Exposition of Ezekiel 20-29, Exposition · Chapter 26

Exposition of Ezekiel 20-29 · Exposition · Chapter 26

p. 419CHAP. XXVI.

Verſ. 1 And it came to paſs in the eleventh year, in the firſt day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto mee, ſaying,

2 Son of man, becauſe that Tyrus hath ſaid againſt Jeruſalem, Aha, ſhee is broken that was the gates of the people, ſhee is turned unto mee, I ſhall bee repleniſhed, now ſhe is laid waſte.

3 Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, behold, I am againſt thee, O Tyrus, and will cauſe many Nations to come up againſt thee, as the Sea cauſeth his waves to come up.

4 And they ſhall deſtroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her Towers, I will alſo ſcrape her duſt from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

5 It ſhall be a place for the ſpreading of nets in the midſt of the Sea: for I have ſpoken it ſaith the Lord God, and it ſhall become a ſpoil to the Nations.

6 And her daughters which are in the field, ſhall be ſlain by the ſword, and they ſhall know that I am the Lord.

EZekiel having Propheſyed againſt the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philiſtines in the former chapter; here hee proceeds in propheſying againſt the Tyrians, fore-telling their deſtruction. In the Chapter we have,

1 The Time when this propheſy was, v. 1.

2 The ſin of the Tyrians, which cauſed God here to threaten their deſtruction, v. 2.

3 Their deſtruction, and by whom, with the events thereof in the reſt of the Chapter.

4 The End of Gods dealing thus with them, v. 6.

p. 4201 In the eleventh year, the firſt day of the Month.

Its evident what year Ezekiel had this propheſy given in, viz. In the eleventh year of Zedekiahs reign, and Jehoiachins captivity, both which run upon the ſame account, but for the Month its controverted. Some make it to bee the fourth month of the ſaid year, nine daies before the City was broken up, Jer. 52.5, 6, 7. which is not mentioned hence by the Prophet, becauſe it was ſuch a black and ſad month unto the Jews: but if this were a ſufficient reaſon, why did Jeremy mention it? and why is it expreſſed, 2 King. 25.3. Others make it to bee the fifth month, which was the firſt month after Jeruſalem was taken. Between the ninth day of the fourth month, and the firſt day of the fifth Month, there being twenty daies, the tydings of Jeruſalems ruine came to the Tyrians, who thereupon inſulted and ſaid, ſhee is broken, verſ. 2. which was a great affliction to the ſuperviving Jews oppreſſed with miſeries, and going into captivity, and would bee no leſſe to thoſe were formerly in Babylon, when they ſhould hear of it.

Note hence, That there are remarkable times, when God gives in a word to his ſervants. When Jeruſalem was taken, broken up, and burnt; when Heathens inſulted over the poor Jews, then the word of the Lord came to the Prophet, then hee muſt propheſy againſt their enemies, which was ſome matter of comfort unto them, in their great and extream ſufferings.

2 Becauſe that Tyrus hath ſaid againſt Jeruſalem.

The firſt mention of Tyre in holy writ, is Joſh. 19.29. where its placed within the lot of Aſher, and not in the Tribe of Nepthali; as Jerome and Euſebius affirms. And though it were given to Aſher, yet that Tribe never had poſſeſſion of it. In Hebrew its called Tzur or Tzor (which ſignifies a streight, a rock) becauſe it was built upon a rock. The Greeks, who could not well pronounce Tzade, turned p. 421that into Tau, whence it was called Tur, and ſo Tyrus. This City was very ancient; Iſaiah tells you the antiquity of it: It was of ancient daies, ch. 23.7. Dionyſius, Alexandrinus, called it, foreign, The Ancient City. And Pliny calls it,Muſ. in Ioſh. 19Josh 19 The Mother of moſt ancient Cities. It was built above four hundred years before the Temple, and more, though Joſephus ſaith,Lib. 8. Ant. c. 2. it was but two hundred and forty years; it was no part of the land of Canaan, but a ſtrong City, in an Iſland ſeven hundred paces diſtant from the Continent. Junius ſaith, about one hundred. Hyram who loved David, and furniſht Solomon with Cedars for building the Temple was King thereof, 1 King 5. it was a famous Mart Town, firſt taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and after by Alexander, Vſh Annale…. Bonfrerius.who made it of an Iſland, peninſula. Tyrus here is put for the Tyrians.

Aha, ſhe is broken that was the gates of the people.

