Ezekiel 27:21
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights a surprising exchange: these desert nomads, known for their independence and simple lifestyle, weren't just customers but essential "merchants" to Tyre. They provided the very livestock that sustained the great city, revealing how even seemingly "lesser" peoples played a vital role in the global economy of the ancient world.
This passage is part of a powerful lamentation over the city of Tyre, renowned for its wealth and dominance in trade. Ezekiel describes the vast network of merchants and nations who did business with Tyre, highlighting the city's extensive reach. The verse specifically mentions Arabian tribes, particularly the nomadic people of Kedar, who supplied Tyre with essential livestock like lambs, rams, and goats, exchanging them for Tyrian goods.
We often think of ancient trade routes as bustling with caravans laden with exotic spices and silks. But what about the humble shepherd?
This verse shines a light on a less obvious, yet crucial, part of Tyre's vast trade network: the pastoral peoples of Arabia and Kedar.
Shepherds as Merchants
Ever wondered how the flow of goods actually worked between different cultures? This verse reveals a specific kind of partnership.
The phrase "merchants of thy hand" (or "occupied with thee" in some translations) offers a fascinating glimpse into the economic relationship between Tyre and the Arabian tribes.
A Two-Way Street
Understand the original words
`ărāḇ · Hebrew Proper Noun
A nomadic region and its people, generally referring to the desert territories of the Arabian Peninsula, often associated with trade routes and tribal leadership.
nāśî’ · Hebrew Noun
The title for tribal chieftains or leaders, often denoting those with significant authority or influence over a people or region.
qēḏār · Hebrew Proper Noun
A nomadic people descended from Ishmael, often associated with herds of livestock and living in tents in the wilderness regions.
Ezekiel's vivid description of Tyre's vast trade network, including its dealings with Arabian and Kedarite merchants, highlights the city's immense wealth and the global reach of its commerce just before its catastrophic downfall.
c. 667–626 BC
Assyrian Empire controls Arabian regions
The Assyrian king Assurbanipal's inscriptions mention the nomadic tribes of Kedar dwelling in the region between the Gulf of Aqaba and Babylon, indicating Assyrian influence or control over these Arab groups.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile. This event significantly impacts the geopolitical landscape and the prophetic ministry of Ezekiel.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, with a further deportation of Judeans. Ezekiel's prophecy, delivered during the exile, addresses the sins and future judgment of Judah and surrounding nations, including Tyre.
c. 585 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Tyre
Ezekiel delivers prophecies against the wealthy Phoenician city-state of Tyre, detailing its impending destruction due to its pride and exploitative trade practices. This siege lasted 13 years and resulted in significant devastation for Tyre.
This verse identifies Kedar as a son of Ishmael, providing the genealogical background for the 'princes of Kedar' mentioned in Ezekiel.
Isaiah 60:7This passage beautifully echoes Ezekiel, stating that 'all the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you' (referring to Jerusalem), highlighting the pastoral wealth and traditional trade of the Kedarites.
Jeremiah 49:28Jeremiah also prophesies against Kedar, mentioning their wealth in flocks and their nomadic lifestyle, which directly relates to the trade goods described in Ezekiel.
Psalm 120:5This psalm poetically associates the speaker with the 'tents of Kedar,' emphasizing their nomadic, tent-dwelling culture, which was intrinsically linked to their sheep and goat herding.
gillEzekiel 27:21: "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants."
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar,.... Arabia was a large country, divided into three parts, Arabia Deserts, or the desert; Arabia Petraea, or the rocky; and Arabia Felix, or the happy. Kedar was in Arabia Petrea; its inhabitants were called Kedarenes, descended from Kedar, a son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13 , they were chiefly shepherds, and dwelt in t…
bensonEzekiel 27:21: "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants."
Ezekiel 27:21-24 . Arabia, &c., occupied with thee — Hebrew, ידן סחרי , were the merchants of thy hand; that is, they took off thy manufactures (see Ezekiel 27:15 ) in exchange for cattle, in which their substance chiefly consisted. Of Kedar and its flocks, see notes on Isaiah 21:16-17 ; Isaiah 60:7 . The merchants of Sheba and Raamah — These were peopl…
The verse highlights a surprising exchange: these desert nomads, known for their independence and simple lifestyle, weren't just customers but essential "merchants" to Tyre. They provided the very livestock that sustained the great city, revealing how even seemingly "lesser" peoples played a vital role in the global economy of the ancient world.
This passage is part of a powerful lamentation over the city of Tyre, renowned for its wealth and dominance in trade. Ezekiel describes the vast network of merchants and nations who did business with Tyre, highlighting the city's extensive reach. The verse specifically mentions Arabian tribes, particularly the nomadic people of Kedar, who supplied Tyre with essential livestock like lambs, rams, and goats, exchanging them for Tyrian goods.
This passage is part of a powerful lamentation over the city of Tyre, renowned for its wealth and dominance in trade. Ezekiel describes the vast network of merchants and nations who did business with Tyre, highlighting the city's extensive reach. The verse specifically mentions Arabian tribes, particularly the nomadic people of Kedar, who supplied Tyre with essential livestock like lambs, rams, and goats, exchanging them for Tyrian goods.
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"Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you." — The verse highlights a surprising exchange: these desert nomads, known for their independence and simple lifestyle, weren't just customers but essential "merchants" to Tyre. They provided the very li…
