Isa 23 | MHM | STEP | The Doom of Tyre This prophecy describes the fall of Tyre, a wealthy and powerful seaport city. Tyre’s greatness depended on its ships and trade. The message begins and ends with a call for the ships of Tarshish to mourn, because the city’s business and life will be ruined when its harbor is destroyed. Tyre’s downfall will be a warning to others about the danger of pride and trusting in wealth. v. 1 : The ships of Tarshish are told to howl because Tyre’s harbor is destroyed. There are no more houses or places to stay, and the news of Tyre’s ruin has reached them. People will lose interest in Tyre now that it is no longer rich and busy ( Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste ,.

‏ Isaiah 23

The Doom of Tyre

This prophecy describes the fall of Tyre, a wealthy and powerful seaport city. Tyre’s greatness depended on its ships and trade. The message begins and ends with a call for the ships of Tarshish to mourn, because the city’s business and life will be ruined when its harbor is destroyed. Tyre’s downfall will be a warning to others about the danger of pride and trusting in wealth.

v. 1: The ships of Tarshish are told to howl because Tyre’s harbor is destroyed. There are no more houses or places to stay, and the news of Tyre’s ruin has reached them. People will lose interest in Tyre now that it is no longer rich and busy (Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste,.

v. 2-3: The merchants of Zidon, who helped make Tyre great, are shocked and silent. Tyre was once filled with goods from Egypt, and its wealth came from trade on the Nile. But now, the city stands empty and quiet (Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle... the harvest of the river is her revenue, Isaiah 23:2-3 ^a).

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v. 4-5: Zidon, Tyre’s neighbor and parent city, is ashamed and troubled by Tyre’s fall. Egypt, which traded with Tyre, is also filled with pain at the news. When a great city falls, it brings fear and sadness even to far-off lands (Be thou ashamed, O Zidon... as at the report concerning Egypt, Isaiah 23:4-5 ^b).

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v. 6-7: The people of Tyre are told to escape to Tarshish, but many will be taken captive. Those who once lived in luxury will go far away in sorrow and hardship. Even those who try to run will not find true rest (Pass ye over to Tarshish... her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn, Isaiah 23:6-7 ^c).

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v. 8-9: People will wonder who planned this destruction against Tyre, a city known for its wealth and pride. The answer is that the Lord of hosts decided it, to humble the proud and show that all earthly glory is temporary. God brings down those who exalt themselves (The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, Isaiah 23:8-9 ^d).

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v. 10-12: The people of Tyre will be scattered like water flowing away. Zidon, Tyre’s sister, will also have no rest or comfort. No matter where the people try to go, they will not escape trouble, because God’s judgment will follow them (Pass through thy land as a river... thou shalt have no rest, Isaiah 23:10-12 ^e).

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v. 13: God will use the Chaldeans (Babylonians) as His tool to bring down Tyre, just as He has brought down other powerful cities. Their strength and beauty will not protect them when God commands their destruction (Behold the land of the Chaldeans... he hath set up the towers thereof, Isaiah 23:13 ^f).

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The Restoration of Tyre

This section tells us about the fall and later restoration of Tyre, a wealthy trading city. The prophecy explains that Tyre’s destruction would not last forever. God set a specific time for Tyre’s hardship, and after that, He promised to show mercy and allow Tyre to recover. The main ideas are about God’s control over nations, the dangers of pride and wealth, and how blessings should be used to honor God.

v. 15: Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, left in ruins and obscurity . The city was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar around the same time as Jerusalem. During this period, Tyre had no power or riches, showing that even powerful conquerors gain nothing from destroying others. This teaches us that prideful destruction only leads to emptiness, as it is written, their memorial perish with them (Psalm 9:6 ^g). Nebuchadnezzar humbled Tyre’s pride, but his own pride led to his fall too.

v. 16-17: After seventy years, when Nebuchadnezzar’s dynasty ends, Tyre’s desolation will be over. This likely happened when Cyrus freed the Jews and also allowed Tyre to rebuild. God controls both the prosperity and hardship of cities so that no one is too proud or hopeless. The ORD will visit Tyre with mercy, ending His anger. God, not Tyre’s old trading partners, will cause her restoration. Tyre will work hard to regain her trade, using every effort to attract business, like a forgotten singer trying to get attention again. She will act like a harlot, seeking to win back her customers with songs and music (Isaiah 23:17 ^h). This is a picture of Tyre’s eagerness to recover her old glory and wealth, but the love of wealth is called spiritual adultery (James 4:4 ⁱ).

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v. 18: When Tyre succeeds in trading again, her wealth will be used differently than before. Her profits will be holiness to the ORD (Isaiah 23:18 ^j). Instead of keeping riches for pride, Tyre’s gains will support acts of worship and charity, especially helping those who serve God. The money will provide food and simple clothing for the priests at Jerusalem, not for luxury but for their needs. This shows that disaster can teach people to use their blessings in a better way. It also suggests that some in Tyre would come to know the true God, send offerings to the temple, and join with God’s people. We see later in the Bible that people from Tyre lived in Judah (Nehemiah 13:16 ^k), and even in the time of Jesus, Tyre and Sidon were more open to the gospel than some Israelite cities (they would have repented, Matthew 11:21 ^l). There were also Christians in Tyre (Acts 21:3-4 ^m). This prophecy reminds everyone that wealth and work should be dedicated to God, just as the high priest’s headband said, holiness to the ORD (Exodus 39:30 ⁿ). The best way to use what we have is to help others and support God’s work, storing up treasure in heaven, in bags that wax not old (Luke 12:33 ^o).