Eze 28: "In his inaccessible and impregnable island fortress,
the prince of Tyre mocked at any threat to his security. He was proud in his
achievements; insolent in his challenge to others; wise in his own conceits. The
king aspired to equality with God (v 2). In that, he followed the pattern of
Adam in sinning and being ejected from the Garden of Eden. He is warned that he
is but Adam (v 2) and the fate of Adam was to be his. He felt that he was the
personification of wisdom and beauty -- so was Adam (vv 4-12)! He believe that
he was divine and glorious (Eze 28:2), but Adam was really that. He believed
that he possessed divine wisdom (v 3), but Adam was taught by the Cherub (v 14).
And as Adam sinned and was ejected from the Garden, so would the king of Tyre
from his position because of his great sin (Eze 26:2). This is a dirge of great
irony, satirical in the extreme, in which the record of the one great sin of
Adam is used as a similitude of the one great mistake of Ithobal. Figuratively,
he had been in Eden because he reflected the sin of Adam; so has everybody who
sins similarly (Eze 31:8).
"So the voice of the prophet sounded forth in judgement
against the King of Tyre. (1) The pride of the king of Tyre: vv 1-10. (2) The
dirge over the king of Tyre: vv 11-19. (3) The doom of Zidon: vv 20-23. (4) The
removal of these 'briers' from Israel: vv 24-26. This chapter concludes the
section on the dirge against Tyre" (GEM).
Eze 28:2
RULER: Heb title, "nagid", otherwise used only of
Jewish kings, and prophetically of Messiah (Dan 9:25) (Tes 46:175). The king of
Tyre had stolen this title for himself. He was claiming to be the rival of the
king of Judah (or perhaps now, his lawful replacement). Eden, or paradise, was
now in Tyre.
"The diabolical prince of Tyre" (AG, Tes 46:175): A
bull-cherub sphinx set in a sculptured mounted base. Prob repr the king of Tyre,
an object of veneration. Phoenician cherub-sphinxes usually have jewels upon
their chests (v 13). The Tyrian god, Melkart, sig "king of the city" (v 12). The
worship of Melkart was the worship of Yahweh under another name, with the temple
on the same plan, cherubim (v 14), etc. This worship -- a reasonable imitation
at the beginning (cp 1Ki 5:3,5,7) -- became utterly corrupt and debased later
(WBS 156-158).
I AM A GOD: Like Eve, and Adam, in the Garden of Eden,
the king of Tyre was puffed up in pride, desiring to become like the Elohim (Gen
3:5; cp Phi 2:6). // 2Th 2:4: "He will oppose and will exalt himself over
everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in
God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God."
Eze 28:3
DANIEL: Throughout the book, Ezekiel spells this name
as "Danel". This is also the name of a mythological hero of Canaan, a man-god of
great wisdom (Tes 46:177). Economic success implied mastery over this god
Danel.
Eze 28:10
YOU WILL DIE: Can "Satan" die (vv 18,19)?
Eze 28:12
THE MODEL OF PERFECTION: Translated "the serpent of the
pattern" by AG (Tes 46:177). The king of Tyre, in his blasphemy, was assuming
the role of the serpent in the garden of Eden.
Eze 28:13
Addressed to king of Tyre: Eze 28:1,12. Generally, consider
the parallels with Isa 14 (king of Babylon). Archaeological evidence of a
cherub/sphinx at Tyre, with the head of the king, animal's body, and sitting on
a mountain. Embedded in the body are the 9 jewels. Inscriptions call the king of
Tyre "Lord of the Heavens", describe Tyre as "the garden of God". Bas reliefs
show "cherubim" guarding Tyre: cp Gen 3:24.
YOU WERE IN EDEN: The king of Tyre was as one of the
trees in the garden of Eden (cp Eze 31:3,8,9). Eden covered an extensive area
(Gen 2:8; Eze 27:23).
EDEN: A geographical region, not a time! See Lesson,
Eden, Garden of.
EVERY PRECIOUS STONE: 9 of the 12 stones in High
Priest's breastplate. See Exo 28:17-30, // Exo 39:10-14. Cp Rev 21:19,20. The
third row, omitted here, is supplied in the LXX (WS 172).
ADORNED YOU: An allusion to the stones of the High
Priest's breastplate (Exo 39:10-14), called "stones of fire" (v 14) because of
Shekinah Glory in their midst. Ref divine favor enjoyed by king of Tyre in
helping Solomon build the temple (2Sa 5:11; 1Ki 5:1-18).
Eze 28:14
Vv 14-16: It is clear that there was a time when Tyre was
faithful -- extremely so, it would seem. As a result the turning away that has
taken place is more serious in God's eyes (cp Heb 6:4-6).
YOU WERE ANOINTED AS A GUARDIAN CHERUB: "With an
anointed cherub I placed you" (RSV). Or "thou art the anointed cherub that
covereth" (AV): meaning 'you have cast your covering wings of protection over
Israel' (cp Mat 23:37; Psa 36:7; 91:4).
GUARDIAN CHERUB: Cp cherubim in Gen 3:24, guarding the
way to the tree of life. Or "covering cherub", that overshadowed the mercy seat
(Exo 37:7-9; 25:19,20).
HOLY MOUNT OF GOD: Zion, where temple was built: Isa
2:2,3; 56:7; Eze 20:40.
FIERY STONES: The breastplate stones, reflecting the
light of the burning Glory of God, in the Most Holy place.
Eze 28:15
Cp Adam and Eve in garden of Eden: sinless, sinning, driven
out, cherubim...
BLAMELESS: Heb "tamim". Sw used of men in Gen 6:9;
17:1; Job 1:1.
CREATED: Heb "bara" may sig "prepare, form". Used of
other peoples in Eze 21:30; Psa 102:18.
Eze 28:16
AND I EXPELLED YOU, O GUARDIAN CHERUB, FROM AMONG THE FIERY
STONES: "And the covering cherub drove you out from the midst of the stones
of fire" (RSV).
Eze 28:19
AND WILL BE NO MORE: "And shall be no more for ever"
(RSV).