1Prorocký výnos o Týru: Naříkejte, lodě taršíšské, protože je zničen: Bez domu, bez přístupu. Bylo mu to ukázáno z kitejské země. 2Umlkněte, obyvatelé pobřeží! Naplňovali tě sidónští obchodníci brázdící moře. 3Po vodách mnohých k tobě přicházelo zrno Šíchoru, žeň Nilu. Stal ses ziskem z obchodování národů. 4Styď se, Sidóne, vždyť moře řeklo, mořská pevnost řekla: Nesvíjela jsem se bolestí a nerodila jsem, nevychovávala jsem mládence ani jsem nepěstovala panny. 5Jakmile se to doslechnou v Egyptě, budou se nad zprávou o Týru svíjet bolestí. 6Přeplavte se do Taršíše, naříkejte, obyvatelé pobřeží! 7Toto je to vaše rozjařené město, jehož starobylost je od dávných časů, jehož nohy je odvedly daleko, aby tam pobývalo jako cizinec? 8Kdo to rozhodl proti Týru — proti tomu, jenž udílí koruny, jehož obchodníci jsou knížata a jehož kramáři jsou vážení země? 9Hospodin zástupů to rozhodl, aby znesvětil pýchu všech slavných, aby zlehčil všechny vážené země. 10Projdi svou zemí jako Nil, taršíšská dcero, už není žádná loděnice. 11Vztáhl svou ruku na moře a rozbouřil království; Hospodin vydal příkaz proti Kenaanu, aby byly zničeny jeho pevnosti. 12A řekl: Nebudeš už jásat, ty utištěná panno, dcero sidónská. Vstaň, přeplav se ke Kitejcům! Ani tam nebudeš mít odpočinek. 13Hle — země chaldejská — její lid už není. Asýrie ji určila pro divoká zvířata. Postavili své obléhací věže, strhli její paláce, proměnili ji v ruinu. 14Naříkejte, taršíšské lodě, protože vaše pevnost byla zničena! 15I stane se v onen den, že Týr bude zapomenut na sedmdesát let, jako jsou dny života jednoho krále. Po sedmdesáti letech to s Týrem bude jako v písničce o nevěstce: 16Vezmi lyru, obcházej město, nevěstko zapomenutá. Hraj dobře, zpívej mnoho písní, aby ses připomenula. 17Stane se po sedmdesáti letech, že Hospodin navštíví Týr. A ten se navrátí ke své nevěstčí mzdě a bude smilnit se všemi královstvími světa na povrchu země. 18A jeho zisk, jeho nevěstčí mzda, bude svatý Hospodinu; nebude uskladňován ani uschováván, nýbrž jeho zisk bude pro ty, kdo zůstávají před Hospodinem, na jídlo k nasycení a na vybraný oděv.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PROPHECY RESPECTING TYRE. (Isa. 23:1-18)
Tyre--Hebrew, Tsur, that is, "Rock."
ships of Tarshish--ships of Tyre returning from their voyage to Tarshish, or Tartessus in Spain, with which the Phśnicians had much commerce (
Ezek 27:12-
Ezek 27:25). "Ships of Tarshish" is a phrase also used of large and distant-voyaging merchant vessels (
Isa 2:16;
1Kgs 10:22;
Ps 48:7).
no house--namely, left; such was the case as to Old Tyre, after Nebuchadnezzar's siege.
no entering--There is no house to enter (
Isa 24:10) [G. V. SMITH]. Or, Tyre is so laid waste, that there is no possibility of entering the harbor [BARNES]; which is appropriate to the previous "ships."
Chittim--Cyprus, of which the cities, including Citium in the south (whence came "Chittim"), were mostly Phśnician (
Ezek 27:6). The ships from Tarshish on their way to Tyre learn the tidings ("it is revealed to them") of the downfall of Tyre. At a later period Chittim denoted the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean (
Dan 11:30).
2 Be still--"struck dumb with awe." Addressed to those already in the country, eye-witnesses of its ruin (
Lam 2:10); or, in contrast to the busy din of commerce once heard in Tyre; now all is hushed and still.
isle--strictly applicable to New Tyre: in the sense coast, to the mainland city, Old Tyre (compare
Isa 23:6;
Isa 20:6).
Zidon--of which Tyre was a colony, planted when Zidon was conquered by the Philistines of Ascalon. Zidon means a "fishing station"; this was its beginning.
replenished--with wealth and an industrious population (
Ezek 27:3,
Ezek 27:8,
Ezek 27:23). Here "Zidon," as the oldest city of Phśnicia, includes all the Phśnician towns on the strip of "coast." Thus, Eth-baal, king of Tyre [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 8.3,2], is called king of the Sidonians (
1Kgs 16:31); and on coins Tyre is called the metropolis of the Sidonians.
3 great waters--the wide waters of the sea.
seed--"grain," or crop, as in
1Sam 8:15;
Job 39:12.
