Bible Commentaries

The Fall of Tyre Predicted

The desolation of Tyre is announced (Ezekiel 26:1-6), its siege by Nebuchadrezzar is vividly described (Ezekiel 26:7-14), a lamentation for its fall is put into the mouths of the princes of the sea (Ezekiel 26:15-18), and God's threat of judgment is again repeated (Ezekiel 26:19-21).

1. The eleventh year] 586 b.c. The month is not given, but the date must have been after the destruction of Jerusalem, in the fifth month of that year (2 Kings 25:8): see Ezekiel 26:2.

2. Tyrus] RV 'Tyre,' and so throughout Ezekiel 26-28. Aha, etc.] Tyre had rejoiced because of the commercial advantage she would reap from the fall of Jerusalern. Gates of the people] RV 'gate of the peoples.' Jerusalem lay near the highway of traffic which led northward to Tyre, and its fall would remove a barrier to Tyrian trade.

4. Like the top of a rock] RV 'a bare rock': so in Ezekiel 26:14.

6. Her daughters] tributary states or cities.

15. Isles] the maritime countries of the Mediterranean.

16. Princes of the sea] the rulers of these seaboard lands.

20. Tyre is personified, and represented as going down into the under-world of the dead: see Ezekiel 31:14-18; Ezekiel 32:18-32. And shall set glory] perhaps we should read, with LXX, 'nor arise.'

§ 2. Tyre (and Sidon) (Ezekiel 26-28)

Tyre was the capital of Phoenicia, the seaboard country on the NW. of Palestine. The Phoenicians were the great mariners of the ancient world, and Tyre was a famous seaport, renowned for its wealth and splendour. It joined in the league against Nebuchadrezzar, and was besieged by him for thirteen years (597-584 b.c.). See Intro. Ezekiel predicts its overthrow in three prophecies, one in general terms (Ezekiel 26), one describing Tyre under the figure of a gallant ship (Ezekiel 27), and one directed specially against the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:1-19). Zidon (or Sidon) was another Phoenician seaport, about 20 m. N. of Tyre; which was its younger rival. It also joined in the league against Babylon (Jeremiah 27:3), and its downfall too is predicted by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 28:20-26). Part of the language of these chapters is reproduced in Revelation 18.