Annotations Upon Isaiah, Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
VERSE 1. THE Burden of Tyre, &c.] See the Notes Chap. 13.1. and 2 King. 9.25. Tyre was a City in Phoenicia, lying upon the midland Sea, yea, in a manner encompaſſed with the Sea, as Venice is; and ſo was a Port and Mart-Town of greateſt note in thoſe times, Ezek. 27.3, 4. Say unto Tyrus, O thou that art ſituate at the entry of the Sea, which art a Merchant for the people of many Iſles—Thy borders are in the midſt of the Seas. See alſo the Note Pſal. 45.12. when Canaan was divided by Joſhua, this City fell to the lot of Aſhur, Joſh. 19.29. and that it was not far from Galilee, is evident, becauſe it is ſaid, Matth. 15.21. That Jeſus went thence into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon. But it ſeems, being a place of exceeding great ſtrength, (and therefore called in that, Joſh. 19.29. the strong City Tyre. And in 2 Sam. 24.7. The strong hold of Tyre) The Iſraelites were afraid to attempt it, and ſo it continued ſtill in the poſſeſſion of the old inhabitants. But now what the Judgment was, wherewith this great City Tyre is here threatned in this burdenſom Prophecy, is very queſtionable. Some hold it is meant of the great ſtreights whereinto this City was brought within a ſhort time after, by Salmanaſſer and Sennacherib the Kings of Aſſyria; which ſeems not to me ſo probable, at leaſt that this was not all that was here intended, becauſe the Prophet ſpeaks here expreſly of this City's being laid waſte; whereas the utmoſt that any Hiſtory reports concerning the Aſſyrians attempts againſt Tyre is, That they blocked it up for five years: and ſome add too, That the Aſſyrians were at laſt overcome in a Sea-fight, wherewith the Tyrians were exceedingly puffed up. Again others under the calamity wherewith Tyrus is here threatned, do comprehend the taking, ſacking and deſtroying of Tyre by Alexander the great; of whom indeed it is reported by ſeveral Hiſtorians, that after a long and hard ſiege, he at length filled up that branch of the Sea, that was betwixt the continent and Tyre, that ſo his Army might approach her walls, and by this means took it and utterly ruined it. But it is not, I conceive, very probable that this is intended neither; and that becauſe ver. 15. of this Chapter there followeth a promiſe, That ſeventy years after the ruine here threatned, the Tyrians ſhould recover their liberty again, which we do not find was ever done after Alexander had deſtroyed it. And therefore in the laſt place, the moſt of Expoſitors do underſtand it of the deſolation that was brought upon this City by Nabuchadnezzar, which indeed ſeems moſt probable▪ 1. Becauſe in Ezekiel's Prophecy againſt Tyre, which agreeth in many paſſages with this, it is expreſly ſaid, Behold I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, &c. Becauſe the ſeventy years of the Syrians Captivity do ſute ſo well with the ſeventy years of the Jews Captivity in Babylon. And obſervable it is, that elſewhere two ſins are particularly mentioned, as the principal cauſe of the ruine that God here threatens to bring upon this City, to wit, her exceſſive Pride in her riches and great ſtrength. And 2ly. her inſulting over Jeruſalem, when ſhe was before deſtroyed by the ſame King, ſee Ezek. 26.2. and 28.2. and Joel 3.4. &c.
Howl ye ſhips of Tarſhiſh, &c.] Figuratively this may be ſpoken to the ſhips themſelves; but rather it is meant of thoſe in the ſhips, Howl ye ſhips of Tarſhiſh, that is, mourn and lament bitterly, O ye Seamen and Merchants, that are ſtill paſſing in your ſhips, by way of trading between Tyre and Tarſhiſh, and other foreign parts; and indeed Tarſhiſh is expreſly mentioned amongſt thoſe that traded with Tyre, Ezek. 27.12. but for the ſhips of Tarſhiſh, ſee the Notes 1 King. 10.22. and Pſal. 48.7. for it is laid waſte; to wit, Tyre and the Iſland wherein it ſtood; and therefore all the Merchandiſe you left therein is utterly loſt, and the rich trading you had wont to have with that famous City, is now at an end; ſo that there is no houſe, no entring in, that is, No houſe to entertain you; no going in, or coming out by way of trading; from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them, that is, They of the land of Chittim, who being nearer to Tyrus, did firſt hear of it, revealed it to thoſe of Tarſhiſh. And who are meant by thoſe of the land of Chittim, See Numb. 24.24. Other Expoſitions I know are given of that laſt clauſe; but according to our Tranſlation, that which I have given, ſeems the cleareſt.
