Isaiah 23:1-18

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 23:15-18

Here is, I. The time fixed for the continuance of the desolations of Tyre, which were not to be perpetual desolations: Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, Isa. 23:15. So long it shall lie neglected and buried in obscurity. It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar much about the time that Jerusalem was, and lay as long as it did in its ruins. See the folly of that proud ambitious conqueror. What the richer, what the stronger, was he for making himself master of Tyre, when all the inhabitants were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:1

The burden of Tyre ,.... Or a prophecy concerning the destruction of it. The Targum is, "the burden of the cup of cursing, to give Tyre to drink.' This was a famous city in Phoenicia, which exceeded in renown and grandeur all the cities of Syria and Phoenicia F8 Curt. l. 4. sect. 2. , and was much known for its trade and navigation, for which it was well situated by the sea; and indeed new Tyre stood in it, about half a mile from the shore, before it was joined to the continent by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:2

Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle ,.... Either the isles of Chittim, or other islands that traded with Tyre, the singular being put for the plural, called upon to grieve and mourn, because the city of their merchandise was destroyed, as Kimchi; or of Tyre itself, which being situated at some distance from the shore, was an island itself, until it was joined to the continent by Alexander F17 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19. ; and even old Tyre might be so called, it being usual in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:3

And by great waters the seed of Sihor ,.... Sihor is the river Nile in Egypt; it had its name from the black colour of its waters, as in Jeremiah 2:18 hence called by the Greeks Melas, and by the Latins Melo: the "seed" of it intends what was sown and grew upon the banks of it, or was nourished by the overflow of this river throughout the land, and includes corn, flax, paper, &c.; with which Egypt abounded; and when this is said to be "by great waters", the meaning either is, that it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:4

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon ,.... A city near to Tyre, about twenty five miles from it; Jarchi says it was within a day's walk of it; these two cities, as they were near to each other, so they were closely allied together, and traded much with one another, so that the fall of Tyre must be distressing and confounding to Zidon; and besides, Tyre was a colony of the Zidonians, and therefore, Isaiah 23:12 , is called the daughter of Zidon, and could not but be affected with its ruin, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 23:5

As at the report concerning Egypt ,.... Its future destruction prophesied of, Isaiah 19:1 or what had in times past befallen it when the ten plagues were inflicted on it, and Pharaoh and his host were drowned in the Red Sea; the report of which filled the neighbouring nations with fear and trembling, and put them into a panic; so the Targum, "as they heard the plague with which the Egyptians were smitten:' so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre ; of the destruction of... 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

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