Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Philoctetes

τά … ἐκ νεὼς στείλωσι, make ready the things in the ship,—i.e., set the tackle, etc., in order. The only difference between “τὰ ἐκ νεώς” here and “τὰ ἐν νηί” is that the former suggests the notion of the quarter —at some distance from the speaker— where the preparations are to be made. Cp. Plat. Lach. 184A “ἦν δὲ γέλως καὶ κρότος ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκ τῆς ὁλκάδος”:—‘the people off there in the merchant-ship.’ Thuc. 6. 32“συνεπηύχοντο δὲ καὶ ὁ ἄλλος ὅμιλος ὁ ἐκ τῆς γῆς” (where “ἐκ” carries the mental eye from the scene on board the ships to the scene ashore). στείλωσι, as Hom. Od. 2. 287“νῆα θοὴν στελέω” (fit out).—On reaching Lemnos, the sailors—if they followed Homeric practice—would have unshipped the mast (“ἱστός”), and laid it down so that its top should rest on the mast-holder (“ἱστοδόκη”) at the stern. Cp. Hom. hym. 2. 278 “οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ γαῖαν” | “ἐκβῆτ̓, οὐδὲ καθ᾽ ὅπλα μελαίνης νηὸς ἔθεσθε”; They have now to raise the mast,—make it fast by the fore-stays (“πρότονοι”),—and hoist the sails. (Cp. Od. 2. 416 ff.)

θεοῖς εὐξώμεθα. When all was ready for sailing, a prayer was recited, and libations poured. Cp. Thuc. 6. 32“εὐχὰς δὲ τὰς νομιζομένας πρὸ τῆς ἀναγωγῆς”... “ἐποιοῦντο”. Hom. Od. 2. 430“δησάμενοι δ᾽ ἄρα ὅπλα θοὴν ἀνὰ νῆα μέλαιναν” | “στήσαντο κρητῆρας”.