INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 26 This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Tyre. The time of the prophecy, Ezekiel 26:1, the cause of the destruction of it, rejoicing at the ruin of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 26:2, the instruments of it, many nations, particularly the king of Babylon, Ezekiel 26:3,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR,.... Of Jehoiachin's captivity and Zedekiah's reign, the same year that Jerusalem was taken: IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH; but what month is not mentioned; some have thought the first month, and so it was the first day of the year; others the fourth, the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, BECAUSE THAT TYRUS HATH SAID AGAINST JERUSALEM, AHA,.... As rejoicing at her destruction, and insulting over her in it; which was barbarous and inhuman, and resented by the Lord: SHE IS BROKEN THAT WAS THE GATES OF THE PEOPLE; through whose gates the people went in and out in great numb... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Who knew the thoughts of the inhabitants of Tyre, and what joy possessed their hearts, and which their lips expressed; and who informs the prophet of it, though at a great distance, and declares his resentment at it: BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, O TYRUS; and not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL DESTROY THE WALLS OF TYRUS.... Undermining them, or breaking them down with their battering rams: AND BREAK DOWN HER TOWERS; with axes, Ezekiel 26:9 built upon the walls; erected for the defence of the city, and for watchmen to stand in, to look out from them for the enemy, and obser... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL BE A PLACE FOR THE SPREADING OF NETS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA,.... Where only fishermen would be seen washing their nets, and then spreading them upon this rock, where Tyre stood, to dry them and this has been confirmed by travellers, who have seen fishermen spreading and drying their nets,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HER DAUGHTERS WHICH ARE IN THE FIELD SHALL BE SLAIN BY THE SWORD,.... That is, the inhabitants of the cities, towns, and villages, on the shore near it, and which were subject to it; as such cities are frequently in Scripture called the daughters of the place to which they belong: or their daugh... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... What follows; and declares by name the person that should be the instrument of this ruin, and the manner in which it should be brought about: I WILL BRING UPON TYRUS NEBUCHADREZZAR, KING OF BABYLON; a prince whose name was terrible, having conquered many nations: th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SLAY WITH THE SWORD THY DAUGHTERS IN THE FIELD,.... The first thing he would do would be to destroy the cities, towns and villages on the continent, near to Tyre, and dependent on it, as in Ezekiel 26:6, and so the Targum is here, as there: AND HE SHALL MAKE A FORT AGAINST THEE, AND CAST... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL SET ENGINES OF WAR AGAINST THY WALLS,.... Which some Jewish writers understand of crossbows, out of which stones or arrows were cast; but rather, according to Kimchi and Jarchi, they were warlike machines, invented to throw large stones against the walls of a place, to beat them down. S... [ Continue Reading ]
BY REASON OF THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS HORSES THEIR DUST SHALL COVER THEE,.... The dust raised by the feet of the horses so numerous, should rise in such quantities, and to such a height, as to be like a cloud, which should cover the city; an hyperbolical way of speaking, as Kimchi observes; as is also t... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE HOOFS OF HIS HORSES SHALL HE TREAD DOWN ALL THY STREETS,.... Such a number of horses running to and fro in the streets, and prancing upon the pavements, shall break them up, and destroy them, so that they shall be mere mire and dirt: HE SHALL SLAY THY PEOPLE BY THE SWORD; such as would not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL MAKE A SPOIL OF THY RICHES,.... The Chaldean army, when they entered the city, and got possession of it, would plunder it, and divide the riches of it among them: AND MAKE A PREY OF THY MERCHANDISE; of the merchants' goods, laid up in their warehouses for sale, which was greatly hind... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL CAUSE THE NOISE OF THY SONGS TO CEASE,.... As this city abounded with riches, so with carnal mirth and pleasure; it was a "joyous city", Isaiah 23:7, the inhabitants lived merrily and jovially; were much given to music, which was very diverting and amusing to foreigners that traded with t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MAKE THEE LIKE THE TOP OF A ROCK,.... Smooth and bare; Ezekiel 26:4: AND THOU SHALL BE A PLACE TO SPREAD NETS UPON; Ezekiel 26:5: THOU SHALT BE BUILT NO MORE: this must be understood with some restriction and limitation; as that it should not be built any more in the same stately manne... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD TO TYRUS,.... By his prophet, who very probably delivered this prophecy to the ambassadors of Tyre at Babylon; or to some of their merchants that traded there; or sent it in a letter to them: SHALL NOT THE ISLES SHAKE AT THE SOUND OF THY FALL; when they hear the noise of Tyr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ALL THE PRINCES OF THE SEA SHALL COME DOWN FROM THEIR THRONES,.... The kings of the islands of the sea shall lay aside their regalia, all their royal grandeur, and the ensigns of it; leave their thrones of state, and sit in an humble posture: AND LAY AWAY THEIR ROBES, AND PUT OFF THEIR BROIDER... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL TAKE UP A LAMENTATION FOR THEE, AND SAY UNTO THEE,.... The following mournful song: HOW ART THOU DESTROYED THAT WAST INHABITED OF SEAFARING MEN; or, "of the seas": by men who used the seas, and traded by sea to different parts of the world; and was frequented by persons that came by... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SHALL THE ISLES TREMBLE IN THE DAY OF THY FALL,.... The isles near unto it, the isles of the Mediterranean sea; the inhabitants of them, the merchants who from thence traded with Tyre, the seafaring men of those places; partly on account of losses sustained hereby, and partly through fear of the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Both to the terror of Tyre, and for the comfort of his people: WHEN I SHALL MAKE THEE A DESOLATE CITY, LIKE THE CITIES THAT ARE NOT INHABITED; whose trade is ruined, whose inhabitants are destroyed, and whose walls are broken down, and become a mere waste and desert... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I SHALL BRING THEE DOWN WITH THEM THAT DESCEND INTO THE PIT,.... The grave, and make thee like to them: WITH THE PEOPLE OF OLD TIME; either the people of the old world, or, however, who have been dead long ago: AND SHALL SET THEE IN THE LOW PARTS OF THE EARTH; where the dead are laid: IN PLA... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE THEE A TERROR,.... To all the isles round about, who shall shake and tremble at the ruin of Tyre, as before observed; or to herself, being brought into a most terrible and distressed condition: AND THOU SHALL BE NO MORE: in the same place and situation, in the same happy state and condi... [ Continue Reading ]