231 The Burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For it hath been destroyed, Without house, without entrance, From the land of Chittim it was revealed to them. 2 Be silent, ye inhabitants of the isle, Trader of Zidon, passing the sea, they filled thee. 3 And in many waters 'is' the seed of Sihor, The harvest of the brook 'is' her increase, And she is a mart of nations. 4 Be ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea spake, The strength of the sea, saying: 'I have not been pained, nor have I brought forth, Nor have I nourished young men, 'nor' brought up virgins.' 5 As 'at' the report of Egypt they are pained, So 'at' the report of Tyre. 6 Pass over to Tarshish, howl, ye inhabitants of the isle, 7 Is this your exulting one? From the days of old 'is' her antiquity, Carry her do her own feet afar off to sojourn. 8 Who hath counselled this against Tyre, The crowning one, whose traders 'are' princes, Her merchants the honoured of earth?' 9 Jehovah of Hosts hath counselled it, To pollute the excellency of all beauty, To make light all the honoured of earth. 10 Pass through thy land as a brook, Daughter of Tarshish, there is no more a girdle. 11 His hand He hath stretched out over the sea, He hath caused kingdoms to tremble, Jehovah hath charged concerning the merchant one, To destroy her strong places. 12 And He saith, 'Thou dost not add any more to exult, O oppressed one, virgin daughter of Zidon, To Chittim arise, pass over, Even there—there is no rest for thee.' 13 Lo, the land of the Chaldeans—this people was not, Asshur founded it for the Ziim, They raised its watch-towers, They lifted up her palaces,—He hath appointed her for a ruin! 14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For your strength hath been destroyed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 23:1-14
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.