Ver. 2. Be ſtill ye inhabitants of the Iſle, &c.] Some hold, that Iſle is here collectively put for Iſlands, and accordingly that it is the inhabitants of the Iſlands of the Midland-Sea that are here adviſed to be ſtill, that is, to reſt quietly in their ſeveral places, and not to think of making any more voyages to Tyre, that was utterly deſtroyed, or to ſit down ſilent mourning with her, and for her. But they are rather the Inhabitants of Tyre, that are here ſpoken to, which was an Iſle, till Alexander the Great (as Hiſtories report) joyned it to the continent, ſee the foregoing Notes. Be ſtill ye inhabitants of the Iſle, that is, Boaſt not ſo proudly, O ye Tyrians, as you had wont to do in your great riches, and the invincible ſtrength of your City, make not your City to ring with your revelling and rioting, as you have uſed to do; but rather let the aſtoniſhment, horror, and grief that is befallen you, ſtop your mouths, and make you ſit down in ſilence, as mourners uſe to do, See the Note Job 2.13. Or thu…, Be still ye inhabitants of the Iſle; as if he had ſaid, There ſhall not be that tumult and noiſe amongſt you, which there hath been, by reaſon of the multitude of ſhipping and trading you had formerly there, becauſe your City being laid deſolate, there will be nothing but ſtill ſilence there; thou whom the Merchants of Zidon, that paſs over the Seas, have repleniſhed, that is, Who art filled with Merchants and all kind of Merchandiſe from beyond the Sea. And Zidon is particularly named, becauſe being a haven-Town, and near to Tyre, and joyned in ſtrict League and Confederacy with Tyre (whence it is that in the Scripture they are ſtill joyned together, as if they had been but one it …e though they had indeed ſeveral Kings, Jer. 27.2.) the Zidonian Merchants were ſtill in greateſt number there. The drift of theſe laſt words is to imply, that notwithſtanding her great ſtate and riches, ſhe ſhould be laid waſte and deſolate. But obſervable withal it is, that Ezek. 26.2. Tyrus is brought in inſulting over Jeruſalem, when ſhe was deſtroyed; with theſe very words, I ſhall be repleniſhed now ſhe is laid waſte.
Ver. 3. And by great waters the ſeed of Sihor, the harvest of the river is her revenue, &c.] Sihor is uſually taken to be a ſmall river that divided Egypt from Palestina, Numb. 34.5. and Joſh. 13.3. And accordingly ſome hold, that by the ſeed of Sihor here, is meant the ſeed of Egypt, which is here called Sihor; becauſe this river Sihor was its utmoſt bounds. But now becauſe it ſeems no way probable, that Egypt ſhould be called Sihor, only becauſe of a ſmall brook of that name, that went through the skirts of that Country, and for ſeveral other reaſons that they give for it; many learned men do with much confidence affirm, that it is Nilus that is here called Sihor (it may be with reſpect to a ſmall branch of it that ran out to the borders of Canaan, that was there called Sihor) and that by the ſeed of Sihor here, is meant the ſeveral fruits, which the ſeed ſown in Egypt by the river Nilus, yieldeth to them; as all kind of Corn, Flax, and ſuch like. And ſo the meaning of the words ſeems to be plainly this, That the Wheat and other grain and fruit that either grew abundantly in Egypt by the great waters of Nilus, the water-courſes that were drawn from thence (called therefore the harvest of the river) Or, that were tranſported by the great waters of the Ocean-Sea, was the Revenue of Tyre, wherewith her own Inhabitants were maintained, and wherewith ſhe traded into other Countries. Though ſhe had no grounds (comparatively) of her own, yet Nilus in Egypt afforded her yearly a plentiful Crop and Harveſt; and ſhe is a mart of Nations, that is, That great Mart-Town, whither all Nations, in a manner, far and near, do daily reſort for trading; as is largly ſet forth, Ezek. 27. All which is here inſerted to imply, That notwithſtanding ſhe was ſo rich, and abundantly ſupplied with all kind of Proviſion, yet this ſhould not ſave her from ruine.
