Isaiah 23 - Introduction
_THE MISERABLE OVERTHROW OF TYRE. HER RESTORATION AFTER SEVENTY YEARS, AND HER INIQUITIES._ _Before Christ 715._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE MISERABLE OVERTHROW OF TYRE. HER RESTORATION AFTER SEVENTY YEARS, AND HER INIQUITIES._ _Before Christ 715._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF TYRE— There can be no wonder that the prophet, foretelling the judgments of the different nations concerned with the Jews, should dwell upon that of Tyre. In this chapter, which contains the 8th and last discourse of the second book of his prophesies, Isaiah paints, in a most lively ma... [ Continue Reading ]
BE STILL, &C.— The second apostrophe is addressed to the islands of the Mediterranean sea, which are here collectively called _the isle,_ and which are summoned to silence and wonder. That this is the true interpretation appears from Ezekiel 26:16; Ezekiel 26:19. The order of the apostrophes is obse... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU ASHAMED, O ZIDON— The calamity of Tyre would more nearly affect Sidon as its mother and nurse, who had always cherished and supported her as a _daughter,_ and placed her greatest confidence in this fortress, which she now saw taken, with _shame_ and _concern;_ wherefore, either Tyre herself... [ Continue Reading ]
PASS YE OVER TO TARSHISH— The prophet now turns his discourse to Tyre itself; and commands or exhorts such of the inhabitants, not of insular Tyre only, but of the whole maritime coast subject to the dominion of Tyre, as should remain from this overthrow, to go to _Tartessus_ or Gades, that there th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH TAKEN THIS COUNSEL, &C.— The prophet here informs us of the great executor of this judgment, namely, God himself. To do this the more elegantly, he introduces a chorus of men, astonished at this unexpected fate of so glorious a city, and inquiring into the author and causes of it; to which... [ Continue Reading ]
HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND— We have here the latter member of the period concerning the grand projector and executor of the destruction of Tyre; where, in the 11th verse, the prophet tells us that the God of Israel hath _stretched out his hand,_ hath exerted his power and strength to execute his judg... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS, &C — The prophet in these words sets forth the instrumental cause of the destruction of Tyre, which should subserve the God of Israel in the execution of this singular judgment; and, as this was a very striking and extraordinary matter, he introduces it with a _Beho... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY— The second part of this discourse contains the alleviation of the calamity decreed upon Tyre. In these verses the prophet informs us, _first,_ that God would circumscribe within certain bounds his severity to Tyre, and within seventy years restore it to its for... [ Continue Reading ]
_ISAIAH 23:18_. _And her merchandise,_ &c. The meaning of the prophet is extremely clear; namely, that the time would come after the restoration of Tyre, in which the Tyrians, out of reverence to the true God, would consecrate their wealth and gain to him, and would readily contribute that gain and... [ Continue Reading ]