Isa 23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 23:1-18: 23:1-18 Tyre was a prosperous seaport northwest of Israel. The relationship between Judah and Tyre went back to the time of David and Solomon (1 Kgs 5:8-9 ). Tyre, with its proximity to plentiful forests and to the Mediterranean Sea, was one of the commercial centers of the ancient Near East. Its fleets were renowned, and its colonies brought it great prestige and riches. The city came under repeated attack by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Macedonians, and it fell to Alexander the Great in 332 BC . Isaiah not only prophesied the end of Tyre but by implication warned all whose wealth and earthly securities lead to pride instead of dependence on God (see Isa 2:12-16 ; Matt 11:21 ). 23:1 The ships of Tarshish plied the sea between the Phoenician coast and the port of Tarshish in Spain (see 2:16 ; 23:6 ). • rumors you heard in Cyprus: Cyprus was the last port of call for sailors coming home from Spain before the final leg of their journey to Tyre.

Summary for Isa 23:1-18: 23:1-18 ^a Tyre was a prosperous seaport northwest of Israel. The relationship between Judah and Tyre went back to the time of David and Solomon (1 Kgs 5:8-9 ^b). Tyre, with its proximity to plentiful forests and to the Mediterranean Sea, was one of the commercial centers of the ancient Near East. Its fleets were renowned, and its colonies brought it great prestige and riches. The city came under repeated attack by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Macedonians, and it fell to Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Isaiah not only prophesied the end of Tyre but by implication warned all whose wealth and earthly securities lead to pride instead of dependence on God (see Isa 2:12-16 ^c; Matt 11:21 ^d). 23:1 ^e The ships of Tarshish plied the sea between the Phoenician coast and the port of Tarshish in Spain (see 2:16 ^f; 23:6 ^g).

• rumors you heard in Cyprus: Cyprus was the last port of call for sailors coming home from Spain before the final leg of their journey to Tyre.
23:2 ^h Sidon was a Phoenician port to the north of Tyre.

• Tyre’s commercial network of traders was extensive.
23:3 ⁱ Fish, agricultural produce, flax, and linen were all harvests from along the Nile (see ch 19 ^j).

• Tyre was known as the marketplace of the world, comparable to modern cities like New York, Hong Kong, or London.
23:4 ^k Part of the great port city of Tyre was on an island. The island city was a fortress of the sea, but it fell in 332 BC.

• I am childless; I have no sons or daughters: This metaphor was a judgment on Tyre’s colonial ports around the Mediterranean Sea. In the ancient world, to reach old age without having children was considered a terrible fate (see 49:21 ^l; 54:1 ^m).
23:5 ⁿ Egypt depended on the ships from Tyre for the export of its products (see 23:3 ^o).
23:8 ^p The Lord had brought this disaster on Tyre (23:9 ^q).

• Through commercial links, Tyre had created wealth for itself and its trading partners; in this sense, Tyre was a great creator of kingdoms.
23:10 ^r Sweep over the land like the flooding Nile: This difficult phrase means either (1) that the sailors who had returned from Tarshish were being invited to loot ruined Tyre; or (2) that the people of Tarshish were forced to move back to their agricultural fields to make their living (instead of trading) now that Tyre had been destroyed.
23:11 ^s Phoenicia was the region north of Israel. Tyre and Sidon were its main cities.
23:13 ^t Babylonia was stripped and looted by the Assyrians under Sennacherib (689 BC); eventually it rose to be a mighty empire once again.
Summary for Isa 23:15-18: 23:15-18 ^u There was hope for Tyre.
23:17 ^v Metaphorically, Tyre was a prostitute because of its indifferent willingness to sell anything to anyone (cp. Rev 17:2 ^w; 18:3 ^x, 12-13 ^y).
23:18 ^z Even though Tyre’s earnings came from unrighteous commerce, the profits will be given to the Lord rather than being squandered.

• There will be good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests. The theme of the wealth of the nations being brought to the Lord in Jerusalem is more fully developed in 60:5-11 ^aa; 61:6 ^ab.