Ver. 4. Be thou aſhamed, O Zidon, &c.] To wit, either 1. becauſe, as ſome ſay, Zidon, who was the mother of Tyre, had not defended that her daughter, but was forced to ſit ſtill and look on, whilſt ſhe was laid waſte by her enemies. And indeed we find in ſome Hiſtorians, that the Zidonians being vanquiſhed by the King of Aſcalon, did tranſport themſelves by ſhipping to the Iſland of Tyre, and there ſeated themſelves, and built that City. Or, 2ly. becauſe the ſame Deſolation and Deſtruction that was fallen upon Tyre, was fallen upon them; the enemy was not like to ſpare ſuch a conſiderable neighbour City and Port-Town; nor were they likely to ſtand out againſt an enemy, that had ſubdued the ſtronger City of Tyre; and the ſame wickedneſs that had provoked God againſt Tyre, was alſo rife amongſt them. And 3ly. becauſe Zidon that had gloried ſo much in Tyre, as a Colony that of old had iſſued forth from her, and that had reſted ſo much upon her aid and defence, and had promiſed her ſelf ſuch great matters by her trading with her, was now bereaved of all Glory, and diſappointed of all her hopes by that utter ruine that was come upon Tyre. And that this was intended, appears by the reaſon ſubjoyned, for the Sea hath ſpoken, that is, Tyre that lay in the midst of the Sea, Ezek. 28.2. and as a Queen had the rule and command of the Sea, even the ſtrength of the Sea, that is, the ſtrongeſt of all Sea-Towns, as being built on a rock, and environed with the Sea, ſaying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nouriſh up young men, nor bring up Virgins: that is, I am as if I had never brought forth Sons and Daughters, being left deſolate and waſte, and all my Inhabitants being cut off and deſtroyed, or carried away captives; I am never like to ſend forth great Colonies into other Countrys, as I have formerly done: Or, it is all one with me, as if I had never brought forth Sons and Daughters, there being none of them that have appeared in my defence.
Ver. 5. As at the report concerning Egypt, ſo ſhall they be ſhortly pained at the report of Tyre.] That is, As the neighbour Nations were of old ſorely troubled and affrighted at the report of Gods deſtroying Egypt in Moſes's time (for which ſee Exod. 15.14, 15, 16.) ſo ſhall all the great Cities and Kingdoms near to Tyre, be perplexed and terrified when they hear of the Deſtruction of Tyre. This is, I conceive the plain meaning of this place; yet ſome rather think, that the Prophet ſpeaks of a later Deſtruction of Egypt by the Chaldeans, and ſo would have the words to be underſtood thus, That the neighbour Cities and Countries ſhould be as much diſquieted and ſcared with the report of Nebuchadnezzars taking Tyre, as they would be afterward at the report of his ſubduing Egypt; and that becauſe thy eſteemed it ſuch an invincible place, that they would be ready to conclude, that having taken that, no other place could ſtand before him; but he would deal with them all, as he had done with Tyre. And indeed if it be Nebuchadnezzar's prevailing againſt Egypt that is here intended, the words muſt be underſtood thus; for to be ſure Tyre was ſubdued by him before Egypt, as is evident, Ezek. 29.18, 19, 20. where Egypt is promiſed him as his wages for his great ſervice againſt Tyre.
Ver. 6. Paſs ye over to Tarſhiſh, &c.] This may be ſpoken to the ſeveral Nations that uſed to come to Tyrus for Traffick, to wit, That Tyrus being deſtroyed, they ſhould now betake themſelves to Tarſhiſh, or ſome other Mart-Town, to ſet up a way of trading there; or elſe to the Inhabitants of Tyre themſelves, that as many of them as could, ſhould flee away to Tarſhiſh; and ſee the Notes above, ver. 1. yea, why may not both of them be here intended? And as for the following clauſe, Howl ye inhabitants of the Iſle, See the Note above, ver. 2.
Ver. 7. Is this your joyous City, whoſe antiquity is of ancient days? &c.] As if he had ſaid, Is all your jollity, and all your glorying in the Antiquity of your City come to this at laſt? Thus doth the Prophet upbraid the Tyrians for their Pride and vain confidence in the antiquity of their City, as if there could be no fear of any change, becauſe ſhe had continued ſo long in ſuch a proſperous Condition. And indeed we find, that Tyre was of great Antiquity: In Joſhua's time it was called the strong City Tyre, Joſh. 19.29 But this was no ground of ſecurity, when God would contend with her; and therefore is that added, her own feet ſhall carry her afar off to ſojourn, that is, Her proud inhabitants that had wont to paſs the Seas in their ſtately ſhips, and at other times to be carried up and down in great pomp from place to place, ſhall be glad to trot a foot, as poor ſlaves and beggars are wont to do, into ſome remote Country; which may be meant, either of thoſe that ſhould flee away from the enemy into Foreign parts, and there wander up and down in a forlorn Condition whitherſoever their feet would carry them; or of thoſe that ſhould be carried away Captives, either into Babylon, or ſome of her Provinces, and there be ſold and driven away, it may be, further off, not being long ſuffered to reſt in any place.
