The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. Ver. 1. _The burden of Tyre._] Heb., Tsor, whence came Tyre. It was the chief city of Phoenicia, the chief market of the East, a very mic... [ Continue Reading ]
Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. Ver. 2. _Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle._] _A nundinatorio strepitu quiescite, et plorate,_ Be quiet, and mourn.... [ Continue Reading ]
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, [is] her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. Ver. 3. _And by great waters the seed of Sihor,_] _i.e., _ Of Nile, by the overflowing whereof Egypt is made exceeding fertile, being styled the "granary of the world." Tyre was much enr... [ Continue Reading ]
Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, [even] the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, [nor] bring up virgins. Ver. 4. _Be ashamed, O Zidon,_] _sc., _ Of Tyre, thy daughter and confederate. _ For the sea hath spoken, e... [ Continue Reading ]
As at the report concerning Egypt, [so] shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Ver. 5. _As at the report concerning Egypt,_] _i.e,_ Concerning their overthrow once at the Red Sea. Exo 15:14 They are also shortly to be overrun by Nebuchadnezzar, to whom God hath promised Egypt, as his pa... [ Continue Reading ]
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Ver. 6. _Pass ye over to Tarshish._] _Tyrii migrate coloni,_ be packing any whither, and make any shift to save your lives, _Ultra Sauromatas fugite hinc, &c._ To Carthage many of them went, say some; and the Septuagint; for ships of Tarsh... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 23:7 [Is] this your joyous [city], whose antiquity [is] of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. Ver. 7. _Is this your joyous city?_] _q.d., _ So ye were wont to hold her, and to boast of her; but now it is somewhat otherwise. Cities die as well as men, _a_ saith on... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants [are] princes, whose traffickers [are] the honourable of the earth? Ver. 8. _The crowning city._] Heb., The crowning or crowned: a city of kings, _a_ as Cyneas once said of Rome, This is a style better befitting heaven a... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, [and] to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. Ver. 9. _The Lord of hosts hath purposed it._] Here the prophet sets forth both who had decreed the downfall of this famous and flourishing city; and why? See Ezekiel 2... [ Continue Reading ]
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: [there is] no more strength. Ver. 10. _Pass through the land as a river,_] _i.e., _ Hastily: _a_ _Abi praeceps,_ pack up and begone with all speed, be there never so many of you here at Tyre. _ There is no more strength._] Heb., Girdle - th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant [city], to destroy the strong holds thereof._ Ver. 11. _He stretched out his hand._] That "mighty hand" of his, 1Pe 5:6 wherewith he spanneth the heavens, Isa 48:13 brought the Red... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest. Ver. 12. _Thou shalt no more rejoice._] Heb., Exult, revel. _ O thou oppressed._] Or, Ravished damsel, daughter of Zidon, _hactenus intacta vi hosti... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, [till] the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin. Ver. 13. _Behold the land of the Chaldeans,_] _q.d., _ The Chaldees were once... [ Continue Reading ]
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste. Ver. 14. _Howl, ye ships of Tarshish._] He concludeth this prophecy of Tyre's downfall as he began. Isa 23:1 The inhabitants of Tarshish, or Tarsus in Cilicia, were great ship masters; they sent a navy of a hundred ships to Xerxes when he... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Ver. 15. _Tyre shall be forgotten,_] _i.e., _ Laid aside by God, as if not at all minded in her misery: slighted also an... [ Continue Reading ]
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Ver. 16. _Take an harp._] In bidding her do so, he foretelleth that she shall do so - _sc., _ _ad ingenium suum redire,_ fall to her former practices. _ Make s... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. Ver. 17. _The Lord will visit Tyre._] Bad though she be, he will graciously visit her,... [ Continue Reading ]
And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. Ver. 18. _It shall not be treasured._] Being once converted, they shall leave heapi... [ Continue Reading ]