יחזקאל, פרק כ״ז, פסוק כ״ג

Tyre’s vast and intricate trade network extended across numerous regions, drawing merchants from all corners of the ancient world. Among its trading partners were the western cities of Haran, Canneh, and Eden [ביאור שטיינזלץ], which early translations identify as Harwan, Netzivin, and Hadiv [רד״ק]. The people from these areas functioned as merchants of Sheba, a title they earned because it was their regular practice to travel to the land of Sheba to acquire goods [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

Tyre’s commercial reach also involved Assyria and Chilmad, though the exact nature of Chilmad is understood in two distinct ways. The first approach views it as a specific geographic location. Based on ancient translations, it is identified as the nation of Media, pairing the great empires of Assyria and Media together as major trading partners with Tyre [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק].

The second approach understands Chilmad not as a place, but as a concept denoting habit and learning. According to this view, the Assyrians were deeply accustomed to constantly bringing their trade to Tyre [רד״ק]. This interpretation highlights the sheer economic dominance of the city. Assyrian merchants became so conditioned to purchasing goods from Tyre that they completely stopped buying merchandise directly from its original source in Sheba. Instead, goods were first transported from Sheba to Tyre, and the Assyrians would then purchase them there, simply to guarantee that their acquisitions carried the prestigious status of being Tyrian merchandise [מלבי״ם].

The gathering of these diverse nations underscores that they were all active merchants maintaining direct and continuous trade relations with Tyre's sprawling commercial empire [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].