Isaiah23
King James Version · Public Domain
1The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.
2Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
3And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.
4Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.
5As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
6Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
7Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
8Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?
9The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
10Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
11He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
12And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Kittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.
13Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.
14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
15And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
16Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
17And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
18And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 23.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The overthrow of Tyre. (1-14). It is established again. (15-18).
vv1-14
Tyre was the mart of the nations. She was noted for mirth and diversions; and this made her loth to consider the warnings God gave by his servants. Her merchants were princes, and lived like princes. Tyre being destroyed and laid waste, the merchants should abandon her. Flee to shift for thine own safety; but those that are uneasy in one place, will be so in another; for when God's judgments pursue sinners, they will overtake them. Whence shall all this trouble come? It is a destruction from the Almighty. God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory. Let the ruin of Tyre warn all places and persons to take heed of pride; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. God will do it, who has all power in his hand; but the Chaldeans shall be the instruments.
vv15-18
The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God. When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and hire are holiness to the Lord, if we look to his glory. Christians should carry on business as God's servants, and use riches as his stewards.
Key Words
מַשָּׂא: a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly adoom, especially singing; mental, desire
צֹר: Tsor, a place in Palestine
יָלַל: to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)
אֳנִיָּה: a ship
תַּרְשִׁישׁ: Tarshish, a place on the Mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a Persian and of an Israelite
שָׁדַד: properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Isaiah 23Parallels the specific seventy-year period of judgment/servitude under the Babylonian empire.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Historical Pentateuchal reference identifying Chittim as a naval power, foreshadowing the maritime distress of Tyre.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies "Sihor" as the waters of the Nile, explaining the source of Egypt's agricultural harvest.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Expands on the widespread panic and mourning among nations upon hearing of Tyre's catastrophic fall.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the final restoration where commerce and common objects become "holiness unto the Lord."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates "ships of Tarshish" as large merchant vessels trading in valuable foreign commodities.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel's parallel lamentation depicting Tyre as the opulent merchant entry-port to the sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Highlights the extreme self-exaltation of the prince of Tyre dwelling in the heart of the seas.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the term "merchant city" (Hebrew: Canaan), linking mercantile success with deceptive scales.
Supported by JFB
Identifies "ships of Tarshish" as symbols of pride and human commerce targeted by divine judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Links the pines/boxwood of the "isles of Chittim" with Tyrian shipbuilding and luxury trade.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Uses Chittim to denote the western coastlands and naval forces of the Mediterranean.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The New Testament echo where the merchants of the earth weep because their market is gone.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Ezekiel's lament over Tyre, "the renowned city, which was strong in the sea."
Supported by JFB
Confirms the grueling historical reality of Nebuchadnezzar's long siege against Tyre.
Supported by JFB