Ver. 8. Who hath taken this counſel againſt Tyre, &c.] That is, who is of that power and confidence, as to dare to undertake the ſubduing of ſuch a gallant, invincible City as Tyre ſeemed to be, and that hath continued ſo long in ſuch ſtrength and glory; as if the Prophet had ſaid, Who would ever have thought, that this would have been done to this mighty City? the crowning City, that is, ſay ſome Expoſitors, That by her wealth is grown up to be a Royal City, Jer. 25.22. or that carrieth her ſelf as a Princeſs or Queen over all the Cities and Sea-ports round about her; or that hath enriched other Cities ſo, as to make them Royal Cities. But rather ſhe is called the crowning City, becauſe ſhe crowned her Merchants and Inhabitants, and thoſe likewiſe that traded with her, with exceeding wealth and magnificence, ſo that they lived more like Princes, than men of ordinary rank; for ſo the following words ſeem to explain this, whoſe Merchants are Princes, whoſe Traffickers are the honourable of the earth, that is, whoſe Merchants lived in as great ſtate, as Nobles and Princes elſewhere uſed to do; yet ſome I know, would have this alſo included herein, that even the Princes and great honourable men of other Nations uſed to traffick with her.
Ver. 9. The Lord of hoſts hath purpoſed it, &c.] This is the anſwer returned to the foregoing queſtion, ver. 8. and it is all one in effect, as if the Prophet had ſaid, Wonder not that this ſhould befall Tyre; it is the Lord of hoſts that hath undertaken it and done it, before whom no ſtrength of the Creature can ſtand. And withal he adds the reaſon why the Lord had done it, to ſtain the Pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the Honourable of the earth, that is, To puniſh and abaſe the Pride of all the great and honourable ones that do arrogantly exalt themſelves, by pulling them down as unworthy to be in ſuch a lofty eſtate, and laying their Glory in the duſt, by bringing them into a baſe and contemptible condition. And this is expreſſed in theſe general terms, to stain the Pride of all Glory, and to bring into contempt all the Honourable of the earth; not only to ſet forth, that all the proud ones in Tyre, and in other Countrys that were advanced by trading with her, ſhould be brought down by this Judgment of God; but alſo to imply, 1. That God did no more in the ruine of Tyre, than what he had determined to do to all the great ones of the World, that ſhould proudly exalt themſelves becauſe of their greatneſs. And 2ly. that by this Deſtruction of Tyre, it would clearly be diſcovered what poor and contemptible things all the great ones of the World are, when the great God of Heaven comes to contend with them.
Ver. 10 Paſs through the land as a river, O daughter of Tarſhiſh, &c.] See the Notes above, ver. 1. By the Daughter of Tarſhiſh, I conceive is meant thoſe Mariners of Merchants of Tarſhiſh, or other foreign parts, that were in Tyre, upon the account of trading there; and that with reſpect to the Judgment and Ruine that was to come upon Tyre, theſe men are here adviſed to paſs through the land, where at preſent they had their abode, and to pack away home to their own Countrys; as a river, that is, Speedily and without any delay, even as the waters of a river, that falling down from higher grounds do paſs away with a ſwift Current, and run on without any intermiſſion, any ſtop or ſtay, till they come into the Sea. And ſome think too, That by this ſimilitude of their paſſing away as a river, there is implied alſo the thronging and breaking away of theſe ſtrangers that were in Tyre, in great multitudes, like the huge heaps of waters that run crowding away in ſome great flood. They indeed that hold it is Tyre, that is here called the Daughter of Tarſhiſh (as conceiving that by Tarſhiſh is meant the great Ocean Sea, and that Tyre is therefore ſo called, becauſe ſhe lay in the Sea, and had all her dealing in the Sea, and all her Store and Riches brought in by the Sea, as being the chief of all the Sea ports in thoſe parts) muſt needs accordingly hold, either that the Inhabitants of Tyre are here adviſed to flee ſpeedily away as a river, ſomewhere elſe to ſeek a ſhelter for themſelves; or elſe that hereby it is foretold how they ſhould be violently hurried away out of their own land into Captivity, and ſo ſhould be ſcattered abroad like the waters of a river that overflow the banks. But the former Expoſition is far the cleareſt. As for the following clauſe, there is no more ſtrength, that is added as a reaſon why the Foreigners that were in Tyre, are called upon to pack away, and not to ſtay there, in hope that Tyre would be able to ſtand it out againſt her enemies; to wit, becauſe Tyre was certainly loſt, and would be no way able to defend her ſelf; becauſe in the Hebrew the words are, there is no more girdle: therefore ſome would have the meaning to be, That Tyre was ſo rifled and plundred of all her rich Merchandiſe, that there was not ſo much as a Girdle left in her, which was indeed a Commodity wherewith the Merchants traded much in thoſe times; See the Note, Prov. 31.24. But queſtionleſs the intent of the words are, that there was no more ſtrength left in Tyre, ſee the Note Job 12.21. only in the word Girdle there ſeems to be an Alluſion to her being bereft of all thoſe defences wherewith formerly ſhe had been begirt, her Walls, Bulwarks, Ditches and ſhipping; yea, the Sea it ſelf which did wholly encompaſs her, till the Enemy did by ſtrange devices, and incredible labour, joyn this Iſland to the Continent. And this agrees with that which is elſewhere ſaid of the taking and ſacking of Tyre, Ezek. 26.4. They ſhall deſtroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers, &c.
