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In Ezekiel 38:13, “Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions
thereof,” seem to be questioning the motives of the Soviet Union, perhaps because they seem far
removed from what appears to be a regional conflict. It is not clear whether they involve
themselves in the military action.
Sheba (also Saba), was an ancient kingdom in the area of the southwestern edge of Saudi
Arabia which became known as the British colony of Aden, until achieving independence as
South Yemen (who united with North Yemen in 1990). This was the traditional kingdom of the
Queen of Sheba who ruled over the Sabaeans (who dominated all of southern Arabia), and was
labeled in Matthew 12:42 as the ‘Queen of the South.’ The historian Josephus referred to her as
the “Queen of Egypt and Ethiopia.” Dedan was the name of a Sabaean oasis in the northern part
of Saudi Arabia, which was one of their many colonies in northern Arabia.
Another identifying indication again comes from Biblical genealogy. Cush, the son of Ham,
was the father of Ethiopia, and other tribes who settled south of Egypt, in Arabia, Babylonia and
India. Cush’s sons are identified as Seba (who in Psalms 72:10 is associated with the kings of
Sheba, and in Isaiah 43:3 are mentioned with Ethiopia, which indicates that he is the father of the
Sabaeans); Havilah (a name associated with the area of the Sinai and northwestern Arabia);
Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah (all three of which were associated with tribes in southern
Arabia). Sheba and Dedan are listed as sons of Raamah. Thus, the reference to Sheba and Dedan
actually identifies the country of Saudi Arabia (as well as the countries of Oman, Yemen, the
United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain). They were an ally of the Coalition against Iraq
during the Gulf War.
The “merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof” are also named with them.
According to Jeremiah 10:9, Tarshish is identified as a land rich with precious metals; and in
other passages, such as Isaiah 2:16, are associated with possessing a prominent shipping empire
which was used to export goods to places all over the Mediterranean. Some researchers have
tried to connect Tarshish with Tartessus (located in the Guadalquivir Valley) in southwestern
Spain, where the Phoenicians founded colonies to capitalize on the wealth of minerals found
there.
The Phoenicians established the city of Carthage on Africa’s northern coast (in what is now
Tunisia), and it was these Carthaginians who began colonizing Spain in 654 BC (until they were
driven out by the Romans in 206 BC), and exploring the Atlantic coastline from western Africa
to Britain. Recent archaeological evidence has shown that they possessed sailing capabilities far
beyond what was originally known. An inscription discovered in 1780 on a cliff above Mount
Hope Bay in Bristol, Rhode Island, which was written in Tartessian Punic, reads: “Voyagers
from Tarshish this stone proclaims.” It is believed that this inscription was made about 533 BC.
Howard University’s Dept. of Archaeology has found five other areas in the United States where
Tarshish had colonies 2500 years ago.
Tarshish was a great-grandson of Noah, whose descendants migrated to the areas which later
became Spain and Great Britain. Ezekiel 27:12 indicates that Tarshish was a source of tin, and
the word ‘Britain’ means “land of tin.” Both Spain, with their Armada, and England, became
major naval powers. An analysis of these facts may indicate that Tarshish is referring to one
(England) or two countries of the western European alliance. The “young lions” (the lion is a
symbol of England) could refer to the United States (who came out of England), Canada,
Australia, New Zealand (all part of the English Empire), their possessions and allies. Again, we
can’t be sure if these countries that are mentioned are participants in this massive assault.
In Revelation 16:12, the 6th angel pours out his vial, which causes the Euphrates River to dry