Isaiah 23

Isaiah 23:1

BUrden] See Chap. 13. 1.

Tyre] Jeremiah 25:22. & Jeremiah 47:4. Ezekiel 26-28. Amos 1:9. Zechariah 9:2; Zechariah 9:4.

Howl,] Verse 14.

ye ships of Tarshish] Ye of Cilicia, that trade there. Ezekiel 12:27; Ezekiel 12:25. See Chap. 2. 16.

it is laid waste] Tyrus; by Nebuchadnezzar at first, Ezekiel 26:7. & Ezekiel 29:18. and afterward by Alexander the great.

so that &c.] Heb. from City, from entrance; as Chap. 7. 8.

no house,] No harbour, or place of receipt for you at Tyre.

Chittim] Macedonia; from whence Alexander came. See Genesis 10:4. Numbers 24:24. Daniel 11:30.

it is revealed to them] Or, it (the foundation thereof) is laid bare. Ezekiel 13:14. Micah 1:6.

Isaiah 23:2

still] Heb. silent. Jeremiah 47:6.

Isle,] Tyrus, for it stood within the sea. Ezek. 27. 3, 4. & 28. 2.

Zidon] See Vers. 4. 12.

have replenished] Have haunted and enriched: Ezekiel 26:2. & 27. 5, &c.

Isaiah 23:3

by great waters] Brought in by the Mid-land sea. Psalm. 104. 25.

of Sihor] The flax and corn of Egypt, fed by the river Nilus. Joshua 13:3. Jeremiah 2:18.

a mart of nations] The greatest mart of the known world in those times, for all manner of merchandise. See Ezekiel 27.

Isaiah 23:4

Zidon] A citie near to Tyrus, and so conjoyned with it in commerce and confederacie, that they semed to be as one state. See Gen. 10. 15, 19. Josh. 19. 28, 29. Ezekiel 28:21. Matthew 11:22.

sea hath spoken] The sea bordering on Tyrus, and Tyrus its chief port.

Isaiah 23:5

As at the report] Or, when the report cometh to Egypt, they shall.

be sorely pained] Fearing, not without cause, that their turn may be next. Ezekiel 29:18-19.

Isaiah 23:6

Passe ye over to Tarshish] Flee, ye Tyrians and Sidonians, to seek you new seats. See Cha. 2 16.

ye inhabitants] Vers. 2.

Isaiah 23:7

joyous] Or, revelling. Chap. 22. 2.

ancient dayes] Heb. dayes of antiquity. Chap. 37. 26.

feet shall carry her] Shee shall go away, carried captive; not in state, riding as a Princesse; but compelled to travell on foot, as some mean person. Ecclesiastes 10:7.

afarre off] Heb. from afarre off. as Jeremiah 49:19.

Isaiah 23:8

the crowning] That royall citie, that weareth a crown. Ezekiel 28:22. Or, that crowneth her inhabitant, with wealth and state.

crowning] Or, crowned.

Merchants are princes] That maketh her merchants as princes. or, with whom princes trade. Ezekiel 27:21.

Isaiah 23:9

to stain] Heb. to pollute.

stain] Or, throw down. Psal. 89. 39, 44.

Isaiah 23:10

Passe through thy land] Flee with all speed, to make an escape, thou Tyrus, the daughter of the Ocean. or, flee unto Tarsus in Cilicia, or some other place abroad: for thy shelter is all gone at home. Vers. 12.

O daughter] Or, to the daughter, as Vers. 6.

there is no more strength] Thy wall and rampiers are gone, Ezekiel 26:4. or, thy power and strength. Chap. 11. 5. & 22. 21. See the like manner of speech, Chap. 47. 1.

strength] Heb. girdle. Job 12:18. & Job 38:3.

Isaiah 23:11

He stretched] The Lord hath done it. vers. 9.

streched out, &c.] Or, hath, stretched out, &c. hath shaken, &c.

over the sea] As sometime over the red sea. Exod. 1. 4 16, 21. Chap. 10. 24, 26. & 14. 27.

shook the kingdoms] Haggai 2:6. Hebrews 12:26; Hebrews 12:28.

against the merchant citie] Or, concerning a merchant-man. Hosea 12:7.

the merchant citie] Heb. Canaan. from whence the Tyrians and Sidonians are descended. Genesis 10:15; Genesis 10:19.

strong holds] Or, strength. Vers. 14.

Isaiah 23:12

no more] Heb. not adde to. as Chap. 1. 13.

rejoyce] Or, revell it. Vers. 7.

virgin] Not touched, or afflicted before. Or, for state and beauty, like a young beautifull damsell. Chap. 47. 1.

daughter of Zidon] Tyrus, founded by the Zidonians. or, Zidon it self; in the same state with Tyrus. Vers. 4. See Chap. 1. 8. & 47. 1.

there also shalt thou have no rest] For from thence shall the enemy set forth against thee. Vers. 1.

Isaiah 23:13

Behold] Amos 6:2.

the land of the Chaldeans] Because it might seem incredible, that Tyrus should thus be destroyed, he mindeth them of the Chaldeans, a state ancienter and more ample, then theirs: which yet, either had been destroyed by the Assyrians, 2 Kings 17:24. or though, being by them, having surprized it, fortified and repaired, yet should by the Medes and Persians be utterly ruined. Chap. 13. and 14. See the like to Egypt concerning Assyria, Ezekiel 31:3 &c.

this people] The Tyrian state.

till] Or, when.

that dwell in the wildernesse] That dwelt scattered here and there before in waste places. Job 3:14. & Job 15:28.

towers] Heb. watch-towers. Chap. 32. 14.

and he brought it] Or, yet was it. as Chap. 22. 19.

Isaiah 23:14

Howl] Vers 1.

Isaiah 23:15

seventy years] So long as the Jews were in captivitie in Babylon. Jer. 29. 10 Daniel 9:2.

one king] Of the Babylonian kingdom or Empire; so long as it shall last. Jeremiah 27:7. under which all those parts of the world endured grievous servitude; untill by Cyrus they were restored to their former freedom.

shall Tyre sing as an harlot] Heb. it shall be unto Tyrus, as the song of an harlot.

sing as an harlot] She shall use all cunning means to draw people to her. or, she shall return to her merchandise again.

Isaiah 23:16

thou harlot that hast been forgotten] She shall seek to regain her former credit, as an harlot, that hath long been forsaken of her lovers. Jeremiah 2:32. alluding to her musick; mentioned Ezekiel 26:13. & Ezekiel 28:13.

sweet melody] Heb. good striking, or, hand-musick. Chap. 38. 20.

Isaiah 23:17

her hire] Her wonted commerce, attended commonly with fraud and evill arts. Proverbs 20:14. Hosea 12:7. Luke 16. 9.

commit fornication] Revelation 17:2. & Revelation 18:9.

Isaiah 23:18

And] Or, yet. as Chap. 17. 8.

her merchandise] When by the preaching of the gospel, she shall be brought to repentance, the gain of her trading shall be employed to the maintenance of Gods worship and his ministerie. Chap. 60. 6. 7. See Acts 2:44. & Acts 4:34.

holinesse to the LORD] Exodus 28:36. Zechariah 14:20.

laid up] For profane, or private use, Deuteronomy 15:19. & Deuteronomy 26:14.

durable] Heb. old. Proverbs 8:18.