Tyre: A rock, now es-Sur; an ancient Phoenician city, about 23 miles, in
a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. Sidon was the
oldest Phoenician city, but Tyre had a longer and more illustrious
history. The commerce of the whole world was gathered into the
warehouses of Tyre. "Tyrian merchants were the first who ventured to
navigate the Mediterranean waters; and they founded their colonies on
the coasts and neighbouring islands of the AEgean Sea, in Greece, on
the northern coast of Africa, at Carthage and other places, in Sicily
and Corsica, in Spain at Tartessus, and even beyond the pillars of
Hercules at Gadeira (Cadiz)" (Driver's Isaiah). In the time of David
a friendly alliance was entered into between the Hebrews and the
Tyrians, who were long ruled over by their native kings
(2 Samuel 5:11)
(1 Kings 5:1; 2 Chronicles 2:3) Tyre consisted of two distinct parts, a rocky
fortress on the mainland, called "Old Tyre," and the city, built on a
small, rocky island about half-a-mile distant from the shore. It was a
place of great strength. It was besieged by Shalmaneser, who was
assisted by the Phoenicians of the mainland, for five years, and by
Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586) for thirteen years, apparently without
success. It afterwards fell under the power of Alexander the Great,
after a siege of seven months, but continued to maintain much of its
commercial importance till the Christian era. It is referred to in
(Matthew 11:21; Acts 12:20) In A.D. 1291 it was taken by the Saracens, and
has remained a desolate ruin ever since. "The purple dye of Tyre had a
worldwide celebrity on account of the durability of its beautiful
tints, and its manufacture proved a source of abundant wealth to the
inhabitants of that city." Both Tyre and Sidon "were crowded with
glass-shops, dyeing and weaving establishments; and among their
cunning workmen not the least important class were those who were
celebrated for the engraving of precious stones."
(2 Chronicles 2:7,14) The
wickedness and idolatry of this city are frequently denounced by the
prophets, and its final destruction predicted
(Isaiah 23:1; Jeremiah 25:22)
(Ezekiel 26:1-2; 28:1-19; Amos 1:9,10; Zechariah 9:2-4) Here a church was founded soon
after the death of Stephen, and Paul, on his return from his third
missionary journey spent a week in intercourse with the disciples
there
(Acts 21:4) Here the scene at Miletus was repeated on his
leaving them. They all, with their wives and children, accompanied him
to the sea-shore. The sea-voyage of the apostle terminated at
Ptolemais, about 38 miles from Tyre. Thence he proceeded to Caesarea
(Acts 21:5-8) "It is noticed on monuments as early as B.C. 1500 and
claiming, according to Herodotus, to have been founded about B.C. 2700
It had two ports still existing, and was of commercial importance in
all ages, with colonies at Carthage (about B.C. 850 and all over the
Mediterranean. It was often attacked by Egypt and Assyria, and taken
by Alexander the Great after a terrible siege in B.C. 332 It is now a
town of 3,000 inhabitants, with ancient tombs and a ruined cathedral.
A short Phoenician text of the fourth century B.C. is the only
monument yet recovered."
