Verse 9
9. Gebal ( Gu-ub-li) or, Byblos (Psalms 83:7; Joshua 13:5; 1 Kings 5:18) A celebrated city lying a little to the south of Arvad but north of Tyre and Sidon, constantly mentioned in the campaigns of the Assyrian kings from the ninth to the seventh centuries B.C. It is also supposed to be prominent in the Tel-el-Amarna letters, cir. 1400 B.C., under the form Gubla though this may refer to another coast city, Gabula (Petrie, History, ii, p. 314). It was celebrated throughout the whole world for its worship of the goddess Ishtar (Ashteroth). The prophet represents the wisest men and officers ( ancients, that is, elders) of this distinguished city serving on the great ship Tyre in inferior positions.
All the ships of the sea… were in thee The bold figure of Tyre as a ship gives place to a more realistic description of the harbor and city, especially of the city bazaars.
Occupy thy merchandise Carry on thy trade. Kautzsch.
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