Ezekiel 28, A Cherub In Tyre

Ezekiel has been relaying messages from YHWH regarding various nations around Judah. In the last two chapters, that message has focused on Tyre. That message continues, first with a message for Tyre and then an accompanying message for nearby Sidon. (Mackie covers this chapter in session 16 of his Bible Project class.)

Tyre and Sidon, were -- and still are -- major ports on the Mediterranean Sea, northwest of Judah. Today they are part of Lebanon.

Ezekiel 28:1-5, In the heart of the seas

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

"`In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; 

I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." 

But you are a man and not a god, 

though you think you are as wise as a god. 

Are you wiser than Daniel? 

Is no secret hidden from you?

By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself 

and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.

By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, 

and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud.  

The ruler of Tyre, proud of its seagoing trade, acts like a god. That arrogance will be brought down.

Back in chapter 14, we briefly discussed the identification of Daniel among the three righteous men mentioned in that chapter. (See Ezekiel 14:12-14.) That issue arises again here -- is this Daniel the Jewish prophet contemporary with Ezekiel? Or is he an ancient Near Eastern wise man, Danel? Commentators Alexander and Duguid lean towards the prophet of the book of Daniel but admit the identification is not certain.

Ezekiel 28:6-10, Foreigners against your beauty

 "`Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

"`Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god,

I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; 

they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom 

and pierce your shining splendor.

They will bring you down to the pit, 

and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas.

Will you then say, "I am a god," in the presence of those who kill you? 

You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.

You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. 

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"  

Foreigners (most likely Babylon) will conquer Tyre. In verse 2, the ruler of Tyre is proud of his throne in the "heart of the seas"; here he will be drag down into the "heart of the seas."

Ezekiel 28:11-16, A funeral dirge for Tyre

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

"`You  were the model of perfection, 

full of wisdom and perfect in  beauty.

You were in Eden, the garden of God; 

every precious stone adorned you: 

ruby, topaz and emerald, 

chrysolite, onyx and jasper, 

sapphire, turquoise and beryl. 

Your settings and mountings were made of gold; 

on the day you were created they were prepared.

You were anointed as a guardian cherub, 

for so I ordained you. 

You were on the holy mount of God; 

you walked among the fiery stones.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created

till wickedness was found in you.

Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence,

and you sinned. 

So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, 

and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.   

Tyre had everything it could want, a version of Eden. Indeed, the king of Tyre is described as having resided, as a cherub, in Eden!  Commentators disagree on the meaning of this -- is the king of Tyre being identified as the serpent (nachash) of Eden? Or is that evil creature behind the king's violence, sin and eventual disgrace? 

A reminder: the Hebrew cherub has lost its fearsome meaning in modern English. The cherubim were frightening creatures that guarded the throne of YHWH or, in other ANE religions, guarded the throne of a god. It is possible (says Alexander, p. 883) that the king of Tyre regards himself as the god Melkart 

 or as a cherub guarding Melkart's throne.

The Greek Septuagint differs just a little from the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT) in this passage. The NIV follows the MT, which lists nine stones adorning this creature. Those nine stones correspond to rows 1, 4 and 2. respectively, of the high priest's breastplate in Exodus 28:17-20. But the Septuagint lists twelve, not nine, stones adorning this creature. The Septuagint's list of stones is

sardius, topaz, emerald,

carbuncle, sapphire, jasper. 

amber, agate, amethyst.

chrysolite, beryl, onyx, 

which corresponds exactly to the stones on the high priest's garment in Exodus. Mackie suggests a sort of anti-Eden occurring here, as a rebellious king echoes the rebellious serpent of Eden and even wears the mantle of the ancient high priest. Alexander views the Septuagint version as a later corruption.

Ezekiel 28:17-19, A funeral dirge for Tyre. continued

Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, 

and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. 

So I threw you to the earth; 

I made a spectacle of you before kings.   

By your many sins and dishonest trade 

you have desecrated your sanctuaries. 

So I made a fire come out from you, 

and it consumed you, 

and I reduced you to ashes on the ground

in the sight of all who were watching.

All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; 

you have come to a horrible end 

and will be no more.'"  

Tyre's pride leads to a visible defeat, so all the nations can watch.

Ezekiel 28:20-24, Sidon too

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her and say: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

"`I am  against you, O Sidon, 

and I will gain glory within you. 

They will know that I am the LORD, 

when I inflict punishment on her 

and show myself holy within her.

I will send a plague upon her 

and make blood flow in her streets. 

The slain will fall within her,

 with the sword against her on every side. 

Then they will know that I am the LORD.   

"`No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.   

Sidon, just a little north of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast, now gets God's attention and judgment.

Ezekiel 28:25-26, A later return

"`This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.'" 

But the people of Israel will later be returned from their dispersion among the nations. This short passage gives a brief interlude between the previous judgment of five nations (Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre/Sidon) and the coming judgment against the ancient enemy, Egypt.