Ver. 11. He ſtretched out his hand over the Sea, he ſhock the Kingdoms, &c.] That is, The Lord of Hoſts, mentioned before, ver. 9. And again in the following words in this verſe, the Lord hath given a Commandment againſt this Merchant-City. And indeed becauſe theſe laſt words, against the Merchant-City, are in the Hebrew, againſt Canaan, therefore ſome think that the Prophet in the foregoing words alſo ſpeaks here of the great things that God did at the Red Sea, and againſt the Kingdoms of the Canaanites, when he carried Iſrael out of Egypt, to plant them in that land which he had promiſed them; and that the reaſon why thoſe things are mentioned here, is only to ſhew, That the great God, who then did ſuch mighty things, would not find the ruining of Tyre a work too hard for him. But certainly the Prophet ſpeaks here ſtill expreſly of the Deſtruction of Tyre it ſelf; He ſtretched out his hand over the Sea, to wit, to ſmite and deſtroy Tyre that is encompaſſed with the Sea, ſee the Note ver. 4. or more generally the Iſlands and Provinces that lay on the Sea-coaſts; he ſhook the Kingdoms, that is, He ſhook and ſhattered the Kingdoms of Tyre and Zidon, and others thereabout, by the enemies he brought upon them: Or he diſturbed and terrified the neighbour-Kingdoms by the Deſtruction which he brought upon Tyre, partly through the grief that ſurprized them for the loſs of their gainful Trade with that City; and partly as being terrified, leſt the ſame ruine would come upon them, that was already come upon Tyre; The Lord hath given a Commandment againſt the Merchant-City: It is in the Original, againſt Canaan; but generally Expoſitors hold, that hereby is meant the Inhabitants of Tyre, which they ſay, is here termed Canaan, becauſe it lay in the land of Canaan, as is evident, Joſh. 19.28, 29▪ where both Tyre and Zidon are reckoned amongſt the Cities of Canaan; and likewiſe Matth. 15.21, 22. where the Woman that came out of the coaſts of Tyre and Zidon, is called a Woman of Canaan. And indeed conſidering the word Canaan is ſometime uſed for a Merchant (as we find it tranſlated, Hoſ. 12.7. where it is ſaid of Ephraim, He is a Merchant, the ballances of deceit are in his hand) and that Tyre was the chief Mart-Town for Merchandizing in thoſe parts: I conceive it is beſt rendred in our Bibles, The Lord hath given a Commandment againſt the Merchant-City. And the meaning however is, That God had given a Commiſſion to her Enemies the Aſſyrians or Babylonians, to pull her down; and therefore it was in vain to think, that her great ſtrength ſhould ſecure her; to deſtroy the ſtrong holds thereof, or, the ſtrengths thereof, as it is in the Margin, that is, whatever ſhe had, which ſhe might hope would be a means to defend her.
