4 Be ashamed , O Sidon ; For the sea speaks , the stronghold of the sea , saying , "I have neither travailed nor given birth , I have neither brought up young men nor reared virgins . 5 When the report reaches Egypt , They will be in anguish at the report of Tyre . 6 Pass over to Tarshish ; Wail , O inhabitants of the coastland . 7 Is this your jubilant city, Whose origin is from antiquity , Whose feet used to carry her to colonize distant places? 8 Who has planned this against Tyre , the bestower of crowns , Whose merchants were princes , whose traders were the honored of the earth ? 9 The Lord of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty , To despise all the honored of the earth . 10 Overflow your land like the Nile , O daughter of Tarshish , There is no more restraint . 11 He has stretched His hand out over the sea , He has made the kingdoms tremble ; The Lord has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds . 12 He has said , " You shall exult no more e , O crushed virgin daughter of Sidon . Arise , pass over to Cyprus ; even there you will find no rest ." 13 Behold , the land of the Chaldeans -this is the people which was not; Assyria appointed it for desert creatures -they erected their siege towers , they stripped its palaces , they made it a ruin . 14 Wail , O ships of Tarshish , For your stronghold is destroyed
15 Now in that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years like the days of one king . At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot : 16 Take your harp , walk about the city , O forgotten harlot ; Pluck the strings skillfully , sing many songs , That you may be remembered . 17 It will come about at the end of seventy years that the Lord will visit Tyre . Then she will go back to her harlot's wages and will play the harlot with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth . 18 Her gain and her harlot's wages will be set apart to the Lord ; it will not be stored up or hoarded , but her gain will become sufficient food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 23:4-37
Commentary on Isaiah 23:1-14
(Read Isaiah 23:1-14)
Tyre was the mart of the nations. She was noted for mirth and diversions; and this made her loth to consider the warnings God gave by his servants. Her merchants were princes, and lived like princes. Tyre being destroyed and laid waste, the merchants should abandon her. Flee to shift for thine own safety; but those that are uneasy in one place, will be so in another; for when God's judgments pursue sinners, they will overtake them. Whence shall all this trouble come? It is a destruction from the Almighty. God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory. Let the ruin of Tyre warn all places and persons to take heed of pride; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. God will do it, who has all power in his hand; but the Chaldeans shall be the instruments.
Commentary on Isaiah 23:15-18
(Read Isaiah 23:15-18)
The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God. When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and hire are holiness to the Lord, if we look to his glory. Christians should carry on business as God's servants, and use riches as his stewards.