And they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water - This answers to the taking of Tyre by Alexander; he actually took the timbers, stones, rubbish, etc. of old Tyre, and filled up the space between it and new Tyre, and thus connected the latter with the main land; and this he was obliged to do before he could take it. read more
Thou shalt be built no more - If this refer to Nebuchadnezzar's capture of the city, old Tyre must be intended: that was destroyed by him, and never rebuilt. But I doubt whether the whole of this prophecy do not refer to the taking of Tyre by Alexander, three hundred years after its capture by Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed it may include more recent conquests of this important city. It went through a variety of vicissitudes till 1289, when it and the neighboring towns were sacked and ravaged by the... read more
The sin and doom of Tyre. "And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying," etc. I. THE SIN OF TYRE . "Son of man, because that Tyre hath said against Jerusalem, Aha! she is broken that was the gate of the peoples; she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste." The sin which is here charged against Tyre is extreme and cruel selfishness. There is no evidence in this chapter that... read more
I will bring against thee , etc. There is a special emphasis of abruptness in the way in which Ezekiel brings in the name of the great Chaldean conqueror (we note, by the way, that he adopts the less common spelling of the name), of whom he speaks as "king of kings." The title is used by Daniel ( Daniel 2:37 ) of Nebuchadnezzar, and by Artaxerxes of himself ( Ezra 7:12 ), by Darius in the Nakshi Rustam inscription ('Records of the Past,' 5.151), by Tiglatb-Pileser, with the addition of... read more
The mission of Nebuchadnezzar. I. GOD EMPLOYS HUMAN AGENTS . He does not shatter Tyre as he created the world, with a word. Nor does he send Michael and the hosts of heaven with flaming swords to smite the devoted city. The devastating conquests of Babylon effect his purpose. Nebuchadnezzar is his "servant." ( Jeremiah 25:9 ). In the happier work of bringing salvation to a ruined world God uses human agents. God appeared incarnate in a human form. Apostles were next sent forth... read more
The besieging of Tyre. The fate foretold for the famous city is here related, so to speak, beforehand, with singular copiousness and exactness of detail. I. THE ENEMY — THE KING OF BABYLON . Tyre had many foes, but at most of them she could afford to laugh, for they had no power to carry their hostility into effect. But Nebuchadnezzar, the king of kings, was an enemy that none could despise. His power and his resources were such as to render him formidable even to the... read more
A miracle of foreknowledge. False prophets discourse only in general terms and in ambiguous language. Their announcements may have the most contrary meanings. At best they are happy conjectures, fortunate guesses. But the prophecies of Scripture are like sunlight compared with such a phosphorescent flame. The clearness and fullness of these prophetic utterances can be accounted for only as a revelation from the omniscient God. I. DIVINE PREDICTIONS ARE ALWAYS RIGHTEOUS IN ... read more
(For the usual operations of a siege, see notes on Ezekiel 4:1 , Ezekiel 4:2 .) The buckler was the roof of shields under which the besiegers protected themselves from the missiles of the besieged. For engines of war , read battering-rams ; for wheels , wagons . The final result will be that the breach will be made, with results such as those described in Ezekiel 26:1 ]. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 26:8
Thy daughters in the field - This seems to be spoken of Palaetyre, or Tyre on the main land; for forts, mounts, engines of war, horses, and chariots could not be brought to act against the other. read more