2:14 for all the tall mountains,
for all the high hills, 1
2:16 for all the large ships, 2
for all the impressive 3 ships. 4
1 sn The high mountains and hills symbolize the apparent security of proud men, as do the high tower and fortified wall of v. 15.
2 tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish.” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
3 tn Heb “desirable”; NAB, NIV “stately”; NRSV “beautiful.”
4 tn On the meaning of this word, which appears only here in the Hebrew Bible, see H. R. Cohen, Biblical Hapax Legomena (SBLDS), 41-42.
sn The ships mentioned in this verse were the best of their class, and therefore an apt metaphor for the proud men being denounced in this speech.