Revelation 18:12-13; The Merchandise (2)

Revelation 18:12-13 (KJV)  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 

Gold, silver, precious stones and pearls. Gold was imported from Spain during the first century; when those mines were depleted, it came from western Romania. This metal adorned the homes of wealthy families in Rome and was used to make regal and religious objects.

Silver also originated in Spain and was used to embellish couches, cups, and plates. Precious stones generally came from India and were cut and polished in Alexandria. They were placed in rings and expensive drinking vessels. Pearls were gathered from the bottom of the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean.

Fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet cloth. This category includes expensive articles of clothing. Instead of clothing made of wool, rich people would wear linen that came from Alexandria, Scythopolis (Beth-Shean), and Laodicea. Purple was produced from a shellfish or from the root of a Eurasian plant called “madder.” It was expensive to produce and therefore considered extremely valuable. Lydia was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira (Acts 16:14). Silk produced in China, although costly, was available in abundance. Josephus remarks that the victorious armed forces parading in front of Vespasian and Titus were dressed in garments made of silk. Scarlet cloth was likewise an expensive item. Scarlet produced from the berry of the kermes oak was used to dye the cloth.

All citrus-scented wood and every vessel made of ivory, every vessel of very precious wood and bronze and iron and marble. Citrus-scented wood was so costly that it was only found in the form of tables in the homes of the most affluent citizens. Cicero bought such a table and reportedly paid 500,000 sesterces, an amount that was sufficient to purchase a large estate. The citron tree grew in North Africa and “was much prized for its veining, which in the best specimens simulated the eyes of a peacock’s tail, or the stripes of the tiger and spots of the panther.”

Ivory derived from the tusks of elephants was used lavishly on countless articles ranging from household items to furniture. Precious wood included ebony, cedar, and cypress, because these varieties resisted decay and repelled insects. The wood was used to make furniture and panels for doors and walls. In ancient times, bronze as an alloy made of copper and tin was produced in many countries. It was highly prized, and according to one ancient writer it was regarded as even more valuable than silver or gold. Iron deposits in Greece, Spain, and (modern) Hungary supplied the Roman world with this metal to fashion tools and weapons. Marble came from Phrygia, Greece, and parts of Africa. It decorated the homes of wealthy citizens.

Cinnamon and spice and incense and myrrh and frankincense. Here are four classes of spices that aided the rich in dispelling unpleasant odors. These spices were obtained from many countries; for instance, cinnamon was shipped in from east Africa, Arabia, and as far away as India. It was procured from the inner bark of young cinnamon tree branches. Spice as an aromatic substance also came from India. Incense was an element used for burning in cultic worship. Myrrh and frankincense were acquired from Somalia and south Arabia. All these spices were costly and considered worthy of being presented as gifts to royalty (Matthew 2:11).

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 

Wine and olive oil and fine wheat flour and wheat. These items were daily staples common in most households. Grapes were grown throughout the Middle East from Israel to Spain. In A.D. 92 a surplus of wine caused Emperor Domitian to issue an edict that no new vineyards be planted in Italy and that half of the vineyards in the Roman provinces be destroyed. Because of considerable opposition, this decree never took effect. Similarly, olive trees grew in abundance and supplied the people with oil for cooking and lamps. Fine wheat flour and wheat came from Egypt, which served as the breadbasket for Rome (Acts 27:6, 38).

Acts 27:6 (KJV)  And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. 

Acts 27:38 (KJV)  And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 

Cattle and sheep, and horses and carriages, and bodies and souls of people. This is the last category, made up of livestock, vehicles, and slaves. The word used here for cattle is a general word referring to various domesticated animals, especially donkeys used for riding and carrying burdens (Luke 10:34; Acts 23:24). Wealthy Romans possessed four-wheeled carriages.

Luke 10:34 (KJV)  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Acts 23:24 (KJV)  And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 

Last in the list of commodities is the item bodies and souls of people (slaves). It follows carriages to indicate the low value that was placed on slaves. The reference to humans as bodies comes from the Greek language in which slaves were regarded merely as bodies; while the use of souls comes from the Hebrew and stands for the “souls of men” (Ezekiel 27:13; 1 Chronicles 5:21). The combination of bodies and souls results in one category, namely, human beings, who in this case are slaves.

Ezekiel 27:13 (KJV)  Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market. 

1 Chronicles 5:21 (KJV)  And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. 

Some slaves were people captured in war or kidnapped at sea by pirates; some had sold themselves into slavery for economic reasons; and others were born into slavery or abandoned by their parents. When in A.D. 70 the Jews lost the war against Rome, seventy thousand of them became slaves. Because in the first century slavery very was an established legal institution, the early church could only begin to emancipate slaves within the Christian community itself (Philemon 15–16).

Philemon 15-16 (KJV)  For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 495–497). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.