Seas. The rich Tyrians did so. (St. Jerome) --- Septuagint, "to Carthage." Hebrew Tharsis, is Cilicia. (Calmet) --- Hence Nabuchodonosor did not find a sufficient reward, Ezechiel xxix. 18. read more
1-14 Tyre was the mart of the nations. She was noted for mirth and diversions; and this made her loth to consider the warnings God gave by his servants. Her merchants were princes, and lived like princes. Tyre being destroyed and laid waste, the merchants should abandon her. Flee to shift for thine own safety; but those that are uneasy in one place, will be so in another; for when God's judgments pursue sinners, they will overtake them. Whence shall all this trouble come? It is a destruction... read more
The Fall of TyRev. 1. The burden of Tyre, the proud Phoenician metropolis, which withstood the attacks of several Assyrian armies and endured a siege of thirteen years by Nebuchadnezzar, but was destroyed by Alexander the Great after a siege of seven months: Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, the great merchant vessels of that day, named after the city of Tartessus in Spain with which much of the world's commerce was carried on; for it, Tyre, the center of the world's markets, is laid waste, so... read more
IV. PROPHECY AGAINST TYPEIsaiah 23:0All the nations hitherto mentioned, bordering on Judah, come under the power of Assyria. But Tyre, according to verse 13, is to fall a prey to the Chaldæans. This prophecy is placed last on account of its fulfilment belonging to a time subsequent to the supremacy of Assyria. Tyre was not only the head of the minor Phœnician states, but was also the mistress of the sea, both for commerce and war; and for these two reasons was the most important ally of Egypt.... read more
The burden of Tyre opens with a graphic description of her desolation. Her harbors are closed. Her borders are desolate. The sea, which had been her highway, is abandoned, and Egypt, her ally, is affrighted at the report. The desolation is then contemplated, and the inquiry, "Who hath purposed this against Tyre?" is answered. This desolation is the act of Jehovah. In view of this fact, the utter overthrow is again described. The prophet then declares definitely that for seventy years Tyre is... read more
Lament Over Tyre (Isaiah 23:1-14 ). The final burden is the burden of Tyre and Sidon. These were two wealthy and powerful seaports on the Mediterranean coast from which ships went out to all parts of the known world. Their largest ships were called ships of Tarshish, possibly because of the smelted metals that they carried, or possibly because of the destinations that they reached (Jonah set sail for Tarshish from Joppa in order to go to a distant land - Jonah 1:3; Jonah 4:2). There may in... read more
Isaiah 23. Oracle on Tyre.— The date and authorship are alike very uncertain. If by Isaiah, the occasion may be the siege of Tyre by Shalmaneser about 727– 722 (p. 59), the historicity of which, however, is questioned by some, or Sennacherib’ s invasion in 701. The text of 13 is very suspicious, and its interpretation very uncertain, or it might have helped to fix the date. Isaiah 23:15-Job : is probably a post-exilic appendix. Isaiah 23:1-2 Chronicles : is perhaps best referred to... read more
Pass ye over to Tarshish; flee from your own country to Tarsus of Cilicia, and there bewail your calamities. Or rather, as others render the place, Pass over the sea, which is oft called Tarshish; of which See Poole "Isaiah 23:1". Of the isle; of Tyrus, as before, Isaiah 23:2. read more
Now in chapter 23 he takes up his burden against Tyre. Tyre was, of course, a seaport town. It was the area... The people of Tyre were known as Phoenicians. And so you who are versed in your ancient history know of the Phoenicians and the tremendous navy that the Phoenicians possessed. They were merchants. Their ships plied the Mediterranean. In fact, they even went around the Cape Horn to bring back goods, merchandise and all. And the Phoenician navy more or less ruled the seas, and in those... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Isaiah 23:1-7
It is remarkable that this prophecy was delivered at a time when Tyre was in the height of prosperity, and resting to the full in the enjoyment of flourishing trade and merchandize. For long after this, the prophets Ezekiel and Zechariah, both of them, took notice of the pride and greatness of Tyre. Ezekiel 28:1 to the end. Zechariah 9:3-4 . But of what avail is the pomp of nations, where the love of God is not? Of what avail is worldly prosperity to individuals unsanctified by grace! read more