ISAIAH CHAPTER 23 The destruction of Tyre, from God, for their pride, ISAIAH 23:1. The time of her rising again, ISAIAH 23:15, and conversion to God, ISAIAH 23:18. THE BURDEN OF TYRE; the prophecy of the heavy calamity and destruction of Tyre; which now stood in its strength and glory, being seated... [ Continue Reading ]
BE STILL, Heb. _Be silent_, as one confounded, and not knowing what to say, or as mourners use to be, JOB 2 8,13 ISA 47:5; boast no more of thy wealth and power, as thou usedst to do. OF THE ISLE, Heb. _of Tyrus_, which now was an island, EZEKIEL 27:3, EZEKIEL 28:2, till Alexander joined it to the c... [ Continue Reading ]
BY GREAT WATERS; by the sea, which is very fitly called _the great waters_, PSALMS 107:23; understand, _cometh_, or is brought to her. THE SEED OF SIHOR; the corn of Egypt, wherewith Egypt abounded, and furnished divers other parts of the world, whence it was called the granary of the Roman empire;... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU ASHAMED, O ZIDON; for Zidon was a great city near Tyre, and 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; and therefore she must needs be greatly concerned in the destruction of... [ Continue Reading ]
According to this translation the sense is, All the neighbouring nations shall be no less terrified at the tidings of lite destruction of Tyrus, than they were of old upon the report of God's former and dreadful judgments upon the Egyptians, of which see EXODUS 15:14 JOSHUA 2:9,11, because they shal... [ Continue Reading ]
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 ON "ISAIAH 23:1". OF THE ISLE; of Tyrus, as before, ISAIAH 23:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THIS YOUR JOYOUS CITY, that formerly lived in so much pomp, and pleasure, and security? Whose antiquity is of ancient days; being built before Joshua's time, as is manifest from JOSHUA 19:29. _Her own feet shall carry her_; whereas before, like a delicate lady, she would not set the sole of her f... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH TAKEN THIS COUNSEL AGAINST TYRE? words of admiration: who and where is he that could imagine or durst attempt such a thing as this? This is the work of God, as is expressed, ISAIAH 23:9, and not of man. THE CROWNING CITY; which was a royal city, JEREMIAH 25:22, and called a _kingdom_, EZEKI... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH PURPOSED IT; this is the Lord's own doing; therefore do not doubt it, nor wonder at it. God's design is by this one example to abate and abase the pride of all the potentates of the earth, that they may see and know what weak and wretched creatures they are, when God leaves th... [ Continue Reading ]
PASS THROUGH THE LAND; tarry no longer in thy own territories, but flee through them, and beyond them, into other countries, for safety and relief. AS A RIVER; swiftly, lest you be prevented; and continually, till you be all gone; and in shoals and multitudes. O DAUGHTER OF TARSHISH; O Tyrus; for of... [ Continue Reading ]
HE, the Lord, expressed ISAIAH 23:9, stretched out his hand to strike it, the antecedent being put for the consequent, OVER THE SEA; or, _against the sea_, i.e. against Tyrus, the daughter of the sea, as she was now called; and consequently against all those ships and men which used to traffic with... [ Continue Reading ]
O THOU OPPRESSED VIRGIN: so he calls her, either for her pride and beauty, and living in great ease and pleasure; or because she had hitherto never borne the yoke of a conquering enemy; though withal he declares that she should be oppressed or defloured very suddenly. DAUGHTER OF ZIDON; whereby he u... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS; you Tyrians, who think your city impregnable, cast your eyes upon the land and empire of the Chaldeans, or Babylonians; which though now it be a flourishing kingdom, and shall shortly grow far more glorious and potent, even the _glory of kingdoms_, as it is called,... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR STRENGTH; the city of Tyre, where you found safety and wealth.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORGOTTEN; neglected and forsaken by those who used to resort thither. SEVENTY YEARS; during the whole time of the Jewish captivity in Babylon. For Tyrus was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, JEREMIAH 27:3,8 EZE 26:7, a little after the taking of Jerusalem, and was restored by the favour of the Persian monar... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE AN HARP, GO ABOUT THE CITY; as harlots use to do, to allure customers. THOU HARLOT; so he calleth Tyre, partly because she enticed merchants to deal with her by various artifices, and even by dishonest practices, as harlots use; and partly because of the great and general uncleanness which was... [ Continue Reading ]
VISIT TYRE, to wit, in mercy, as this phrase is used, RUTH 1:6 PSALMS 65:9, and elsewhere. HER HIRE: the Hebrew word properly signifies, _the hire of an harlot_; which agrees well with the FORNICATION in the next clause; although these phrases are not to be understood properly, but metaphorically, o... [ Continue Reading ]
HER MERCHANDISE AND HER HIRE SHALL BE HOLINESS TO THE LORD: he speaks not here of what the Tyrians would do immediately after their restitution, but some time after it, even in the days of the Messiah; of which even some of the Jewish rabbies understand it, and to which the prophets have a special r... [ Continue Reading ]