Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 27:25

"The ships of Tarshish were thy caravans for thy merchandise: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the seas." — Ezekiel 27:25 (ASV)

Ships of Tarshish means simply ships of the largest size, such as were fitted for the voyage to Tarshish: as we now say, “East Indiaman.” (Compare to 1 Kings 22:48; Psalms 48:7.) The phrase Did sing of thee in thy market is, literally, thy—, thy trade, the blank being an uncertain word, supposed by our translators to mean singers. Opinion is now divided as to whether the meaning is bulwarks or caravans; either gives a good sense. “Your great ships were at once your defence and the means of your commerce,” or “were your caravans of the sea, etc.” The former is preferable.