THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
ISAIAH

Isaiah 23

1The miserable overthrow of Tyre. 15Her restoration after seventy years, and her whoredoms.


1THE 1burden of Tyre.a Howl, 2ye ships of 3Tarshish; for 4it is laid waste, so 5that there is no house, no entering in: 6from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

1 The sense is: This is a difficult prophecy, foretelling what misery shall befall Tyre. See Isa. 13 on verse 1.

a Jer. 47:4; Ezekiel 26; 27; 28; Zech. 9:3, 4.

2 That is, mariners and merchants who trade overseas with Tyre.

3 See 1 Kings 10 on verse 22.

4 That is, it shall be destroyed. The prophet uttered this when Tyre was yet in her prime and greatest glory. And the prophet threatens this not only against the city of Tyre, but also against the entire island.

5 Hebr. from house and from coming in or entering in. Compare Isa. 24:10. Some render the words thus: it is destroyed by those of her own household and by the comers in, that is, not only by strangers but also by her own servants and slaves; for, when they saw that their masters’ power and authority was almost gone and come to nought, they did then conspire together, and did murder and kill their own masters and all the freemen, assuming the government to themselves, and making one named Strato their king; Justin, in his history, book 18.

6 That is, it shall be revealed to them, namely, the mariners and merchants from the land of Chittim, that is, from Cilicia or Macedonia, (see Gen. 10 on verse 4), from where the news of Tyre’s first desolation by Nebuchadnezzar would be spread abroad by the fugitives who would from there pass over into Cilicia, and from where the destruction would afterward befall them. The meaning of these words is: This desolation shall befall those of Tyre first by king Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah 47; Ezek. 26:14; 29:18, 19, 20, and a long while after by the Greeks and the Macedonians, namely, by Alexander the Great, who, many years after this, took Tyre, and laid it all on an heap.

27Be still, ye inhabitants 8of the isle; 9thou whom the merchants of 10Zidon, that pass over the sea, have 11replenished.

7 As if he said: Boast no more of your great riches and glory, they shall soon be at an end.

8 Namely, of the island of Tyre. This city was situated in an island, when Isaiah prophesied this.

9 Hebr. the merchant of Zidon passing over the sea replenished thee.

10 This was also a famous city for trading, closely situated by Tyrus, resorting under one lord’s jurisdiction. See Ezek. 28:21.

11 Namely, with all manner of wares and merchandise, which they brought in thither with their ships laden.

3And 12by great waters 13the seed of 14Sihor, 15the harvest 16of the river, is her revenue; and she is a 17mart of nations.

12 Some understand here by the great waters, the Ocean Sea; others, the great rivers of Egypt.

13 Here seed is put for flax, which grows from seed.

14 This is the name of a river which separates Egypt from Canaan, Joshua 13:3. See the annotation there. Egypt itself is sometimes called Sihor, after this river.

15 That is, the corn-crop.

16 That is, the corn which grows by the brooks, whereby it is watered when the Nile overflows. Other, of the brook of Egypt. The prophet intimates here that Tyrus grew rich by trading in fruits that grew in other countries.

17 That is, the place of commerce. See Ezek. 27:3, 12.

4Be thou ashamed, 18O Zidon: for the 19sea hath spoken, even 20the strength of the sea, saying, 21I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I 22nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

18 That is, O ye Zidonians. These are the first who built the city of Tyre.

19 That is, the inhabitants of the islands which are in the sea, as Psalm 65:5.

20 Understand the city Tyre, which by reason of the sea, in which it was situated, seemed to be unconquerable.

21 The meaning of 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 have become so deathlike, it is at an end with me.

22 That is, brought them to full growth.

5As at 23the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely 24pained 25at the report of Tyre.*

23 Understand here that judgment which formerly befell the Egyptians in Moses’ time, as Exod. 15:14; or, that judgment of Egypt whereof mention is made in Isaiah 19.

24 The Hebrew word, which the prophet here uses, signifies properly the pain and anguish that comes upon a woman in travail.

25 Namely, 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 likewise, 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.

627Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants 28of the isle.

27 That is, flee out of Tyre, seek new countries and cities, where you may pitch your tents.

28 Namely, of the islands of Tyre, as verse 2.

729Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off 30to sojourn.

29 Of the excellent and exceeding great magnificence of Tyre, see Ezek. 27:3, 4, etc.

30 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, Leptis, Utica and Gades.

8Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, 31the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose 32traffickers are the honourable 33of the earth?

31 Or, that she-crowner, namely, that city, which not only assumed the title of a crowned queen, but also crowned all her inhabitants and merchants with riches and honor, making many of them as princes.

32 Or, merchants. Hebr. Canaanites. See the annotation Job 41 on verse 6.

33 Or, in the land.

9The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, 34to stain 35the pride of all glory, and to bring into 36contempt all the honourable 37of the earth.

34 That is, to defile, to bring into contempt and scorn.

35 Or, the pomp, namely, of the stately Tyrians.

36 The Hebrew word signifies properly to unload, to make light, as ships are lightened of their freight. It is here contrasted to a word which is here rendered the most honorable, but which properly signifies the laden ones, yet also honorable ones.

37 Other, of the land.

1038Pass through thy land 39as a river, 40O daughter of Tarshish: 41there is no more strength.

38 This is a speech directed to the foreign merchants, or to the inhabitants of Tyre, thus: Pass through out of thy land.

39 That is, quickly, namely, as swiftly as a river, which, falling, running down from above, runs into the sea. Other, as a river, that is, continually, without ceasing.