Sihor--literally, "dark-colored"; applied to the Nile, as the Egyptian Jeor, and the Greek Melas, to express the "dark, turbid" colors given to its waters by the fertilizing soil which it deposits at its yearly overflow (
Jer 2:18).
harvest of the river--the growth of the Delta; the produce due to the overflow of the Nile: Egypt was the great granary of corn in the ancient world (Gen. 41:1-57; Gen. 42:1-38; Gen. 43:1-34).
her revenue--Tyrian vessels carried Egyptian produce obtained in exchange for wine, oil, glass, &c., into various lands, and so made large profits.
mart-- (
Ezek 27:3). No city was more favorably situated for commerce.
4 Zidon--called on, as being the parent country of Tyre (
Isa 23:12), and here equivalent to Phśnicia in general, to feel the shame (as it was esteemed in the East) of being now as childless as if she never had any. "I (no more now) travail, nor bring forth," &c. "Strength of the sea," that is, stronghold, namely, New Tyre, on a rock (as "Tyre" means) surrounded by the sea (
Ezek 26:4,
Ezek 26:14-
Ezek 26:17; so Venice was called "Bride of the sea";
Zech 9:3).
5 As, &c.--rather, "When the report (shall reach) the people of Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report concerning Tyre" (namely, its overthrow). So JEROME, "When the Egyptians shall hear that so powerful a neighboring nation has been destroyed, they must know their own end is near" [LOWTH, &c.].
6 Pass . . . over--Escape from Tyre to your colonies as Tarshish (compare
Isa 23:12). The Tyrians fled to Carthage and elsewhere, both at the siege under Nebuchadnezzar and that under Alexander.
7 Is this silent ruin all that is left of your once joyous city (
Isa 23:12)?
antiquity--The Tyrian priests boasted in HERODOTUS' time that their city had already existed 2300 years: an exaggeration, but still implying that it was ancient even then.
her own feet--walking on foot as captives to an enemy's land.
8 Who--answered in
Isa 23:9, "The Lord of hosts."
crowning--crown-giving; that is, the city from which dependent kingdoms had arisen, as Tartessus in Spain, Citium in Cyprus, and Carthage in Africa (
Ezek 27:33).
traffickers--literally, "Canaanites," who were famed for commerce (compare
Hos 12:7, Margin).
9 Whoever be the instruments in overthrowing haughty sinners, God, who has all hosts at His command, is the First Cause (
Isa 10:5-
Isa 10:7).
stain--rather, "to profane"; as in
Exod 31:14, the Sabbath, and other objects of religious reverence; so here, "the pride of all glory" may refer to the Tyrian temple of Hercules, the oldest in the world, according to ARRIAN (
Isa 2:16); the prophet of the true God would naturally single out for notice the idol of Tyre [G. V. SMITH]. It may, however, be a general proposition; the destruction of Tyre will exhibit to all how God mars the luster of whatever is haughty (
Isa 2:11).
10 a river--Hebrew, "the river," namely, Nile.
daughter of Tarshish--Tyre and its inhabitants (
Isa 1:8), about henceforth, owing to the ruin of Tyre, to become inhabitants of its colony, Tartessus: they would pour forth from Tyre, as waters flow on when the barriers are removed [LOWTH]. Rather, Tarshish, or Tartessus and its inhabitants, as the phrase usually means: they had been kept in hard bondage, working in silver and lead mines near Tarshish, by the parent city (
Ezek 26:17): but now "the bond of restraint" (for so "strength," Margin, "girdle," that is, bond,
Ps 2:3, ought to be translated) is removed, since Tyre is no more.
11 He--Jehovah.
kingdoms--the Phśnician cities and colonies.
the merchant city--rather, Canaan, meaning the north of it, namely, Phśnicia. On their coins, they call their country Canaan.
12 he--God.
rejoice--riotously (
Isa 23:7).
oppressed--"deflowered"; laying aside the figure "taken by storm"; the Arabs compare a city never taken to an undefiled virgin (compare
Nah 3:5, &c.).
daughter of Zidon--Tyre: or else, sons of Zidon, that is, the whole land and people of Phśnicia (see on
Isa 23:2) [MAURER].
Chittim--Citium in Cyprus (
Isa 23:1).
there also . . . no rest--Thy colonies, having been harshly treated by thee, will now repay thee in kind (see on
Isa 23:10). But VITRINGA refers it to the calamities which befell the Tyrians in their settlements subsequently, namely, Sicily, Corcyra, Carthage, and Spain, all flowing from the original curse of Noah against the posterity of Canaan (
Gen 9:25-
Gen 9:27).
13 Behold--Calling attention to the fact, so humiliating to Tyre, that a people of yesterday, like the Chaldees, should destroy the most ancient of cities, Tyre.
was not--had no existence as a recognized nation; the Chaldees were previously but a rude, predatory people (
Job 1:17).
