Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 27:6

6 Of the oaks of Bashan they made thine oares: the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim.

Of Pines, say some of Chestnut-tre[illegible: 2 letters], say others; but, since Oakes, and those of Bashan, are famous in Sacred Dendrology, I know not why we should not keep to our own version, since the primary notation of the Heb. leads us to it.

As we read these words, there arise many difficulties in the expounding them, if the conjecture of the Learned Bochart be well considered, 'twill seem very probable, the words would be better rendred thus; Thy benches they have made of Ivory with box brought out, &c. For the Isles of Chi[illegible: 1 letter]tim afforded much and large box trees, whereas Ivory, or the Elephants tooth, we know, is the Merchandize of other Countreys, and the Elephant a Forreigner to all the parts of Europe; nor are the Teeth of Elephants of that largeness to afford breadth for s[illegible: 1 letter]ats, and benches, nor shall we find any such company of As[illegible: 1 letter]hurites, if we inquire for them. I shall therefore subscribe to that Learned Man in the opinion, That here are two words read divided, and by mistake Translated as divided words, which ought to have been read in one word, [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 span] 46. [illegible: 1 span] [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 span] and so translated as 'tis in Isa. 41.19. where we translate [non-Latin text not transcribed] box, then all is plain, and the sense this, That from the Isles, and parts about the Ionean, Aegean, and other Seas of the Mediterrane, where this Box Tree is a Native, as in Corsica, Apulia, &c. and of great growth, and firmness, fit to saw into boards for benches, they were conveyed to Tyrus, where their artists inlaid these box boards with Ivory, and made them beautiful seats in their Gallies, and Ships.

Marginal references: Or, they have made thy hatches of ivory well troden.; [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 span] 46. [illegible: 1 span] [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 span]; Heb. the daughter.