40 That is, ye, who sail upon the sea to Tyre, are wont to trade there. Some understand here by the daughters of Tarshish or of the sea, the city of Tyre, which was situated in the midst of the sea, and seemed to be sprung from there, which also lived, floated therein, and maintained itself.

41 That is, Tyre has lost all her strength, glory and commerce. Or, there is no more girdle; for, a girdle is used partly for ornament, partly to stiffen and strengthen the loins and back. See Job 12:18, 21; 40:7; Prov. 31:24, with the annotation. Likewise Isa. 11:5; 22:21, with the annotations. Others understand here by the girdle the walls of the city of Tyre, wherewith it was environed and as it were girded about.

1142He 43stretched out his hand 44over the sea, he 45shook the kingdoms: the LORD 46hath given a commandment 47against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

42 Namely, the Lord.

43 Namely, to smite.

44 That is, over the city of Tyre, situated in the sea. Others, over the ships of the sea which are wont to trade at Tyre.

45 That is, disturbed them, or stirred them up against Tyre.

46 Namely, the foreign kingdoms or kings; that is, God has infused it into those nations and incites them to it, as 2 Sam. 16:11, 12; Isa. 13:3. See the annotations there.

47 That is, against the Tyrians, Canaan’s posterity out of Zidon, Gen. 10:15. Other, the Lord hath given command unto a merchant, meaning: Nebuchadnezzar or Alexander the Great. Other, against Canaan. In the signification of Canaan is the word merchant taken verse 8 and elsewhere.

12And 48he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, 49O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over 50to Chittim; 51there also shalt thou have no rest.

48 Namely, the Lord God.

49 Other, O thou oppressed virgin of the daughter of Zidon. As such the prophet calls the city of Tyre, because it was first built by the Zidonians. And the prophet calls Tyre here an oppressed or deflowered virgin, because she would be certainly deflowered or ravished, that is, destroyed and cut off.

50 By this abrupt phrase is signified that the Tyrians would flee in all haste, especially to those of Chittim, or, to the land of Chittim (for, the Hebrew word will bear both), comprehending under it all kinds of places situated overseas, as Cilicia, Greece, or Macedonia, Italy, etc., whereof also verse 1.

51 That is, you shall there neither be able to rest or be in peace to which you flee, but shall be plagued and banished or driven away. See verse 7. Other, Ye Chittim or people of Chittim, march on, etc. taking it as a Divine oracle or speech to Alexander the Great with his army; that he would make haste not only to destroy Tyre, but also to march on against the Chaldeans and Babel. See verse 1.

1352Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the 53Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and 54he 55brought it 56to ruin.

52 God places before the eyes of the Tyrians the example of the Assyrian or Chaldean monarchy, as who were already partly subdued and laid waste, and would partly in time to come be laid waste and desolate, that it might not seem strange unto the Tyrians that they likewise would be wasted and destroyed.

53 That is, the Chaldeans, who were wont to dwell in the wilderness in tents, were assembled by the Assyrians and brought together into cities. See Gen. 10:10, 11; 11:2, 8, 9, and compare Psalm 72:9; 74:14.

54 Namely, the Lord God, of Whom is spoken in verses 8, 9, 11, 12.

55 Namely, the land of the Chaldeans; or, he made them, namely, He subdued the Chaldeans by the Assyrians; 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 destroy your city, O Tyre, and kingdom much easier.

56 That is, He turned it upside down; compare Isa. 25:2.

14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for 57your strength is laid waste.

57 That is, the city of Tyre, with all strong places situated near unto it.

15And it shall come to pass in that day, 58that Tyre shall be forgotten 59seventy years, 60according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years 61shall Tyre sing as an harlot.

58 That is, the Tyrians shall continue in their misery seventy years, as if God had forgotten them or regarded them no more.

59 Namely, as long as the Jews would continue in the Babylonian captivity.

60 That is, as long as a king does live or in likelihood may live; or, in general, as long as a man may live, namely, who attains to a great age. See Psalm 90:10. Other, as long as our kingdom shall last. Thus the word Melech is also taken for kingdom in Dan. 7:17; 8:21. And here by the same word is meant the kingdom of Babel, which stood seventy years after the destruction of Tyre.

61 That is, Tyre shall be inhabited again, and come into good 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 confirmed in verses 16 and 17. Others, that the particle as may also have its strength, expound these words thus: The inhabitants of Tyre shall know as sweetly to allure and deceive the merchants as the harlots know to entice whoremongers by their sweet and pleasant songs.

16Take an harp, go about the city, thou 62harlot that hast been 63forgotten; 64make sweet melody, 65sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

62 O Tyre, thou city full of whoredoms, or, the merchants of Tyre, who, with your pleasant talk and smooth commendation of your wares, know to allure the merchants to you, as harlots do their lovers.

63 That is, who has come into oblivion.

64 Hebr. make it well with playing, or, make the playing good. See Psalm 33 on verse 3.

65 Hebr. multiply the song.

17¶And 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 66commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

66 Almost all expositors understand here by fornication the filthy lucre of the Tyrians, which they got by their merchandise of all rich and mighty people, who dwelt in the countries, which were situated round about them.

18And 67her merchandise and her hire shall be 68holiness to the LORD: 69it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them 70that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for 71durable clothing.

67 Namely, of the Tyrians.

68 Or, be hallowed. Hebr. be in holiness.

69 Here is foretold that some of the Tyrians in future times, being converted unto the true God and to christian religion, would not lock up and keep their wealth and riches in chests and coffers, but would liberally distribute them to the glory of God and to the necessity of poor christians. See Acts 2:44; 4:34.

70 Understand the christians in general and especially the teachers or the ministers of the church.

71 That is, clothing which is durable, or that which may last long.