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.
15 And it hath come to pass, in that day, That forgotten is Tyre seventy years, According to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years there is to Tyre as the song of the harlot. 16 Take a harp, go round the city, O forgotten harlot, play well, Multiply song that thou mayest be remembered. 17 And it hath come to pass, At the end of seventy years Jehovah inspecteth Tyre, And she hath repented of her gift, That she committed fornication With all kingdoms of the earth on the face of the ground. 18 And her merchandise and her gift have been holy to Jehovah, Not treasured up nor stored, For to those sitting before Jehovah is her merchandise, To eat to satiety, and for a lasting covering!
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.