The Metaphor of Tyre as a ship in Ezekiel 27: Ezekiel’s Resistance against the Neo-Babylonian Empire

Abstract

Throughout the Tyrian oracles, Tyre is depicted in the midst of the sea. In Ezekiel 27, Tyre as the center of the world trade maintains her wealth through her trade and merchandise. Against their public transcript, Ezekiel highlights the center of Judah and the land of Israel in Ezek 27:17. In the trading list of Ezek 27:12–26a, Ezekiel omits Babylon. Rather, he locates Judah and the land of Israel in the center of the list. According to Mario Liverani’s analysis of the trading list, the list reflects King Josiah’s period. During the period of King Josiah, the economic status of the kingdom of Judah was developed. By evoking the restoration period by King Josiah, Ezekiel accentuates the reality that the center of the world is not Babylon, but Judah and the land of Israel.