1Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying, 2“You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; 3and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord Yahweh says:
“You, Tyre, have said,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
4Your borders are in the heart of the seas.
Your builders have perfected your beauty.
5They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir.
They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan.
They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.
7Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt,
that it might be to you for a banner.
Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
8The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers.
Your wise men, Tyre, were in you.
They were your pilots.
9The old men of Gebal
and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you.
All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you
to deal in your merchandise.
10“‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army,
your men of war.
They hung the shield and helmet in you.
They showed your beauty.
11The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around,
and valiant men were in your towers.
They hung their shields on your walls all around.
They have perfected your beauty.
12“‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
13“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
14“‘“They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules.
15“‘“The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.
16“‘“Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
17“‘“Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.
18“‘“Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
19“‘“Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise.
20“‘“Dedan was your merchant in precious saddle blankets for riding.
21“‘“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.
22“‘“The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the best of all spices, all precious stones, and gold.
23“‘“Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders. 24These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in cedar chests of rich clothing bound with cords, among your merchandise.
25“‘“The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise.
You were replenished
and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.
26Your rowers have brought you into great waters.
The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.
27Your riches, your wares, your merchandise,
your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams,
the dealers in your merchandise,
and all your men of war who are in you,
with all your company which is among you,
will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.
28At the sound of the cry of your pilots,
the pasture lands will shake.
29All who handle the oars,
the mariners and all the pilots of the sea,
will come down from their ships.
They will stand on the land,
30and will cause their voice to be heard over you,
and will cry bitterly.
They will cast up dust on their heads.
They will wallow in the ashes.
31They will make themselves bald for you,
and clothe themselves with sackcloth.
They will weep for you in bitterness of soul,
with bitter mourning.
32In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you,
and lament over you, saying,
‘Who is there like Tyre,
like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?’
33When your wares came from the seas,
you filled many peoples.
You enriched the kings of the earth
with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.
34In the time that you were broken by the seas,
in the depths of the waters,
your merchandise and all your company fell within you.
35All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you,
and their kings are horribly afraid.
They are troubled in their face.
36The merchants among the peoples hiss at you.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will be no more.”’”
Ezek 27:29 "Ships" - Article on Seafaring in the ancient world
The history of shipping and maritime activity in the biblical world roughly divides into several eras: pre-flood, post-flood until approximately 3000 B.C., 3000 B.C. until approximately 1500 B.C., and approximately 1500 B.C. until the first century A.D.
Before the flood, the descendants of Adam and Eve likely utilized the four rivers (Gen. 1:7; 2:10-14) flowing out of Eden (Gen. 2:8) via anything that could float (cf. Tubal-cain, who originated early technological advances [Gen. 4:22]). Although likely a floating repository, or barge, by far the largest ship (Gen. 6:14-16) in the entire Bible (that could not be matched until modern times in tonnage) is Noah's ark (cf. Gen. 6:19-21). Some estimate the tonnage of Noah's ark and the Queen Mary may have been comparable (cf. Gen. 6:15; 7:23b).
In the post-flood ancient near east, river ways would have been utilized to explore and expand (cf. Gen. 11:2), especially after the division of the nations after the Tower (or ziggurat) of Babel (Gen. 10:32). The earliest evidence of shipping along the 750 miles of the Nile, dating from approximately 3000 B.C. forward, demonstrate reed-made, flat-bottomed, square-ended vessels, the likes of which may have transported the massive stones for pyramid construction. Vessels of reeds (cf. Job 9:26) developed into rounded-bottomed designs with pointed and raised bows and sterns. The Nile area was abundant with reeds for ship-building, and the Nile's current would allow travel north with relative ease, with prevailing southerly winds allowing travel by sail to the south. Larger vessels could be fitted with rowers, who could have driven north or south by oars.
The earliest evidence of Mesopotamian-based shipping includes a clay model of a bowl-like design, with a simple bow and stern, dating to approximately 3400 B.C. From 3000 B.C. onward, overseas trade with East Africa and even India transpired through the Persian Gulf regularly, on vessels ranging in various capacities, even up to 28 tons.
From approximately 1500 B.C. onward, Phoenician (2 Chr. 9:21), Cypriot (called "Kittim" in Num. 24:24), Cretan (called "Caphtor," and the origin of the "Philistines," , then Achaean, or southern Greek, ship building expanded and developed, for maritime (cf. Jon. 1:3) and military purposes (cf. Dan. 11:40). Ships in this era increased in size, with sail and oar propulsion, with Corinth building the first "triremes," ships with three decks of oarsmen, in approximately 700 B.C.
Solomon (1 Kgs. 9:26) and Jehoshaphat (1 Kgs. 21:48) built, with Phoenician (1 Kgs. 5:12) help (1 Kgs. 9:27; 10:11,22), actual trading fleets, Jehoshaphat's fleet being destroyed (2 Chr. 20:36,37).
Acts 27 paints the fullest, most detailed depiction of shipping in the
biblical world of the first century, demonstrating a vessel capable of transporting 276 persons (27:31) with cargo (27:18,38), with multiple tackling (27:19), anchors (27:40), rudders (27:40), and sails (27:40).