Ver. 12. And he ſaid, Thou ſhalt no more rejoyce, O thou oppreſſed Virgin Daughter of Zidon, &c.] By the Daughter of Zidon here, moſt Expoſitors hold, that Tyre is meant, and that ſhe is ſo called, becauſe ſhe was a Colony of Zidons; ſee above, ver. 4. But according to the uſual Language of the Scripture, it is rather Zidon her ſelf, or the Inhabitants thereof, that is here called the Daughter of Zidon; a Virgin-Daughter ſhe is termed, not only with reſpect to the beauty of the City, and the delicacy of the inhabitants, living at eaſe and pleaſure; but alſo eſpecially becauſe ſhe had never been hitherto ſubdued and brought under by any hoſtile power; but withal an oppreſſed Virgin, becauſe now even Zidon was to be deſtroyed as well as Tyre. And this I conceive is that which is intended by this Expreſſion, Thou ſhalt no more rejoyce, O thou oppreſſed Virgin Daughter of Zidon; not that Zidon ſhould never after this, be in a flouriſhing and rejoycing Condition (for it is moſt probable, that when Tyre was reſtored again, as is here afterward foretold, ver. 17. Zidon alſo, together with Tyre, did alſo recover her former ſtate) nor that Zidon ſhould no more rejoyce in hope of her enriching and advancing her ſelf ſtill more by her trading with Tyre, becauſe Tyre was to be deſtroyed; but that ſhe ſhould not any longer triumph and be in ſuch jollity, as ſhe had hitherto been; and that becauſe together with Tyre even ſhe ſhould be alſo deſtroyed. And thereupon to aſſure them of the certainty of this, he adviſeth the Zidonians to flee away, and to ſeek ſome place of ſhelter elſewhere, ſee the Note above, ver. 10. or elſe foretels, that they alſo ſhould be carried away captives into Foreign parts; Ariſe, paſs over to Chittim, ſee the Notes before, ver. 1. there alſo ſhalt thou have no reſt, to wit, becauſe even thence they ſhould be carried away as Slaves into remoter parts; Or, becauſe even thoſe parts alſo ſhould be invaded by the proud Conqueror.
Ver. 13. Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, &c.] Expoſitors differ very much concerning the meaning of this verſe. That which ſeems moſt probable is, That to prevent any thought of the impoſſibility of Tyres being deſtroyed, becauſe it was a place of ſuch exceeding ſtrength, impregnable and invincible in the eye of reaſon, and becauſe it was a City of ſo great Antiquity, that had ſtood unſubdued, and flouriſhed proſperouſly for ſo many Ages, the Prophet doth here propound as conſiderable, that the Aſsyrian, a Nation far more ancient, and more potent than the Tyrians, was at laſt ſubdued and ruined by the Chaldeans, whom the Aſſyrian had raiſed to all their greatneſs; inferring from hence, that therefore it was no wonder at all, though the Chaldean and Aſſyrian now joyned together, ſhould deſtroy Tyre. This I conceive is moſt probably the ſcope of this place; and accordingly I underſtand the words thus, Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, that is, Behold the people that now poſſeſs the land of Chaldea (that very people by whom God means now to deſtroy Tyre) this people was not, that is, They had not the name of a people, no body made any reckoning of them, till the Aſſyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderneſs, that is, Till the Aſſyrian gathered them together that after the Flood, or after the Diſperſion occaſioned by the Diviſion of Tongues, Gen. 11.11. were ſcattered abroad here and there, and lived in the wilderneſs in waſte and deſolate places, as a wild, rude people, not having any ſetled places of habitation, but dwelling in Tents, and ſetled them to live together as one aſſociated people in the land of Chaldea; they ſet up the towers thereof, they raiſed up the palaces thereof, that is, The Aſſyrians brought them to live together in Townſhips and Commonalities, which by degrees came to be ſtately Cities, and places of great ſtrength; and he brought it to ruine; that is, God ruined the Aſſyrian, this ancient people that were the firſt Founders of that great Empire of Chaldea; or rather the Chaldean, that was at firſt brought to be a people, and raiſed to ſuch a flouriſhing Condition by the Aſſyrian, did at length by degrees ſubdue and ruine all the power of the Aſſyrians; and taking Niniveh, the chief ſeat of their Empire, did tranſlate the Empire from the Aſſyrians to themſelves. Some I know do hold, That it is the Babylonian or Chaldean that is here inſtanced in, as the people, that being of greater ſtrength and antiquity than Tyre, was yet at laſt ſubdued by the Aſſyrian that had raiſed them to their greatneſs. And indeed we find that Babylon is mentioned 2 Kin. 17.24. amongſt thoſe Kingdoms that had been ſubdued by the Aſſyrian; yea, and there are that take the laſt clauſe as ſpoken prophetically with reſpect to the Perſians ſubduing Chaldea; and he brought it to ruine; that is, God, by the Perſian will bring it to ruine. And laſtly ſome ſay, that the drift of theſe words is to ſhew, that though Tyre did boaſt ſo much of her invincible ſtrength and antiquity, yet ſhe ſhould be ruined by a State more ancient and mighty than ſhe was, to wit, the Chaldeans; Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, this people was not; that is, This people had not any form of a State or Common wealth, till the Aſſyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderneſs; that is, till the Aſſyrian founded it as a fit harbour for his ſhipping, and ſo brought in Colonies of people that had formerly dwelt in wild and waſte places; they ſet up the towers thereof, they raiſed up the palaces thereof; that is, the Aſſyrians or Chaldeans were they that brought Tyre to be ſuch a ſtrong and ſtately City; and he brought it to ruine; as if the Prophet had ſaid, And thus Tyre is now like to be deſtroyed by them that at firſt founded her. But the firſt Expoſition ſeems to me the beſt.
