Ezekiel 28:1-10

III. THE PRINCE OF TYRE 28:1-19

The three Chapter s dealing with Tyre conclude with a vigorous attack against the prince of Tyre for his claims to deity. This attack is not to be interpreted personally of any one Tyrian king.[420] Rather the king of Tyre becomes an embodiment of the entire nation. The attitude of the prince was that of the city and vice versa. This section divides naturally into two parts: (1) the death of the prince (Ezekiel 28:1-10); and (2) the dirge over the prince (Ezekiel 28:11-19).

[420] It is conjectured that Ithobal II was ruler of Tyre in the days of Ezekiel.

A. The Death of the Prince 28:1-10

TRANSLATION

(1) And the word of the LORD came unto me saying, (2) Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am God, I sit in the seat of God in the heart of the seas; yet you are a man and not God, even though you consider yourself as wise as God.[421] (3) Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret can be hidden from you! (4) By your wisdom and understanding you have acquired for yourself wealth, and you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. (5) By your great wisdom in your trading ventures you have increased your wealth, and your heart is lifted up because of your wealth. (6) Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Because you considered yourself as wise as God, (7) therefore, behold, I am about to bring strangers upon you, the most ruthless of the nations, and they shall bring their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and defile your splendor. (8) They shall thrust you down to the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas. (9) Will You still say before the one who slays you, I am God, although you are a man and not God in the hand of those who wound you? (10) You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken (oracle of the Lord GOD.

[421] Literally, you set your heart as the heart of God.

COMMENTS

Obnoxious haughtiness and national arrogance were the besetting sins of Tyre. The prince of Tyre is pictured as exalting himself to the position of God. His island fortress in the midst of the sea he regarded as a divine abode. The splendor of the place combined with its richness and isolation caused the proud monarch to regard his realm as not of this world the seat of God. In his heart (intellect) he considered himself as smart as God Himself. Yet in reality this pompous ruler was only a man, subject to all the frailties and limitations of the flesh (Ezekiel 28:2).

The prince's claim to wisdom is not denied by the prophet. Daniel was famous for his piety (Ezekiel 14:14) and for his wisdom.[422] In the latter quality the prince of Tyre exceeded Daniel. Ezekiel is probably speaking sarcastically here. Like Daniel who could understand the dark mysteries of dream revelations, no secret could elude the prince of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:3). His wisdom in commercial transactions had resulted in the amassing of wealth into the treasuries of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:4). However, as is so often the case with those who know material success, the prince's heart was lifted up because of those riches (Ezekiel 28:5).

[422] One can sense in Ezekiel's references to Daniel a humble respect. Daniel for Ezekiel was the epitome of righteousness and wisdom.

Because the prince of Tyre regarded his intelligence as equal to that of God (Ezekiel 28:6), he was destined to face the wrath of the God of Israel. Foreigners the most ruthless of the nations would come against Tyre. All which the prince of Tyre had acquired through his wisdom would fall to the invading forces. The splendor of the king, considered by himself to be God-like, would be profaned by the sword (Ezekiel 28:7). The prince himself would die in the attack. His island fortress would afford no protection. He would go down to the pit (grave) with all those slain in battle (Ezekiel 28:8). Will the vainglorious, self-deified prince still proclaim his deity in the face of execution by the blade of the enemy? Obviously not! Gods do not bleed! The humanity of the prince would be perfectly obvious in that day (Ezekiel 28:9). In death all men realize their humanity. The once proud prince would be treated with the contempt reserved for uncircumcised men.[423] He would be dishonored and unlamented with no outward sign of reverence (Ezekiel 28:10). What a way for a god to go!

[423] It is unclear whether the treatment of the uncircumcised would he accorded the dead body of the prince in this world, or in Sheol, the realm of the dead. The Phoenicians practiced circumcision until their contact with the Greeks in the fourth century. The death of the uncircumcised is a threat of violent death, marked by the absence of God's care and concern. See Hall, WBC, p. 441