Isaiah 23

A prophecy concerning the destruction of the city of Tyrus, vers.1. etc. That God would destroy it, 8. Etc. That for her pride.9. He sheweth likewise how long this tribulation of the Tyrians should last, 15. Their rising again, 17 and their conversion to Christ.

1. The burden of Tyrus [The meaning is, this is a heavy prophesy, foretelling what misery shall befall Tyrus. See above chap.13.on vers.1. compare Jerem.47.4. with chapters 26,27,28. Zach.9.3,4.] howl ye ships of Tharsis, [that is, ye mariners and Merchants that trade beyond Sea with Tyre. Of Tharsis, see 1 Kings 10.on vers.22.] it is laid wast, [that is, it shall be destroyed. The Prophet uttered this when Tyre was yet in her prime, and greatest glory. And the Prophet threateneth this not onely against the city of Tyre, but also against the whole Island] (so) that there us no house more, (so) that no man entereth in any more; [Hebr. From house, and from coming in, or entering in. Compare below chap.24.10. Some render the words thus; it is destroyed by those of (her own) household, and by the corners in: that is, not onely by strangers, but by her own servants and bond-men, or slaves. For when these saw that their masters power and authority was almost gone and come to ought, they did then combine together, and did murder and kill their own masters, all the free-men assuming the government to themselves, and making one named Strato their King. Justin in his History, Lib.18.] from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. [that is, it shall be revealed to them (to wit, Marines and Merchants) from the land of Chittim, that is, from Cilicia or Macedonia, (See Genes.chap.10.on vers.4.] from whence the news of Tyres first desolation by Nebuchanezar should be spread abroad, by the fugitives that should from thence pass over into Cilicia, and from whence the destruction should afterward befall them. The meaning of these words is, this desolation shall befall those of Tyre first by King Nebuchanezar, Jer.47. Ezek.26.14. and 29.18,19,20. And a long while after by the Greeks and Macedonians, to wit, by Alexander the great, who many years after this took Tyre, and laid it all on an heap.

2. Keep silence, ye inhabitants of the Isle, [As if he had said, brag no more of your great riches and glory, they shall soon be at an end (ye inhabitants of the Isle) to wit, of the Isle of Tyre. This city lay in an Island, when Isaiahs prophesied this] thou whom the merchants of Zidon. [this was also a famous city for traffic or trading, lying hard by Tyrus, being under one lords Jurisdiction or Dominion. See Ezek.28.21.] passing over the Sea, replenished. [to wit, with all manner of wares and merchandise, which they brought in thither with their ships laden, Heb. The merchant of Zidon passion over the Sea replenished thee.]

3. And whose revenue was the seed. [Here seed is put for flax, which growth from seed] of Sichor [this is the name of a River which parteth Egypt from Canaan, Jos.13.3. See the Annotat. There. Egypt it self is sometimes called Sthor, from this river] upon the great waters, [some understand here by the great waters, the ocean: others, the great rivers of Egypt] waters, the ocean: others, the great rivers of Egypt] waters, the ocean: others, the great rivers of Egypt] the harvest [that is, the corn-fruits] of the river: [that is, the corn which growth by the brooks or rivers, whereby it is watered, when Nilus overfloweth. Others of the brook (of Egypt.) The Prophet intimateth here, that Tyrus grew rich by trading in fruits that grew in other countries] and she was the mart [that the place of trading. See Ezek.27.3,12.] of the heathen.

4. Be ashamed, O Zidon, [That is, O ye Zidonians. These are the first that built the city of Tyre.] for the Sea [that is, the inhabitants of the Isles that lie in the Sea, as Psal.65.6.] speaketh, (ye the strength meaning the city of Tyrus, which by reason of the Sea, wherein it lay, seemed to be unconquerable] saying, I have not travelled, neither have I brought forth children, neither have I made young men great, [that is, brought them to full and perfect growth (nor brought up virgins. [The meaning is these words is, as if Tyre had said, I that was wont to be so populous, am now in such a condition, as if I were grown quite barren, yea as if I had here had or bred up no children, or inhabitants; I am waxed stark dead, it is at an end with me.]

