View Isaiah 23 in the note window.
The destruction of Tyre, from God, for their pride, ver. 1 - 14.
The time of her rising again, ver. 15 - 17.
And conversion to God, ver. 18.
1: Of Tyre - The prophecy of the heavy calamity and destruction of
Tyre. Tyre was, according to this prophecy, destroyed; first by
Nebuchadnezzar, and afterwards by Alexander the great. And tho' this
prophecy seemed directly to respect the former destruction, yet it seems
to have some reference to the latter also; only it is intimated, that
after seventy years, Tyre should recover some former power and glory,
before her second and final destruction. Howl - To which howling and
lamenting is ascribed by a known figure. No house - So effectually wasted,
that there is not an house left in it, nor any merchants or others that
go into it, for traffick. Chittim - He mentions the land of Chittim,
because this was an eminent place for shipping and trading, and therefore
doubtless had great dealings with Tyre. It may here be put for all other
countries which traded with her. It is not necessary to determine what
Chittim is; it is sufficient to know, that it was a seafaring place in
the Midland Sea.
2: Be still - Heb. be silent, boast no more of thy wealth and
power. The isle - Of Tyre, which was an island, 'till Alexander
joined it to the continent. The title of islands is often given by
the Hebrews to places bordering upon the sea. That pass - That are a
sea - faring people. Replenished - With manners, and commodities.
4: Zidon - Zidon was a great city near Tyre, strongly united
to her by commerce and league, and called by some the mother of Tyre,
which they say, was built and first inhabited by a colony of the
Sidonians. The sea - That part of the sea in which Tyre was, and
from which ships and men were sent into all countries.
The strength - Tyre might be called the strength of the sea,
because it defendeth that part of the sea from piracies and injuries.
I travel not - I, who was so fruitful, that I sent forth colonies into
other countries (of which Carthage was one), am now barren and desolate.
5: Waters - By the sea, which is very fitly called the great
waters, understand, cometh, or is brought to her. The seed - The
corn of Egypt, wherewith Egypt abounded. Sihor is the same as
the Nile. The harvest - The plentiful harvest of corn which comes
from the inundation of the Nile; emphatically called the river.
The revenue - Is as plentifully enjoyed by her, as if it grew in her own
territories. A mart - A place to which all nations resort for traffick.
7: Antiquity - Being built before Joshua's time,(Jos 19:29).
Her feet - Whereas before, like a delicate lady, she would not set
her foot to the ground, but used to be carried in stately chariots.
To sojourn - To seek for new habitations.
8: Who - This is the word of God, and not of man. The crowning
city - Which was a royal city, and carried away the crown from all
other cities. Princes - Equal to princes for wealth, and power, and
reputation.
9: The Lord - This is the Lord's own doing. To stain - God's design
is by this example to abase the pride of all the potentates of the earth.
10: Pass through - Tarry no longer in thy own territories, but flee
through them, into other countries, for safety and relief.
As a river - Swiftly, lest you be prevented. Tarshish - O Tyre,
which might well be called daughter of Tarshish, that is, of the sea, as
that word is used, ver.(1), and elsewhere, because it was an island, and
therefore as it were, born of the sea, and nourished and brought up by it.
11: He - The Lord. Shook - Heb. he made the kingdoms to tremble;
the neighbouring and confederate kingdoms, who might justly quake at
her fall, for the dreadfulness and unexpectedness of the thing; and
because Tyre was a bulwark, and a refuge to them. A commandment - Hath
put this design into the hearts of her enemies, and given them courage
to attempt, and strength to execute it.
12: Virgin - So he calls her, because she had hitherto never borne
the yoke of a conquering enemy. Zidon - Tyre may be called the
daughter of Zidon, because she was first built and possessed by a
colony of the Zidonians. No rest - Thither thine enemies shall pursue
thee, and there shall they overtake the.
13: Behold - Thou Tyrians, cast your eyes upon the Chaldeans
or Babylonians; who tho' now flourishing, grow far more glorious and
potent, even the glory of kingdoms, yet shall certainly be brought
to utter ruin. This people - The Chaldeans at first were not a people,
not formed into any commonwealth or kingdom, 'till Nimrod, the head and
founder of the Assyrian monarchy, built Babel, (Ge 10:9,10), now
the head of the Chaldean monarchy; which he built for those people, who
then lived in tents, and were dispersed here and there in waste places.
He - The Lord. To ruin - Will infallibly bring that great empire to
ruin. He speaks of a future thing as if it were already past.
14: Your strength - The city of Tyre, where you found safety and
wealth.
15: Forgotten - Neglected and forsaken. Seventy years - During the
time of the Jewish captivity in Babylon. Tyre was taken by
Nebuchadnezzar, (Jer 27:3,8,Eze 26:7), a little after the taking of
Jerusalem and was restored by the favour of the Persian monarchs
after the return of the Jews. One king - One royal race of
Nebuchadnezzar, including his son, and his son's son, in whom his
family and kingdom were to expire. Sing - She shall by degrees return to
her former traffick, whereby she shall easily entice the merchants of the
world to trade with her, as harlots use to entice men by lascivious songs.
16: Go about - As harlots use to do. Thou harlot - So he calls
Tyre, because she enticed the merchants to deal with her by various
artifices, and even by dishonest practices, and because of the great
and general uncleanness which was committed in it.
17: Visit - In mercy. Her hire - The Hebrew word properly
signifies, the hire of an harlot. Fornication - Shall trade
promiscuously with people of all nations, as harlots entertain
all comers.
18: Holiness - This is a prophecy concerning the conversion of the
Tyrians to the true religion. Laid up - Either out of covetousness, or
for their pride and luxury, as they formerly did; but now they shall freely
lay it out upon pious and charitable uses. Shall be - For the support and
encouragement of the ministers of holy things, who shall teach the good
knowledge of the Lord. Although this does not exclude, but rather imply
their liberality in contributing to the necessities of all Christians.
