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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 23:1-14

Tyre being a sea-port town, this prophecy of its overthrow fitly begins and ends with, Howl, you ships of Tarshish; for all its business, wealth, and honour, depended upon its shipping; if that be ruined, they will be all undone. Observe, I. Tyre flourishing. This is taken notice of that her fall may appear the more dismal. 1. The merchants of Zidon, who traded at sea, had at first replenished her, Isa. 23:2. Zidon was the more ancient city, situated upon the same sea-cost, a few leagues more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:6

Pass ye over to Tarshish ,.... Either to Tartessus in Spain, or to Tarsus in Cilicia, which lay over against them, and to which they might transport themselves, families, and substance, with greater ease; or "to a province of the sea", as the Targum, any other seaport; the Septuagint says to Carthage, which was a colony of the Tyrians; and hither the Assyrian F21 Apud Hieron. in loc. historians say they did transport themselves; though Kimchi thinks this is spoken, not to the Tyrians,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:7

Is this your joyous city ?.... Which the other day looked so gay, brisk, and cheerful, through the number of its inhabitants, largeness of trade, fullness of provisions, and pleasures of every kind; and now distressed and desolate, and no voice of joy and gladness heard in it: whose antiquity is of ancient days ; the most ancient city in Phoenicia, excepting Zidon, as Strabo F23 Geograph. l. 16. p. 520. says; and it was in being in the days of Joshua, Joshua 19:29 if the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:8

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city ,.... Which had a king over it, to whom it gave a crown; and which crowned its inhabitants with riches and plenty, and even enriched the kings of the earth, Ezekiel 27:33 this is said as wondering who could lay a scheme to destroy such a city, or ever think of succeeding in it; who could take it into his head, or how could it enter into his heart, or who could have a heart to go about it, and still less power to effect the ruin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:9

The Lord of hosts hath purposed it ,.... To destroy Tyre; who is wonderful in counsel, capable of forming a wise scheme, and able to put it in execution; being the Lord of armies in heaven and in earth: and his end in it was, to stain the pride of all glory ; Tyre being proud of its riches, the extent of its commerce, and the multitude of its inhabitants, God was resolved, who sets himself against the proud, to abase them; to pollute the glorious things they were proud of; to deal with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:10

Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish ,.... Or, "of the sea", as the Vulgate Latin; meaning Tyre, which was situated in the sea, and did, as it were, spring from it, and was fortified by it, and supported by ships of merchandise on it, from various places; but now, being about to be destroyed, the inhabitants of it are called upon to pass through it, and get out of it as fast as they could, even as swiftly as a river runs, and in great abundance or multitudes. Kimchi... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:11

He stretched out his hand over the sea ,.... That is, the Lord of hosts, who had purposed to destroy Tyre, stretched out his hand of power over it, called the sea, as in Isaiah 23:4 because situated in it, supported by it, and had the sovereignty of it; in like manner as he stretched out his hand on the Red Sea, and destroyed Pharaoh and the Egyptians in it; to which the allusion may be: he shook the kingdoms ; of Tyre and Zidon, which were both kingdoms, and distinct ones; and also... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:12

And he said, thou shalt no more rejoice ,.... Not meaning that she should never more rejoice, but not for a long time, as Kimchi interprets it; when her calamity should come upon her, her jovial time, her time of mirth, jollity, and revelling, would be over for a time; for, at the end of seventy years, she should take her harp, and sing again, Isaiah 23:15 for the words seem to be spoken of Tyre, concerning whom the whole prophecy is; though some think Zidon is here meant, which, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:13

Behold the land of the Chaldeans ,.... Not Tyre, as some think, so called, because founded by the Chaldeans, who finding it a proper place for "ships", so they render the word "tziim", afterward used, and which is so interpreted by Jarchi, built the city of Tyre; but the country called Chaldea is here meant, and the Babylonish empire and monarchy, particularly Babylon, the head of it: this people was not ; a people, or of any great note and figure: till the Assyrian founded it for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:14

Howl, ye ships of Tarshish ,.... As in Isaiah 23:1 . See Gill on Isaiah 23:1 , for your strength is laid waste ; meaning Tyre, a strong seaport, where their ships were safe, and always found vent for their goods and merchandise; and so it was the strength and support of their country; but was now destroyed, and therefore was matter of lamentation and mourning. read more

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