Here was the ſin of the Tyrians, they cryed, Aha, when Jeruſalem was taken, and ruined by the Babylonians, and ſo inſulted over them in their afflicted eſtate; they ſaid, ſhe is broken that was the gates of the people: Jeruſalem was a City that had many gates, Jerem. 17.19. whether twelve or more, it matters not, by theſe Gates it had on every ſide, people of all parts entred into it, ſo that the confluence of people to Jeruſalem, partly for worſhip, and partly for trading, was very great, ſhee was full of people, great among the Nations, and Princeſſe among the Provinces, Lam. 1.1. and therefore becauſe people of all Nations, had free ingreſſe into her, and egreſſe out of her gates, ſhee is called the gates of the people; by gates alſo is noted ſtrength, power, and ſo Jeruſalem was the Gates of the people: The ſenſe is this, Jeruſalem hath had all Nations flocking thither, crouding in at her Gates, but now her ſtrong gates are broken, ſhee is deſolate, no foot ſhall come thither to worſhip or trade any more.

She is turned unto mee.

Now Tyrus ſhall bee Jeruſalem, my gates ſhall bee the gates of the people, all that flocked thither will come unto p. 422me, I ſhall now have the great trading and commerce with Nations, which Jeruſalem had; Tyrus was a rich City, had great trading, Iſa. 23.3. yet rejoyced in the ruine of Jeruſalem, becauſe her merchandiſing and wealth would bee increaſed hereby.

I ſhall bee repleniſhed.

My gates, my ſtreets, my ſhops, my houſes, my harbours, my places for worſhip, ſhall bee filled all of them, and that as much as ever Jeruſalems were; now the people, and wealth, of all Nations will come flowing in to mee, ſo that my greatneſſe, riches, and glory, will equalize, if not exceed Jeruſalems.

Now ſhee is laid waſte.

The Hebrew is, Hachorabah from Charaf, to dry up, now all her ſtreams and ſprings are dryed, now ſhe is like the channel of a river without water, or fiſh, now the preſſing in of people at her gates is ceaſed, now her Merchants fail her, now her wealth, ſtrength, and glory are laid in the duſt, now ſhe is dry, deſolate, and waſte.

3 Behold, I am againſt thee, O Tyrus.

This was ſad news for Tyrus, to have God declare himſelf againſt her, was more than if all Nations had done it. The Hebrew is, I am above thee, thou haſt lifted up thy ſelf againſt Jeruſalem, and above other Cities, but I am above and againſt thee; I that am the great God of heaven and earth, that ſhake the foundations of the world, that have all Nations at my command, Behold I am above thee, I am comming againſt thee.

And will cauſe many Nations to come up againſt thee.

Nebuchadnezzar had diverſe Nations and Provinces under p. 423his command. God would order it ſo, that hee ſhould bring an Army made up of thoſe Nations againſt Tyrus, what cruelty and violence was wanting in one Nation, ſhould bee made up in another.

As the Sea cauſeth his waves to come up.

The waves come up thick when the winde blows, they riſe, they roar, they rage, they break the ſhips in peices; ſo when God ſhould breath out a word of command to the Nations, they ſhould come like waves of the Sea, rageing, threatning, and ruining all. Armies and Forces are likened to the Sea, great waters, and their waves, which roare and deſtroy, Jerem. 50.42. chap. 51.42. there Cyrus his great Army, is called a Sea roaring, and covering Babylon with her waves.

4 And they ſhall deſtroy the walls of Tyrus.

Cities, and Towns of note, eſpecially upon the Sea-coaſt, uſe to bee well walled, ſuch was Tyrus, being upon a rock in the Sea, it had ſtrong walls, but they ſhould bee deſtroyed, and the towers thereof broken down.

I will alſo ſcrape her duſt from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

God would ſo deſtroy Tyrus, that no monument of her ſhall remain, there ſhall not bee any peice of an houſe, tower, or wall, not one ſtone left upon another, I will raſe her foundation, and that dust which comes by ſo doing, I will take away, there ſhall bee nothing viſible but the top of a rock, ſuch as that place and rock was before Tyrus was built, ſuch ſhould it bee again. God would exceedingly, yea, utterly deface that City. The word for ſcrape is from foreign Sucha, Purgare ſcopis ab radere ilutum a pavimento.to ſweep or pare off dirt from the pavement. Septuagint is, foreign, I will fan her duſt from her.

p. 424It ſhall be a place for the ſpreading of Nets in the midſt of the Sea.

It ſhall ſerve for no other uſe, but the Nets of fiſher-men, when they have done their fiſhing in the Sea, they ſhall come thither, and ſpread their nets there for drying and mending; where now are pleaſant Gardens, Orchards, walks, ſtately Palaces and buildings, where none but Merchants, and men of quality come, even there ſhall poor fiſher-men come, and ſpread their nets.

For I have ſpoken it ſaith the Lord God.

You think this impoſſible, that a City upon a rock in the Sea, ſtrongly built, ſtrongly walled, and Towered, that hath ſtood many hundred years, ſhould bee brought to nothing, and made as a plain or flat, for fiſher-men to ſpread their nets on; but I have ſpoken it ſaith the Lord, and I am a God of truth, and able to make good my word.

