Isaiah 23

Isaiah 23:1-5

Those concerned in the ships of Cicilia, the south parts of Spain, and other sea ports, shall grievously bewail the extensive destruction of Tyre, as the harbours and places of entertainment and commerce there, shall be all destroyed by the Chaldeans or Greeks, and part of the inhabitants carried captive; of which they shall be informed by the people with whom they trade. There shall be nothing but mournful silence and desolation in Tyre, which had been lately filled with mariners, merchants, and goods; filled with the corn and other commodities of Egypt; and resorted to by all the trading nations of the known world. Zidon, her parent and neighbouring city, shall be quite overwhelmed with confusion, because Tyre, long the mistress of the sea, instead of sending forth her colonies, shall be bereaved of her inhabitants. And the ruin of Tyre shall be no less alarming to the Egyptians, and other neighbouring nations, than the destruction of Egypt by Moses, or by the Ethiopians or Assyrians, &c. 6, 7. Notwithstanding her antiquity, and wafted gaiety and mirth, the inhabitants of Tyre shall, in great anguish and grief, leave their own country, and flee for shelter to Lesser Asia, Spain, or the north of Africa. 8, 9. Nor shall all their glory and wealth be able to prevent their ruin, since God has determined to pull down their pomp and magnificence, as a warning to others

Isaiah 23:10

Their fortifications and armies being ruined, the inhabitants of Tyre, long supported by their sea trade, shall be glad, in multitudes, swiftly to flee from their country, never to return. 11, 12. It is God who, to the terror of the nations around, employs the Chaldeans or Greeks to destroy it; and, though never conquered since it was founded by the Zidonians, it shall now be destroyed. Nor shall the inhabitants, carried captive to Chaldea or Greece, or who flee to other places, obtain there any fixed safety or quietness

Isaiah 23:13

Nor need the Tyrians think the ruin of their city impossible. The Chaldeans, so anciently formed into a nation by Nimrod, and lately re-established by Haladan 82 an Assyrian prince, shall, after all their fortification of Babylon their capital, and their conquest of nations, bring them, and then be brought themselves, to ruin

Isaiah 23:15-17

And, after the Tyrians have been deprived of their trade for seventy years, answerable to the continuance of the Chaldean monarchy, the Lord shall restore them to their wonted liberty; and they shall, by every engaging art, draw the nations to trade with them as formerly

Isaiah 23:18

At last the Tyrians shall, in the apostolic age, be converted to the faith of Christ, and shall employ their power and wealth to promote his glory, and plentifully support his ministers and members

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIII.—The wealthiest on earth are quickly reduced to poverty, and the most noisy traders to silence. And earthly friends can give but little help in our distress, however deeply they be concerned on account of it. When God pursues there is no fleeing from our misery: and the more secure we lived the more grievous will be our fall. There is no fixed, no solid rest, but in Jesus Christ, and in fellowship with him!—What a mercy is it if an afflicting God do not draw out his wrath to all generations,—to eternity! And, if he turn back our captivity, he can bring back our lost prosperity. But earthly wealth often seduces men’s souls into spiritual whoredom. Happy therefore are they whose troubles lead them to the knowledge of God, and whose trade regained is devoted to the service of Jesus Christ! Let him be my merchant, my wealth, my strong city; and I, and all I have, be NOLLNESS TO THE LORD. 8 c 11