5. According as the rumour of Egypt hath been, [Understand here that judgement that formerly befell the Egyptians in Moses time, as Exod.15.14. or that judgement of Egypt, whereof mention is made above chap.19.] shall they also in pain, [the Hebrew word which the prophet here useth, signifieth properly the pain and anguish that cometh upon a woman in travail] when they shall hear of Tyre, to wit, when they shall hear that Tyre, that rich and mighty city, which seemed to be unconquerable, is so utterly wasted and destroyed. For all other cities will be afraid that it will happen to them so too, conceiving, that if that strong and mighty city of Tyre could not escape sacking, how then shall it go with us? Some render this verse thus, when the report (shall come) to the Egyptians, they shall be sorry for that which they shall hear of Tyre.]

6. Pass over to Tharsis, [That is, flee out of Tyre, seek new countries and cities, where you may pitch your tents] howl ye inhabitants of the Isle [to wit, of the Isle of Tyre, as above verse 2.]

7. Is this your (city) leaping for joy? [of the excellency and exceedingly great magnificence of Tyre, see Ezek.27.3,4, &c.] whose antiquity is (indeed) of ancient days, but here own feet shall carry her afar off, to sojourn [or, to be a sojourner; that is, to go and seek other habitations. When the Tyrians were driven out of their own city and country, then they wandered up and down, and sought a convenient place where they might best pitch their tents, and in time they built the cities of Carthage, Leptus, Utica, and Gades.]

8. Who hath devised this against Tyre that crowning (city) [Or, that she-crowner; to wit, that city, which not onely assumed the title of a crowned Queen, but also crowned all her inhabitants and Merchants with joys and honour, making many of them as Princes, as is hinted in the following words] whose merchants are Princes, whose traffickers, [or, merchants, Heb. Canaanites. See the Annotat. Job chap.40.on ver.25. are the most honourable in the land? [or, on the earth.]

9. The LORD of hosts hath decreed it that he would perform [that is, to stain, to bring into contempt and vilifying] the pride of all ornaments, [or the pomp; to wit, of the stately Tyrians] to make contemptible [the Hebrew word signifieth properly to unlade, to make light, as ships are lightened of the straight or burden which they bear. It is here opposed to a word which is here rendered the most honourable, but which properly signifieth the laden ones, yet withal honourable] all the most honourable of the earth. Others, of the land.]

10. Pass through (to) thy land, [This is a speech directed to the foreign merchants, or to the inhabitants of Tyrus, thus, pass through out of thy land] as a river: [that is, quickly, to wit, as swiftly as a river, that falling, running down from above, runneth into the sea. Others as a river; that is, continually without ceasing] thou daughter of Tharsis, [that is, ye that sail upon the sea u into Tyrus, are wont to trade there. Some understand here by the daughter of Tharsis, or, of the sea, the city of Tyrus which lay in the midst of the sea, and seemed to be spring from thence, yea which also lived, moved, and traded in the sea] there is no more girdle [that is, Tyrus hath lost all her strength, glory, and trading. For a girdle is used partly for ornament, partly to stiffen and strengthen the loins and back. See Job 12:18,21. And 40.2. Prov.31.24. with the Annotat. Others understand here by the girdle the walls of the city of Tyrus, wherewith it was environed and as it were girded about.]

11. Ho [To wit the Lord] stretched out his hand [to wit, for to smite] over the sea; [that is, over the city of Tyrus lying in the sea. Others, over the ships of the sea that are wont to trade at Tyrus] he troubled the kingdoms: [that is, disturbed them, or stirred them up against Tyrus] the LORD hath given command LORD hath given command [to wit, unto the strange kingdoms or kings. That is, God hath infused or inspired it into those nations; and inciteth them to it, as above chap.13.3. and 2 Sam.16.11,12. See the Annotat. There] against Canaan, [that is, against the Tyrians, Canaans posterity by Zidon, Gen.10.15. Others, the Lord hath given command unto a merchant; meaning Nebuchadnezzar, or great Alexander. Others against the merchant city. In the signification of merchant is the word Canaan taken above vers.8. and elsewhere] to destroy the strong holds thereof.

12. And he [to wit, the Lord] said, thou shalt no more skip for joy, O thou oppressed virgin, thou daughter of Zidon: [Others, O thou oppressed virgin of the daughter of Zidon: [so the Prophet calleth the city of Tyrus, because it was first built by the Zidonians. And the prophet calleth tyrus here an oppressed or deflowered virgin, because she should be certainly deflowered or ravished, that is, destroyed and cut off] Unto Chittim, [by this abrupt phrase is signified, that the Tyrians should flee in all haste, especially to those of Chittim, or, to the land of the Chittims (for the Hebrew word will bear both) comprehending under it all kind of places lying over sea, as Cilicia, Greece or Macedonia, Italy, &c. Whereof also above ver.1.] get thee up, pass over; there also shalt thou have no rest. [that is, thou shalt neither be able to rest or lie in peace there whither thou fleest, but shalt be plagued and banished, or driven away, See above ver.7.others, Ye Chittim, or, people of Chittim, march on &c. Taking it as a divine oracle or speech made to Alexander the great and His army; that is, should make haste not onely to destroy Tyrus, but also to march on against the Chaldeans and Babel. See above on ver.1.]

13. Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, this people was not, [God setteth before the eyes of the Tyrains the example of the Assyrian or Chaldean Monarchy, as who were already partly subdued and laid waste, and should partly in time to come be laid waste and desolate, that it might not seem strange unto the Tyrians, that they likewise should be wasted and destroyed] Assur founded it for them that dwell in the wildernesses: [that is, the Chaldeans that were wont in the wilderness to dwell in tents, were by the Assyrians assembled and brought together into cities. See Gen.10.ver.10,11. And 11.2,8,9. And compare Psal.72.9. and 74.14.] they set up the strong holds thereof, (and) built the palaces thereof, (but) he [to wit, God, of whom is spoken above ver.8,9,11,12.] made it a ruinous heap. [It, to wit, the land of the Chaldea or, he made them, or, to wit, he subdued the Assyrians by the Chaldeans: or in a Prophetical manner he shall assuredly subdue the Assyrians by the Chaldeans or Babylonians, and shall afterward subdue the Babylonians by the Persians, and shall consequently much easier destroy thy city and kingdom, O Tyrus (he made it a ruinous heap) that is, he turned it upside down. Compare below, chap.25.2.]

14. Howl ye ships of Tharsis, for your strength is destroyed, [That is, the city of Tyrus, with all strong places lying near unto it.]

15. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyrus shall be forgotten seventy years, [That is, the Tyrants shall be forgotten seventy years, [That is, the Tyrians shall continue in their misery seventy years, as if so be God had forgotten them, or regarded them no more: (seventy years) to wit, as long as the Jews should continue in the Babylonish captivity] as the days of one King: [that is, as long as a king doth live, or in likelihood may live, or in general, as long as a man may live; to wit, that attaineth to a great age. See Psal.90.10. others as long as our kingdom shall last. Thus the word melech is also taken for kingdom, Dan.7.17. and 8.21. and hereby the same word is meant the kingdom of Babel, which stood seventy years after the ruine and destruction of Tyrus] (but) at the end of seventy years, (there) shall be in Tyrus as an harlots song, [that is, Tyrus shall be inhabited again, and be in good plight or prosperity; and then the inhabitants being grown rich and voluptuous, shall follow again their old course, in singing and dancing and exercising all carnal pleasures and delights, as is further affirmed, ver.16,17. Others, that the particle as may also have its efficacy and virtue, expound these words thus; the inhabitants of Tyrus shall know as plainly to allure and deceive the merchants, as the harlots or whores know to entice and seduce whoremongers by their sweet and pleasant songs.]

16. Take the harp, go round about in the city, thou forgotten [That is, that hast been forgotten, or hast been had in oblivion] harlot, [O Tyrus, thou city full of whoredome: or, the merchants of Tyrus, who with your pleasant talk and smooth commending of your wares know to allure and draw chapmen to you, as harlots do their lovers and followers] play well, [Heb. Make it well with playing, or make the playing good. See Psal.33.on ver.3.] sing many songs, [Heb. Multiply the song] that thou mayest be remembered.

17. For it shall come to pass at the end of seventy years that the LORD shall visit Tyrus, and that she shall return to her harlots ways, and she shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of earth, that are in the world, [Almost all Expositors understand hereby fornication the filthy lucre of the Tyrians, which they got by their merchandise of all rich and mighty people that dwell in the country’s that lay round about them.]

18. And her merchandise [To wit, the merchandise of the Tyrians] and her harlots ways shall be holy, or, be hallowed, Heb. Be in holiness] unto the LORD, it shall not be gathered for a treasure, nor locked up: but her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, [Understand by these Christians in general, and especially the Teachers or Ministers of the Church] that they may eat unto satiety and that they may have durable covering, [that is, covering that is durable, or which may last long. Here is foretold, that some of the Tyrians in future times, being converted unto the true God and to Chritians Religion, should not lock up and keep their wealth and riches in chests and coffers, but should liberally distribute them to the glory of God and to the necessity of poor Christians. See Acts 2:44. and 4. 34.]