Ezekiel 27 - Summary

Place of exile where Ezekiel received his visions and prophesied

City whose destruction Ezekiel prophesied and saw in visions

Egypt plays a significant role throughout the Bible, from the time of Abraham to the flight of the Holy Family. Joseph was sold into slavery there and rose to become second to Pharaoh, saving his family during famine. The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years before God delivered them through Moses in the Exodus. Jesus' family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod, fulfilling the prophecy "Out of Egypt I called my son."

Persia (modern Iran) was a major empire that conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. King Cyrus issued the decree permitting the temple's reconstruction. The books of Esther and Daniel are set partly in the Persian court. Nehemiah served as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes before returning to rebuild Jerusalem's walls.

Tarshish was a distant port city, possibly in Spain or another western Mediterranean location. Jonah tried to flee to Tarshish to escape God's call to go to Nineveh. It was known for its ships and trade in precious metals. King Solomon had a fleet of ships of Tarshish.

Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and plays a significant role in biblical history. It was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus had his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ and was converted, becoming the apostle Paul. The prophet Elijah was told to anoint Hazael as king of Syria in Damascus. The city is mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Arabia was the large peninsula east of the Red Sea. Paul went to Arabia after his conversion, possibly for a time of reflection and preparation. Mount Sinai is said to be in Arabia. The Queen of Sheba came from Arabia to hear Solomon's wisdom.

Haran was a city in northern Mesopotamia where Abraham's father Terah settled and died. Abraham left here at God's call to go to Canaan. Jacob later fled here to escape Esau and worked for his uncle Laban for twenty years, marrying Leah and Rachel.