Sailing and Ships

Back to the Phoenicians, the ancient Phoenicians were the great sailors or mariners in the world of that time. The Sea Peoples came into the Mediterranean region in approximately 1200 B. C. Tyre and Sidon became strong harbors in the Mediterranean.

Hiram king of Tyre sent cedar trees, carpenters, and masons to build a palace for David after David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites. 2 Samuel 5:11-12. Hiram also supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress by rafts floated along the Mediterranean from the Lebanon region to the Israelite coast, then inland to Jerusalem to finally build the temple. 1 Kings 5:7-12. Solomon supplied skilled sailors with Hiram to maintain a fleet on the Red Sea, and they went down to Ophir.
1 Kings 9:26-28; 10:11. Hiram supplied a fleet for Solomon from the eastern part of the Mediterrean all the way to Tarshish on the south of Spain. 1 Kings 10:22. The sailors returning from Tarshish to this area brought gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 2 Chronicles 9:21.

Ezekiel 27 contains a very extensive description of a magnificent ship which the skilled sailors of Tyre constructed and sailed on the high seas. Then, a terrible storm crushed the ship and it sank into the depths. Isaiah 23 has a long oracle concerning Tyre with much information about seafaring in this region.

Jonah 1 records the famous journey of Jonah from Joppa to Tarshish. A powerful storm dashed against the ship, and it would have been overthrown if Jonah had not been cast into the sea. Similarly, Psalm 104:23-32 relates an experience in which a horrific storm quakes the hearts of skilled sailors on the high seas. They cry to the Lord in their trouble, and the Lord delivered them.

The New Testament also contains significant texts about sailors and sailing. Paul's missionary journeys involve traveling on the Mediterranean. Acts 27-28 relates Paul' fated trip on his way to Rome, and only by God's grace is he and his fellow-travelers delivered. Hebrews 6:19 compares the hope of Christians with a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. James 3:4-5 compares the tongue with a rudder of a ship.

I have not had the privilege of spending much time on the high seas. I have been in ferries for several hours, but have not been on cruises. I hope you have. The oceans of the world are vast and marvelous and sometime dangerous. It is amazing to me that many human beings have learned and now master sailing and ships and boats. I hope YOU enjoy this endeavor. There are many lessons to learn from this in scripture.

Share your ideas and your thoughts. Let me hear from you.

John Willis