THE FALL OF TYREV. 1. THE BURDEN OF TYRE, the proud Phoenician metropolis, which withstood the attacks of several Assyrian armies and endured a siege of thirteen years by Nebuchadnezzar, but was destroyed by Alexander the Great after a siege of seven months: HOWL, YE SHIPS OF TARSHISH, the great mer... [ Continue Reading ]
Be still, namely, with amazement and horror, YE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLE, those of the coast country of Phoenicia in general and of New Tyre in particular; THOU WHOM THE MERCHANTS OF ZIDON, the second great commercial city of Phoenicia, THAT PASS OVER THE SEA, HAVE REPLENISHED, both by founding the c... [ Continue Reading ]
And by great waters, by maritime trade and transportation, THE SEED OF SIHOR, "dark-colored," applied to the Nile, THE HARVEST OF THE RIVER, the products of the rich lowlands of Egypt, IS HER REVENUE, that with which Tyre traded not only along the Mediterranean coast, but far inland as well; AND SHE... [ Continue Reading ]
Be thou ashamed, trembling with the disgrace of it all, O ZIDON, Phoenicia in general; FOR THE SEA HATH SPOKEN, EVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE SEA, the fortress of Tyre, which was located on an island at some distance from the coast, SAYING, I TRAVAIL NOT NOR BRING FORTH CHILDREN, NEITHER DO I NOURISH UP... [ Continue Reading ]
As at the report concerning Egypt, when the sad news concerning the fall of Tyre shall reach Egypt, SO SHALL THEY BE SORELY PAINED AT THE REPORT OF TYRE, because this meant not only a severe reduction in the trade of Egypt, but also the removal of one of the bulwarks against the enemy. Moreover, tho... [ Continue Reading ]
Pass ye over to Tarshish, the commercial metropolis of Spain, the colony where the last Phoenician ships might be found; HOWL, YE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLE, all those living along the coast of the Mediterranean, the fugitives with the inhabitants, since they all were included in the calamity which had... [ Continue Reading ]
Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? That was the end of all her proud self-glorification. HER OWN FEET SHALL CARRY HER AFAR OFF TO SOJOURN, rather, "whose feet carried her afar to settle," not only over her trade routes, but also in locating colonies in distant countries. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, which dispensed crowns to the rulers of its colonies, WHOSE MERCHANTS ARE PRINCES, WHOSE TRAFFICKERS ARE THE HONORABLE OF THE EARTH? The wealth of these men, together with their connections in distant lands, gave them a position of power a... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, He who has the fortunes of all men in His hands, TO STAIN THE PRIDE OF ALL GLORY, to profane, to bring shame upon that which the Tyrians wrongfully elevated, AND TO BRING INTO CONTEMPT ALL THE HONORABLE OF THE EARTH, so that both they and their temples and idols w... [ Continue Reading ]
Pass through thy land as a river, overflowing it like the Nile, without interference and hindrance from fallen Tyre, O DAUGHTER OF TARSHISH, the Spanish colony of Tyre; THERE IS NO MORE STRENGTH, literally, "not is there any more a dam. " The fate of Tyre is now further described for the benefit of... [ Continue Reading ]
He, Jehovah, stretched out His hand over the sea, as the One who has absolute power over all the forces of nature; HE SHOOK THE KINGDOMS, putting them in commotion to carry out His plans. THE LORD HATH GIVEN A COMMANDMENT AGAINST THE MERCHANT CITY, literally, "against Canaan," which here designates... [ Continue Reading ]
And He said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon, Tyre and all Phoenicia being disgraced now as a result of the conquest. ARISE, PASS OVER TO CHITTIM, emigrating to Cyprus, since the home country was in the hands of the enemies; THERE ALSO SHALT THOU HAVE NO REST,... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold the land of the Chaldeans, whence the destroyers came; THIS PEOPLE WAS NOT, who at first did not figure in history, TILL THE ASSYRIAN FOUNDED IT FOR THEM THAT DWELL IN THE WILDERNESS, for a section of the Assyrian empire had at first been assigned to them for settlement; THEY SET UP THE TOWER... [ Continue Reading ]
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for your strength is laid waste. Cf v. 1. Thus the Lord punishes those who exalt themselves and are proud in their idolatrous hearts.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RESTORATION OF TYREV. 15. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, at the time when this prophecy would be fulfilled, THAT TYRE SHALL BE FORGOTTEN SEVENTY YEARS, the length of the Chaldean supremacy, ACCORDING TO THE DAYS OF ONE KING, the reference to this period being as of a time during which th... [ Continue Reading ]
Take an harp, or zither, GO ABOUT THE CITY, THOU HARLOT THAT HAST BEEN FORGOTTEN; MAKE SWEET MELODY, with pleasant playing, SING MANY SONGS THAT THOU MAYEST BE REMEMBERED, the trade of Tyre being compared with the business of a harlot because both serve mammon and, in part, the lowest desires of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years that the Lord will visit Tyre, in mercy, to give her another opportunity to repent, AND SHE SHALL TURN TO HER HIRE, the gain of her trade being compared to the price of prostitution, AND SHALL COMMIT FORNICATION WITH ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WO... [ Continue Reading ]
And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord, by a disposition of God of which probably many of the Tyrians were not aware; IT SHALL NOT BE TREASURED NOR LAID UP, concealed for her own use; FOR HER MERCHANDISE SHALL BE FOR THEM THAT DWELL BEFORE THE LORD, His disciples, TO EAT SUFF... [ Continue Reading ]