Ezekiel 26
DOYLYEzekiel 26:3
- — at the entry of the sea,] A sea-port commodiously situated for the commerce of the Mediterranean. Calmet.
— which art a merchant of the people] Tyre is called by Isaiah “a mart of nations,” chap. xxiii. 3. Ezekiel, as it were commenting upon those words of Isaiah, recounts in this chapter the various nations, whose commodities were brought to Tyre, and were bought and sold by the Tyrians. Bp. Newton.
Ezekiel 26:4
- Thy borders are in the midst of the seas,] See chap. xxvi. 5. 19.
Ezekiel 26:6
- — her daughters which are in the field] By the daughters of Tyre are meant, the lesser towns which were under her jurisdiction, as the mother city or seat of the kingdom. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 26:7
- — Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar &c.] The Prophet in this place expressly declares, that the city should be taken and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Shalmaneser king of Assyria had besieged Tyre, but without success; the Tyrians had with a few ships beaten his large fleet: but yet Nebuchadnezzar should prevail. Ezekiel not only foretold the siege, but mentioned it afterwards as a past transaction. See chap. xxix. 18. Bp. Newton.
It hath been questioned among learned men, which of the Tyres was the subject of these prophecies; whether Old Tyre, that was seated on the continent, or New Tyre, that was built in an island almost over against it. The truest and best answer I conceive to be, that the prophecies appertain to both, some expressions being applicable only to the former, and others only to the latter. Compare chap. xxvii. 3, with ver. 4 and 25; xxvi. 7, &c. with Isa. xxiii. 2. 4. 6; and chap. xxvi. 10, with ver. 12, and xxviii. 8. From these passages it appears that the insular Tyre, as well as the Tyre upon the continent, is included in these prophecies: they are both comprehended under the same name, and both spoken of as one and the same city, part
built on the continent, and part on an island adjoining. It is commonly said indeed, that when Old Tyre was closely besieged, and was near falling into the hands of the Chaldeans, then the Tyrians fled from thence, and built New Tyre in the island: but the learned Vitringa hath proved at large, that New Tyre was founded several ages before, and was the station for ships, and considered as part of Old Tyre: and Pliny, speaking of the compass of the city, reckons both the old and the new together. Bp. Newton.
Ezekiel 26:8
- — and lift up the buckler] In forming the testudo. Michaelis. In the practice of this manoeuvre the men approached towards the wall with their bucklers lifted up above their heads, and so closely pressed together as to form a shield impenetrable to the darts of the besieged. Calmet.
Ezekiel 26:9
- — and with his axes] Any instrument used in demolishing buildings. W. Lowth, Abp. Newcome.
Ezekiel 26:10
10—12. — their dust shall cover thee: &c.] A lively description of the tumult and desolation that attends a conquering army making themselves masters of a great city; compare Nahum ii. 3, 4. 9; iii. 2, 3. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 26:12
- — thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.] The sea shall overflow thy ruins; see ver. 19. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 26:14
- — be built no more.] This is true of Old Tyre; it has been built no more: New Tyre, taken by Alexander, was built upon an island: Nebuchadnezzar quite destroyed Old Tyre, and the ruins were made use of by Alexander to effect the destruction of New Tyre.
The prophecy was also fulfilled upon New Tyre, whose inhabitants were quite destroyed by Alexander when he took the city, and afterwards the city itself became desolate. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 26:15
- — Shall not the isles shake] Shall not all the sea-coasts round about be afraid and amazed at thy destruction? Bp. Hull. See the note from Vitringa, on Isa. xi. 11.
The mourning at the fall of Tyrus. Before CHRIST 585. tremblings. b Rev. 18. 9. seas.
Ezekiel 26:16
16, 17. Then all the princes of the sea &c.] All the princes and rich merchants of Sidon, Carthage, and other maritime cities, that maintained a trade with Tyre, and got great wealth by that means; they whose “merchants are princes,” as Isaiah speaks of the merchants of Tyre, chap. xxiii. 8; they shall express a deep sense and concern for her misfortunes; compare chap. xxvii. 30–32; xxxii. 10. W. Lowth.
— shall clothe themselves with trembling;] See the like bold expressions, chap. vii. 27; Ps. xxxv. 26; cix. 29; cxxxii. 18.
Ezekiel 26:17
-
— strong in the sea,] Tyre is called “the strength of the sea,” Isa. xxiii. 4; being strong both by its situation and the strength of its naval forces, upon which account it was formidable to all who had any trading upon the sea. W. Lowth.
-
Now shall the isles tremble? Ver. 15. St. Jerome translates it, “Now shall the ships tremble,” that is, all seafaring men; see chap. xxvii. 29, 30; Isa. xxiii. 14. W. Lowth.
— at thy departure.] Into captivity. W. Lowth, Chaldee Paraphrase. At thy forsaking of the city and flying in ships. Houbigant. See Bp. Lowth on Isa. xxiii. 1.
The Tyrians having planted colonies at Tarshish and upon the coasts of Cluttin, it was natural for them, when pressed with dangers and difficulties at home, to fly to their friends and countrymen abroad for refuge and protection. That they really did so, St. Jerome asserts upon the authority of Assyrian histories, now lost and perished. Bp. Newton.
Ezekiel 26:19
- — when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, &c.] This may mean literally, that the sea should come up and cover the ruins of the city; see ver. 12. W. Lowth. Or, that the Babylonians should break in like a deluge upon the city, and swallow it up. Bp. Hull. Jeremiah compares the army of the king of Egypt to a flood; see Jer. xlvi. 7.
Ezekiel 26:20
- — with them that descend into the pit, &c.] Into the place of departed souls, as our Saviour speaks concerning Capernaum, Luke x. 15; compare Isa. xiv. 11. 15; Ezek. xxxii. 18. 24; and brought to utter desolation, like cities which have been long ago buried in oblivion. W. Lowth.
— set glory in the land of the living;] When I shall restore other cities, conquered by the king of Babylon, to that flourishing condition they formerly enjoyed among the inhabitants of this world W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 26:21
- — a terror,] A terrible example of my vengeance to all cities and countries. W. Lowth.
— though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again,] Compare ver. 14, and note. The expression denotes utter destruction, Ps. xxxvii. 36. W. Lowth.
Chap. XXVII. ver. 2. — take up a lamentation] This alludes to the mournful ditties used at funerals, wherein the mourning women recounted every thing that was valuable or praiseworthy belonging to the deceased, and then lamented his loss, Jer. ix. 17, 18. In like manner those that traded with Tyre should mourn over her and lament the loss of her riches and greatness; compare chap. xxvi. 16, 17; and see ver. 32 of this chapter. W. Lowth.