Ezek. 26 Tyrus, for insulting over the distress of Jerusalem, is threatened with destruction, Ezek. 26:1–6; of which Nebuchadrezzar shall be made the instrument, Ezek. 26:7–14. The consternation and mourning of the isles and princes of the sea for her fall, Ezek. 26:15–21.

The eleventh year of Jeconiah’s captivity, the year wherein Jerusalem was taken. The first day of the month; that month which followed the taking of Jerusalem, i.e.

Tyrus; the city for the people; it is probable it was a universal joy, therefore ascribed to the whole city, built on a rock and island of the same name, not far distant from the continent, a very great traded port and city.

I am against thee; and if God be against them, they will soon have enemies enough too against them: God purposeth, threateneth, and assureth them he is and will be against them. Many nations, for number, and mighty for strength, riches, authority, and feats of war already done.

Destroy; batter and demolish with their mighty engines, which shall shake, disjoint, and beat down the strongest parts of their walls. Break down; undermine, that they may tumble at once, or employ hands to take them down, as men pull down buildings.

As barren sandy islets in the midst of the sea, good for nothing but to dry fishermen’s nets, shalt thou be. A spoil; a prey: though the contexture of the words place this after its being made so bare and poor, yet we are to observe, that these last words give us account how this poverty and…

Her daughters; either the lesser cities, which were as daughters to Tyre, a phrase most familiar to the Scriptures; or else their virgins, and daughters of the family.

I will bring: see Ezek. 23:46. A king of kings; so he styled himself, according to the vaunting manner of those countries, and indeed, by the right of conquest, he was king of kings, having many tributary kings under him, and many captive kings with him in Babylon, 2 Kings 18:28, Jer. 52:32.

See Ezek. 26:6. Make a fort against thee: see Ezek. 4:2, Ezek. 17:17. Cast a mount against thee: he shall draw a line round about thee, and build bastions, raise sconces to defend the lines, to keep in the besieged, and secure the besiegers; or he shall pour out the shot, mighty stones or the like,…

Engines of war: these were mighty engines, whatever form made of, and had their description here from the irresistible force wherewith they cast stones, and beat down all before them. Axes; whatever made of iron, and framed to demolish buildings: see Ezek. 16:39.

Their dust; the dust they raise in marching, or in their exercising, in riding to and fro; but whether while on the land, or when they entered the city, may be doubted. Shall cover thee; as a cloud it shall cover the city. Shall shake, as buildings do with great noise, motion.

In proud, stately, and menacing posture shall the king of Babylon ride through all the streets of thy city, to the grief and sorrow of the Tyrians; and so shall his troops do too.

They; Chaldean soldiers. Make a spoil; hinder thy trade during the war, and plunder thee in the end of the war. Make a prey of thy merchandise; intercepting much, as it is coming to thee whilst besieged, and taking what they find, when they conquer. Break down thy walls: see Ezek. 26:4, Ezek.

A populus, wealthy, ancient, and much frequented city, in the midst of great security, no doubt, had all sorts of music, and loud music on the water especially, and songs to their music; but God will dash it all.

Ezek. 14:4–5. Thou shalt be built no more; either not this long time, or else not built in greatness and glory, or not raised to be a kingdom, or not by the inhabitants of old Tyre, or not with the same laws, customs, and usages; indeed, though there was a city of that name built, yet it was built…

Isles, which are places freest from the danger of invasions, and in those days thought themselves safe, will think themselves in danger, and shake with fear, when they hear that Tyre is fallen; it will amaze and fright them all, when they hear thy men were wounded and slain in the midst of thee who…

The princes of the sea; who were lords of the islands in that sea, and who traded with Tyrus, and there were many such; or sea commanders, who, in their wooden world, are so many petty princes; but rather the former, the crowned heads whose kingdoms were so many islands.

They; the princes of the sea, Ezek. 26:16. Take up a lamentation for thee; solemnly, heartily, and for many days bewail thee. Say to thee, by a prosopopceia, or fiction of persons, personate a dismal, sorrowful congress with fallen Tyre.

The isles; or ships; so it might be rendered; whether one or other, it is the fixing for the men, as isles for islanders, or ships for mariners. Tremble in the day of thy fall; apprehending that nothing can stand if Tyre fall, and that they are in danger too.

Shall make thee a desolate city; have made thee what now I threaten I will make thee. Like the cities that are not inhabited; in the same state with cities that have not any to dwell in them, whose walls are broken down. and into whose streets all solitary wild beasts may come at pleasure.

Bring thee down; destroy thee, slay thee, and bury thee, throw thee into the grave. The people of old time; who are long since dead, and gone to eternity, the people of eternity.

A terror, or consumption; I will utterly consume thee; with more than one kind of destruction will I destroy thee, and make thee thereby a terror to all that hear the bruit of thee. Thou shalt be no more: see Ezek. 26:14.