Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
CHAPTER 23
City of Tyre - Supply Depot of Past and Future
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Isaiah Chapter 23 verse 1-5 |
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The 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 Chittim it is revealed to them.
Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. Be 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.
As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
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Ships of Tarshish = scholars have often credited Tarshish as being located on the southern region of Spain.
This was a phrase used often for any ship bringing riches in through the port at Tyre. As far back as Solomon in 1 Kings 10:22, Tyre was the port for arranging to meet these ships.
This verse states “…laid waste…No entering in…”
It did occur when it was totally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Took 13 years of laying siege to Tyre, but it was finally accomplished.
Tyre was at one time the best port on the Sea. Once destroyed, the port was filled with columns from the city and sand so that no large ships could ever do trade with Tyre again.
Chittim = eastern coast of Cyprus
Zidon/Sidon = about 20 miles north of Tyre. Today this is part of Lebanon.
Sihor = river Nile
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Isaiah Chapter 23 verse 6-8 |
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Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? |
“…the crowning city…”
There are indications that Tyre started the colonies of Chittim in Cyprus, Tarshish in Spain and Carthage in Africa and many others. These were all used as ports for its merchants. This allowed it to develop as the wealthy destination point on the Mediterranean Sea.
“honourable” = merchants of wealth were seen as princes and important leaders
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Isaiah Chapter 23 verse 9-13 |
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The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
He 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. And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.
Behold 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.
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The source of its destruction would be the Chaldeans (Babylonians) who had been under the foot of the Assyrians until they rose up to take over.
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Isaiah Chapter 23 verse 14-16 |
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Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
And 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. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
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“forgotten 70 years” = the length of time of the captivity of Jews in Babylon. It was also the length of the Babylonian monarchy before it was taken by the Medes and Persians.
All the nations that had been taken by Babylon were released by Cyrus when the Jews were released.
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Isaiah Chapter 23 verse 17 |
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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 commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
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Tyre was indeed reestablished on an island. She was once again wealthy.
“Commit fornication” = she once again did business with the entire world and became the center for all the pleasures they could import.
It was once again taken, 200+ years later by Alexander the Great.
End Times Prophecy regarding TYRE
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Isaiah Chapter 23 verse 18 |
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And 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.
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This last verse can mean ONLY ONE THING. It has not happened yet. Sometime in the future, Tyre will be the CENTER for merchandise for God. She will ALSO be HOLY!
The “material supply depot” for the Millennium Kingdom!