Ver. 14. Howl ye ſhips of Tarſhiſh, &c.] See the Notes above, ver. 1. for your ſtrength is laid waſte; that is, Tyre, that was your ſtrong harbour for your ſhipping, and by trading with whom, you became ſo exceedingly enriched, and made powerful and mighty, is ruined and deſtroyed.
Ver. 17. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day, &c.] That is, At that time, when this Prophecy againſt Tyre ſhall be accompliſhed, that Tyre ſhall be forgotten ſeventy years, that is, juſt for ſo many years ſhe ſhall lie in her ruines deſolate and forſaken, not minded nor regarded, either by God or man; ſee the Note Pſal. 13.1. Becauſe in the following verſe Tyre is compared to a harlot forgotten of her Lovers; it may well be that in Alluſion thereto it is here ſaid, That Tyre ſhall be forgotten, that is, That her Merchants ſhould no more come at her for traffick. But yet the Expreſſion may well be underſtood more generally, as including alſo Gods diſregarding of her, of whom it is therefore ſaid afterward, ver. 17. that he would viſit her, as it were remembring her again in mercy. As for the ſeventy years, the time here prefixed for Tyres lying deſolate, I queſtion not, but that they muſt be counted from the time that Tyre ſhould be taken by Nebuchadnezzar, unto the ruine of the Chaldean Empire; and conſequently that they are in a manner juſt the ſame with the ſeventy years of the Jews captivity in Babylon; and that becauſe we find the Prophets foretold, that at the ſame time when Nebuchadnezzar ſhould deſtroy Judea and Jeruſalem, he ſhould alſo ſubdue the other neighbouring Nations round about, and particularly Tyre; See Jer. 25.15.—22. and 27.2, 3. and Ezek. 26.7. And it is moſt probable, that as the Jews were reſtored to their liberty, upon the breaking of the Babylonian yoke by the Perſians, ſo it might be with other Nations too, that were under the ſame bondage. And this being ſo, obſervable it is, that Tyre, who was puniſhed for rejoycing at Jeruſalems Deſtruction, Ezek. 26.2. lay juſt as many years deſolate as Jeruſalem did. As concerning thoſe words that are added, that for ſeventy years Tyre ſhould be forgotten, according to the days of one King. Some would have the ground of this Expreſſion to be, That threeſcore and ten years are commonly accounted the time of a mans life that lives long; See Pſal. 90.10. and conſequently alſo of the life of one King; and ſo they would have the words to be the ſame in effect, as if it had been ſaid, according to the days of one man. But becauſe there is little or no ſtrength in the Reaſons they give, why it is ſaid, according to the days of one King, and not of one man, I cannot approve of this Expoſition. The true meaning of the words is, That Tyre ſhould lie deſolate and forgotten ſeventy years, according to the days of one King; that is, of one Kingdom (ſo Dan. 7.17. by four Kings is meant four Kingdoms, or four different ſucceſſions of Kings; and Dan. 8.21. by the King of Grecia is meant a Succeſſion of the ſeveral Kings of Greece) and ſo that which is intended, is, That Tyre ſhould lye waſte ſo long as the Babylonian Empire ſhould continue.
After the end of ſeventy years ſhall Tyre ſing as an harlot.] It is in the Hebrew, It ſhall be unto Tyre as the ſong of an harlot. But the meaning is either, 1. That Tyre, being rebuilt and become a famous Mart again, ſhould be as jocund and jolly, as ever formerly ſhe had been, and as Harlots uſe to be when they are ſinging and ſporting themſelves amongſt their Lovers: Or, 2ly, That ſhe ſhould by all the art and skill ſhe could uſe, and by all the fair and pleaſing Invitations and Promiſes ſhe could make, ſeek to win the Nations far and near, to return to their old way of trading with her again, even as an Harlot that having been forſaken of her Companions, by reaſon of ſome foul Diſeaſe ſhe lay under, or ſome ſuch other occaſion, doth upon her recovery, by ſinging and all kind of flatteries and wantonneſs, labour to entice and allure her youngſters to return to her again: Or, 3ly. the meaning may be only, That ſhe ſhould eagerly buckle her ſelf again to her old way of Traffick; wherein ſhe is compared to a ſinging Harlot, not only, as I conceive, to imply her eager intending her gain and profit, which is the only thing the Harlot minds; but alſo the fair and flattering Speeches, the Frauds and Deceits wherewith Traders are wont too often to put off their Wares, even as Harlots are wont to entice men to be dealing with them.
