland across the Levant.
In highlighting “the abundance of all kinds of wealth” (v.18), Ezekiel indicates that Damascus ventured into the lucrative trade of luxurious commodities. This involved items such as “the wine of Helbon,” a notable product from the area north of Damascus renowned for its vineyards. Wine served not only as a beverage but was also a currency of sorts, symbolizing wealth and cultural prominence (see also Hosea 2:8 where agricultural produce and precious metals display prosperity). The phrase “white wool” suggests the involvement of fine textiles, as wool, like silver and gold, signified high value and was frequently linked to clothing and commercial exchange Hosea 2:9 where wool is portrayed as an essential commodity). Together, these items underlined the breadth of Tyre’s trading scope, as well as Damascus’s role as a supplier of some of those coveted luxury goods.
Through the relationship between Tyre and Damascus, Ezekiel portrays how wealth and abundance could become a snare, luring people toward pride or complacency—leaning on possessions rather than seeking the LORD. Tyre, though richly supplied through its commercial ties, would eventually fall under judgment for its arrogance and idolatry (Ezekiel 28:2). Nevertheless, the mention of such abundant trade is a testament to the bustling activity between these two influential city-states, illustrating the depth of Tyre’s global connections.
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Ezekiel 27:18 meaning
“Damascus was also your customer because of the abundance of your goods, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth, because of the wine of Helbon and white wool” (v.18). In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel lists Damascus among the many trading partners of Tyre. Damascus, an ancient city located northeast of Tyre in what is now Syria, was known for its strategic position and commercial importance. By Ezekiel’s era in the 6th century BC, Damascus had already existed for over a thousand years and stood as a key regional power in the Aramean kingdom until it was conquered by the Assyrians around 732 BC. In Ezekiel’s vision, the city’s ongoing trade relationship with Tyre demonstrates Tyre’s vast economic network, reaching inland across the Levant.
In highlighting “the abundance of all kinds of wealth” (v.18), Ezekiel indicates that Damascus ventured into the lucrative trade of luxurious commodities. This involved items such as “the wine of Helbon,” a notable product from the area north of Damascus renowned for its vineyards. Wine served not only as a beverage but was also a currency of sorts, symbolizing wealth and cultural prominence (see also Hosea 2:8 where agricultural produce and precious metals display prosperity). The phrase “white wool” suggests the involvement of fine textiles, as wool, like silver and gold, signified high value and was frequently linked to clothing and commercial exchange Hosea 2:9 where wool is portrayed as an essential commodity). Together, these items underlined the breadth of Tyre’s trading scope, as well as Damascus’s role as a supplier of some of those coveted luxury goods.
Through the relationship between Tyre and Damascus, Ezekiel portrays how wealth and abundance could become a snare, luring people toward pride or complacency—leaning on possessions rather than seeking the LORD. Tyre, though richly supplied through its commercial ties, would eventually fall under judgment for its arrogance and idolatry (Ezekiel 28:2). Nevertheless, the mention of such abundant trade is a testament to the bustling activity between these two influential city-states, illustrating the depth of Tyre’s global connections.