Isaiah 23:16

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. SING ... THAT THOU MAYEST BE REMEMBERED. Same figure, to express that Tyre would again prosper and attract commercial contact of nations to her, and be the same joyous, self-indulging city as before....

16._Take a harp. _He compares Tyre to a harlot, who, after having spent the whole period of her youth in debauchery, has at length grown old, and on that account is forsaken and despised by all, and yet cannot forget her former gain and lewdness, but desires to grow young again and renew her loves, and, in order to attract men, goes about the city, delighting their ears by songs and musical instruments. Such prostitutes are seized with some kind of madness, when they perceive that they are disregarded on account of their old age; and we see that Horace mocks at Lydia on this account. (116) Thus Tyre, after having been ruined, and as it were buried in oblivion, will again put forth her efforts, and schemes, and contrivances, for recovering her former condition. _Make sweet melody. _By the “harp” and “sweet melody,” he means the tricks, and frauds, and blandishments, and flatteries of merc...

15-18 The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God. When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and hire are holiness to the Lord, if we look to his glory. Christians should carry on business as God's servants, and use riches as his stewards....

TAKE AN HARP - This is a continuation of the figure commenced in the previous verse, a direct command to Tyre as an harlot, to go about the city with the usual expressions of rejoicing. Thus Donatus, in Terent. Eunuch., iii. 2, 4, says: ‘_Fidicinam esse meretricum est_;’ And thus Horace: ‘_Nec meretrix tibicina, cujus_ _Ad strepitum salias_.’ _1 Epis. xiv. 25._ THOU HARLOT THAT HAST BEEN FORGOTTEN - For seventy years thou hast lain unknown, desolate, ruined. MAKE SWEET MELODY ... - Still the prophet keeps up the idea of the harlot that had been forgotten, and that would now ca

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 23:1 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. We hero reach the last of the "burdens"—the concluding chapter of the series of denunciatory prophecies which commenced with Isaiah 13:1. It is an elegy "in three stanzas, or strophes" (Cheyne)—the first extending from Isaiah 13:1 to Isaiah 13:5; the second, thence to Isaiah 13:9; and the third from Isaiah 13:10 to...

TAKE A HARP, GO ABOUT THE CITY,.... As harlots used to do, that by their music, both vocal and instrumental, they might allure men into their company to commit fornication with them; so Tyre is directed to, or rather this is a prophecy that she should take very artful and ensnaring methods to restore her commerce and merchandise: THOU HARLOT THAT HAST BEEN FORGOTTEN; Isaiah 23:15: MAKE SWEET MELODY; or, "do well by striking" k; that is, the harp in her hand; strike it well with art and skill, so as to make melody, and give pleasure: SING MANY SONGS; or, "multiply a song" l; sing one after another, till the point is carried aimed at: THAT THOU MAYEST BE REMEMBERED; men may took at thee again, and trade with thee as formerly, who had been so long forgotten and neglected. k הטיבי נגן "benefac pulsando",

CHAPTER 23 The Burden of Tyre 1. _Tyre's great disaster (Isaiah 23:1)_ 2. _The complete overthrow (Isaiah 23:6)_ 3. _Tyre's future restoration and degradation (Isaiah 23:15)_ Tyre typifies the commercial expansion and glory of the world. Behind this commercial glory stands Satan, the god of this age. Read Ezekiel 28:11. Nebuchadnezzar carried out judgment upon Tyre Ezekiel 29:17. A revival of Tyre is also predicted. We call attention to a statement in the beautiful Forty-fifth Psalm, a millennial Psalm. When the Kin

ISAIAH 23. ORACLE ON TYRE. The date and authorship are alike very uncertain. If by Isaiah, the occasion may be the siege of Tyre by Shalmaneser about 727- 722 (p. 59), the historicity of which, however, is questioned by some, or Sennacherib's invasion in 701. The text of 13 is very suspicious, and its interpretation very uncertain, or it might have helped to fix the date. Isaiah 23:15 is probably a post-exilic appendix. Isaiah 23:1 is perhaps best referred to Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Tyre, 585- 577 (p. 61). The ships of Tarshish (Isaiah 2:16 *) are on their way back to Tyre, and after they have left Kittim, _i.e._ Cyprus (Numbers

TAKE AN HARP, &C. Figure of speech _Apostrophe_. Not. quotation....

The appendix. Tyre shall be forgotten for seventy years; afterwards she shall resume her commercial activity, but its profits shall be dedicated to Jehovah's people....