Ver. 16. Take an harp, go about the City, thou harlot, that haſt been forgotten, &c.] Perſiſting in the Metaphor began in the laſt words of the foregoing verſe, the Prophet ſpeaks here to Tyre, as to ſome forſaken Harlot, becauſe it was, it ſeems, uſual with ſuch Strumpets, thus to go playing and ſinging up and down the Cities, thereby to entice their former Cuſtomers to look after them again; Make ſweet melody, ſing many ſongs, that thou mayeſt be remembred; that is, That they may know thou art ſtill living, and where thou art to be had. But that which is intended hereby, is to foretel, that Tyre being raiſed again out of her Ruines, ſhould, like ſuch an Harlot, return again to her old Trade, and uſe all the Devices ſhe could, to bring in the Nations to traffick with her again, as formerly, &c. See the foregoing Note. And it may well be alſo, that the Prophet doth the rather uſe theſe Expreſſions, Take an harp, make ſweet melody, and in Alluſion to this City's being formerly much addicted to ſuch kind of Muſick; whence is that of the Prophet Ezekiel concerning Tyre, Chap. 26.13. I will cauſe the noiſe of thy ſongs to ceaſe, and the ſound of thy harps ſhall be no more heard. See alſo Chap. 28.13.
Ver. 17. And it ſhall come to paſs after the end of ſeventy years, &c.] See the Note above, ver. 15. that the Lord will viſit Tyre, to wit, in mercy, raiſing her up to a proſperous eſtate again, and ſhe ſhall turn to her hire; that is, She ſhall return to her old gainful Trade of Merchandizing, and ſhall commit Fornication with all the Kingdoms of the World, &c. that is, as a Strumpet entertains all comers, ſo ſhall ſhe have Commerce with all Nations throughout the World, and ſhall as greedily purſue her old filthy Gain by unjuſt and fraudulent Courſes, as ever ſhe did.
Ver 18. And her Merchandiſe and her hire ſhall be Holineſs to the Lord, &c.] This is by the conſent of almoſt all Expoſitors, ſpoken of the times when the Inhabitants of Tyre ſhould embrace the Chriſtian Faith, to wit, That in thoſe times they ſhould conſecrate their Merchandiſe, and the Gain they got thereby, to the ſervice of God. In thoſe words, Holineſs to the Lord, there ſeems to be an Alluſion to that Motto that was engraven on the High Prieſts golden Frontlet, Exod. 28.36. as there is alſo in Zach. 14.20. In that day ſhall there be upon the Bells of the Horſes, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; but the meaning is, That the Tyrians ſhould then beſtow a great part of their Wealth for pious uſes, as might be moſt for Gods Glory, and for the good of his Church and people. And indeed we find in the firſt ſpreading of the Goſpel, the Apoſtle Paul found ſome at Tyre that had already embraced the Chriſtian Faith, Act. 21.3, 4. See alſo the Note, Pſal. 87.4. It ſhall not be treaſured nor laid up, that is, they ſhall not covetouſly hoard up all they get, meerly for themſelves, as formerly they have done; for her Merchandiſe ſhall be for them that dwell before the Lord, that is, They ſhall lay out very much of their Wealth for the relief and ſupport of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and others the poor members of Chriſt: for though the Prophet expreſſeth this according to the Language of the Old Teſtament, for them that dwell before the Lord, as if he had been ſpeaking of the Prieſts and Levites, that did continually wait upon the Lord in the Temple; yet his meaning is, That when the Tyrians were once come into the Church, though they ſhould not heap up Wealth by unjuſt ways as formerly, yet what they got in an honeſt way, they ſhould willingly expend it for the ſupport of the Lords ſpecial Servants, the Miniſters that attend upon him in his Houſe, and others of his Houſhold of Faith, who are indeed a holy Prieſthood to the Lord, and do continually endeavour to walk with him, and to approve themſelves to him in all their ways; yea, and this the Prophet ſaith they ſhould do ſo freely and bountifully, that both the one and the other ſhould be comfortably and ſufficiently ſupplied with Means and Maintenance both for Food and good Raiment; for that is intended in thoſe laſt words, to eat ſufficiently, and for durable clothing.