Bible Commentaries

Ezekiel 28:2. Say unto the prince of Tyrus—because thou hast said, I am אל El God, or the strong and mighty One. It is plain from the names of the princes that they bore titles of deity.

Ezekiel 28:3. Wiser than Daniel. After eclipsing all the wise men of Babylon, his wisdom, conferred of God, became a proverb through all the east. Daniel 5:11.

Ezekiel 28:10. Thou shalt die the death of the uncircumcised. See on chap. 32:25.

REFLECTIONS.

Isaiah has called the merchants of Tyre, princes. Their wealth by land and sea was uncounted, their mansions were splendid, their dresses superb. But where was their wisdom in tempting the Chaldean armies to the siege by so much splendour? Is not the Indian in his hut freer from care, and happier in his ranges of liberty?

When the invaders shall appear under thy walls, wilt thou appear against them as a god in war, or fly as a coward beyond the reach of their arrows? Wilt not thy soul die at the thought of dying; and wilt thou not receive thy death as the sheep dragged to the slaughter?

When haughty mortals assume titles which belong not to worms of the dust, they justly become exposed to irony, like the wooden gods of the gentiles. Thou sealest up the sum of all knowledge by claims of supreme wisdom, and perfection of regal beauty. Thou dwellest in the Eden of oriental pleasure, thou ridest as a cherub in the full splendour of equipage, thy crown and halls blaze with gems and gold. The greater then shall be thy fall into the pit of the uncircumcised.

Thou hast defiled all thy temples with the multitude of thy traffic in sorceries and idolatries. Therefore the seas shall not protect thee; for while the invaders scale thy walls, famine shall prevail within, and great shall be the slaughter of thy people. Cursed shall be thy garden for briers and thorns, and fishermen shall dry their nets on thy walls. On Israel the sun shall rise again. God is the rock and hope of Zion; but on Tyre the sun shall rise no more.—Oh Lord, instruct us by thy judgments, and acquaint us with thine ancient ways of righteousness and truth.