Isa. 23 The destruction of Tyre, from God, for their pride, Isa. 23:1–14. The time of her rising again, Isa. 23:15–17, and conversion to God, Isa. 23:18.

The burden of Tyre; the prophecy of the heavy calamity and destruction of Tyre; which now stood in its strength and glory, being seated in an island, upon a rock, abounding in riches, mighty in naval power, having lately conquered that navy which the Assyrians brought against them.

Be still, Heb. Be silent, as one confounded, and not knowing what to say, or as mourners use to be, Job 2:8, Job 2:13, Isa. 47:5; boast no more of thy wealth and power, as thou usedst to do. Of the isle, Heb. of Tyrus, which now was an island, Ezek. 27:3, Ezek.

By great waters; by the sea, which is very fitly called the great waters, Ps. 107:23; understand, cometh, or is brought to her. The seed of Sihor; the corn of Egypt, wherewith Egypt abounded, and furnished divers other parts of the world, whence it was called the granary of the Roman empire; which…

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; for Zidon was a great city near Tyre, and strongly united to her by commerce and league, and called by some the mother of Tyre, which they say was built and first inhabited by a colony of the Sidonians; and therefore she must needs be greatly concerned in the destruction…

According to this translation the sense is, All the neighbouring nations shall be no less terrified at the tidings of lite destruction of Tyrus, than they were of old upon the report of God’s former and dreadful judgments upon the Egyptians, of which see Ex. 15:14–16, Josh. 2:9, Josh.

Pass ye over to Tarshish; flee from your own country to Tarsus of Cilicia, and there bewail your calamities. Or rather, as others render the place, Pass over the sea, which is oft called Tarshish; of which See Poole “Isa. 23:1”. Of the isle; of Tyrus, as before, Isa. 23:2.

Is this your joyous city, that formerly lived in so much pomp, and pleasure, and security? Whose antiquity is of ancient days; being built before Joshua’s time, as is manifest from Josh. 19:29.

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre? words of admiration: who and where is he that could imagine or durst attempt such a thing as this? This is the work of God, as is expressed, Isa. 23:9, and not of man. The crowning city; which was a royal city, Jer. 25:22, and called a kingdom, Ezek.

The Lord of hosts hath purposed it; this is the Lord’s own doing; therefore do not doubt it, nor wonder at it. God’s design is by this one example to abate and abase the pride of all the potentates of the earth, that they may see and know what weak and wretched creatures they are, when God leaves…

Pass through the land; tarry no longer in thy own territories, but flee through them, and beyond them, into other countries, for safety and relief. As a river; swiftly, lest you be prevented; and continually, till you be all gone; and in shoals and multitudes.

He, the Lord, expressed Isa. 23:9, stretched out his hand to strike it, the antecedent being put for the consequent, over the sea; or, against the sea, i.e.

O thou oppressed virgin: so he calls her, either for her pride and beauty, and living in great ease and pleasure; or because she had hitherto never borne the yoke of a conquering enemy; though withal he declares that she should be oppressed or defloured very suddenly.

Behold the land of the Chaldeans; you Tyrians, who think your city impregnable, cast your eyes upon the land and empire of the Chaldeans, or Babylonians; which though now it be a flourishing kingdom, and shall shortly grow far more glorious and potent, even the glory of kingdoms, as it is called,…

Your strength; the city of Tyre, where you found safety and wealth.

Forgotten; neglected and forsaken by those who used to resort thither. Seventy years; during the whole time of the Jewish captivity in Babylon. For Tyrus was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 27:3, Jer. 27:8, Ezek.

Take an harp, go about the city; as harlots use to do, to allure customers. Thou harlot; so he calleth Tyre, partly because she enticed merchants to deal with her by various artifices, and even by dishonest practices, as harlots use; and partly because of the great and general uncleanness which was…

Visit Tyre, to wit, in mercy, as this phrase is used, Ruth 1:6, Ps. 65:9, and elsewhere. Her hire: the Hebrew word properly signifies, the hire of an harlot; which agrees well with the fornication in the next clause; although these phrases are not to be understood properly, but metaphorically, of…

Her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: he speaks not here of what the Tyrians would do immediately after their restitution, but some time after it, even in the days of the Messiah; of which even some of the Jewish rabbies understand it, and to which the prophets have a special…