Assyrian founded it--The Chaldees ("them that dwell in the wilderness") lived a nomadic life in the mountains of Armenia originally (Arphaxad, in
Gen 10:22, refers to such a region of Assyria near Armenia), north and east of Assyria proper. Some may have settled in Mesopotamia and Babylonia very early and given origin to the astrologers called Chaldees in later times. But most of the people had been transferred only a little before the time of this prophecy from their original seats in the north to Mesopotamia, and soon afterwards to South Babylonia. "Founded it," means "assigned it (the land) to them who had (heretofore) dwelt in the wilderness" as a permanent settlement (so in
Ps 104:8) [MAURER]. It was the Assyrian policy to infuse into their own population of the plain the fresh blood of hardy mountaineers, for the sake of recruiting their armies. Ultimately the Chaldees, by their powerful priest-caste, gained the supremacy and established the later or Chaldean empire. HORSLEY refers it to Tyre, founded by an Assyrian race.
towers thereof--namely, of Babylon, whose towers, HERODOTUS says, were "set up" by the Assyrians [BARNES]. Rather, "The Chaldees set up their siege-towers" against Tyre, made for the attack of high walls, from which the besiegers hurled missiles, as depicted in the Assyrian sculptures [G. V. SMITH].
raised up--rather, "They lay bare," namely, the foundations of "her (Tyre's) palaces," that is, utterly overthrew them (
Ps 137:7).
14 strength--stronghold (compare
Ezek 26:15-
Ezek 26:18).
15 forgotten--Having lost its former renown, Tyre shall be in obscurity.
seventy years--(so
Jer 25:11-
Jer 25:12;
Jer 29:10).
days of one king--that is, a dynasty. The Babylonian monarchy lasted properly but seventy years. From the first year of Nebuchadnezzar to the taking of Babylon, by Cyrus, was seventy years; then the subjected nations would be restored to liberty. Tyre was taken in the middle of that period, but it is classed in common with the rest, some conquered sooner and others later, all, however, alike to be delivered at the end of the period. So "king" is used for dynasty (
Dan 7:17;
Dan 8:20): Nebuchadnezzar, his son Evil-merodach, and his grandson, Belshazzar, formed the whole dynasty (
Jer 25:11-
Jer 25:12;
Jer 27:7;
Jer 29:10).
shall Tyre sing as . . . harlot--It shall be to Tyre as the song of the harlot, namely, a harlot that has been forgotten, but who attracts notice again by her song. Large marts of commerce are often compared to harlots seeking many lovers, that is, they court merchants of all nations, and admit any one for the sake of gain (
Nah 3:4;
Rev 18:3). Covetousness is closely akin to idolatry and licentiousness, as the connection (
Eph 5:5;
Col 3:5) proves (compare
Isa 2:6-
Isa 2:8,
Isa 2:16).
16 Same figure [
Isa 23:15] to express that Tyre would again prosper and attract commercial intercourse of nations to her, and be the same joyous, self-indulging city as before.
17 visit--not in wrath, but mercy.
hire--image from a harlot: her gains by commerce. After the Babylonian dynasty was ended, Tyre was rebuilt; also, again, after the destruction under Alexander.
18 merchandise . . . holiness--Her traffic and gains shall at last (long after the restoration mentioned in
Isa 23:17) be consecrated to Jehovah. Jesus Christ visited the neighborhood of Tyre (
Matt 15:21); Paul found disciples there (
Acts 21:3-
Acts 21:6); it early became a Christian bishopric, but the full evangelization of that whole race, as of the Ethiopians (
Isa 18:1-
Isa 18:7), of the Egyptians and Assyrians (Isa. 19:1-25), is yet to come (
Isa 60:5).
not treasured--but freely expended in His service.
them that dwell before the Lord--the ministers of religion. But HORSLEY translates, "them that sit before Jehovah" as disciples.
durable clothing--Changes of raiment constituted much of the wealth of former days.
The four chapters (the twenty-fourth through the twenty-seventh) form one continuous poetical prophecy: descriptive of the dispersion and successive calamities of the Jews (
Isa 24:1-
Isa 24:12); the preaching of the Gospel by the first Hebrew converts throughout the world (
Isa 24:13-
Isa 24:16); the judgments on the adversaries of the Church and its final triumph (
Isa 24:16-
Isa 24:23); thanksgiving for the overthrow of the apostate faction (
Isa 25:1-
Isa 25:12), and establishment of the righteous in lasting peace (Isa. 26:1-21); judgment on leviathan and entire purgation of the Church (
Isa 27:1-
Isa 27:13). Having treated of the several nations in particular--Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Edom, and Tyre (the miniature representative of all, as all kingdoms flocked into it)--he passes to the last times of the world at large and of Judah the representative and future head of the churches.
