Ezekiel 27:8-9

Ezekiel 27:8-9

[8] The inhabitants  of Zidon  and Arvad  were thy mariners:  thy wise  men, O Tyrus,  that were in thee, were thy pilots.  [9] The ancients  of Gebal  and the wise  men thereof were in thee thy calkers:  all the ships  of the sea  with their mariners  were in thee to occupy  thy merchandise. 

What does Ezekiel 27:8-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Strong men from Sidon and Arvad, other neighboring Phoenician towns, were this ship"s rowers, and its pilots were wise men. The Phoenicians were peerless in their seamanship in antiquity. The repairmen on board were also wise men from the famous elders of Gebal (Byblos in Lebanon). All other trading peoples cooperated with Tyre because it was the leading merchant marine power of its day.
"The description of every lavish detail of the trading vessel that represents the city of Tyre is expressed as an elaboration of Tyre"s opinion of her own matchlessness: "I am perfect in beauty" (3)." [1]