Transitioning from the physical materials that built the magnificent ship representing the city of Tyre, the metaphor now focuses on its human crew. A clear division of labor exists on board, separated by skill, social standing, and geography. The primary approach among commentators is that men from the regions of Sidon and Arvad served as the rowers who propelled the vessel. According to [מלבי״ם], this arrangement shows that Tyre relied on foreign nations for its daily operations. Conversely, [אברבנאל] views this as a testament to the ship's incredible luxury. Instead of using simple laborers for the physically demanding task of rowing, the ship employed respected merchants from Sidon and Arvad who were already highly skilled in maritime travel [מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, an ancient translation cited by [רד״ק] suggests that the specific goal of these foreign rowers was to transport valuable goods directly into the city.
While the physical labor was handled by outsiders, the complex and demanding task of navigation was reserved for the local citizens. Addressing the city directly [רד״ק, מצודת דוד], the narrative highlights that Tyre relied entirely on its own wise men for this critical role. Unlike rowing, steering a ship requires deep intellect and strategy, and Tyre possessed enough local talent that it never needed to import wisdom from other lands [רד״ק, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In a broader metaphorical sense, [מלבי״ם] explains that these navigators represent the actual leaders, ministers, and kings who guided the city. The practical duties of these skilled sailors involved working with the ship's rigging, as their title is derived from the word for rope [מצודת ציון]. They were responsible for pulling the sail ropes to catch the wind at the perfect angle, a task requiring immense expertise and precision [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Additionally, these experts acted as captains, firmly holding the rudder to steer the vessel and maintain its proper course through the open sea [רש״י, רד״ק].