It ſhall become a ſpoil to the nations.

It hath great ſtore of merchants goods, of ware, and wealth, its a rich City, and ſhall bee lebaz, for a prey to the nations, they ſhall come, take and carry away all that is in it.

And her daughters which are in the field, &c.

Tyrus had many Towns, and Cities upon the land, under her command, and theſe are here called her Daughters in the field: Solomon gave Hyram in his daies, twenty Cities in the land of Galilee, for the Gold, Cedars, and Firr-trees, hee furniſhed him withall, 1 King. 9.11. and its without diſpute that hee being King of Tyre, had other Towns and Cities belonging to him, all which are called Daughters. Tyrus being the metropolis and chief City. Great Cities had Towns belonging to them, 1 Chron. 7.28, 29. 2 Chron. 28.18. and theſe were called Daughters, Jer. 49.2, 3. Lament. p. 4253.51. Ezek. 16.46, 48, 49, 53, 55. If wee take Daughters here for the women of Tyre, widdows, wives, and Maids, who walked out into the fields, Lavater will joyn iſſue with us. underſtand it of which you will, its certain both were deſtroyed by the judgements of God.

Obſ. 1 That when Gods people are ſeverely dealt with by the Lord for their ſinnes, others do impiouſly and inhumanely ſcoff at, and inſult over them. When Jeruſalem was ſackt by the Babylonians, the Tyrians cryed, Aha (vox gaudentium & inſultantium) ſhee is broken; So the Ammonites, chap. 25.3. they had their Aha againſt the Sanctuary, and land of Iſrael, ſo Ezek. 36.2. the enemy ſaid, Aha, againſt the Jews. Nature teacheth men to ſympathize with thoſe are in miſery, not to multiply their miſeries by ſcoffes and mocks; but the Nations ſhewed themſelves impious and unnatural in dealing ſo with the Jews; the like may Gods people expect now from the world, if they meet with breaking for their ſinnes, the men of the world will ſay, Aha, ſo would wee have it. Others mourning is their muſick; Others tears are their wine.

Obſ. 2 That merchandizing Cities, through their envy and Covetouſneſſe, are glad at the ruine of other Cities, expecting to inrich themſelves thereby. Tyrus was a City of Merchants, Iſa. 23.11. had great trading, was rich, yet ſhee envied Ieruſalem, ſaying, ſhee is the gates of the people, ſhe hath the great concourſe of all ſorts from all Nations, entering into her, and merchandizing with her, but now ſhee is broken, ſhee is turned unto mee; all that traded with, and inriched her, will come to mee, and I ſhall bee repleniſhed; thus ſhee manifeſted her Covetouſneſſe, and hope of being inriched by the breaking of Jeruſalem. When a City flouriſhes, and hath great trading, other Cities envy them, and if miſchief befal them they are glad, gaping then to bee made by their miſeries. This is the diſpoſition of Merchants, and merchandizing places, they look too much at themſelves, and ſo they may gain, it matters not who are looſers: Let Jeruſalem go down, ſo Tyrus may go up. To rejoyce in the ruine… of others is wretched, but to rejoyce therein, that wee may bee inriched, is accurſed. Some are glad when their neighbours houſes are p. 426on fire, when they break, they think thereby they ſhall bee made, have the greater trading, be repleniſhed, &c. Let tradesmen and Merchants look to it, this was the ſin of Tyrus, and did not a little diſpleaſe the Lord.

Obſ. 3 Rejoycing in, and deſire to bee inriched by the harmes of others, provokes God, ſo as to bring deſtruction upon Cities and Citizens. The Tyrians did ſo, therefore ſaith God, Behold, I am againſt thee, O Tyrus, and will cauſe Nations to come up againſt thee, and they ſhall deſtroy thy walls, thy Towers, thy Daughters, and thou ſhalt bee a ſpoil unto them. foreign & foreign, to inſult over others in their miſeries, and to make a prey of them through Covetouſneſſe, are dangerous ſins; God looks wee ſhould pitty and help men ſuffering, by our prayers, counſells, eſtates, not that wee ſhould adde to their afflictions, and make their furnace hotter, ſuch doings, heat Gods fury, and cauſe it to break out unto deſtruction; upon this account, the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philiſtines, were deſtroyed. Let us then not ſport our ſelves at the ſufferings of others, nor expect raiſing from their ruines. Covetouſneſſe is the root of all evil; it emptied Tyre of its wealth and Citizens, yea, helpt on its utter deſolation.

Obſ. 4 The Lord hath the command of Nations, and calls them forth, when and to what ſervice hee pleaſes. I will cauſe many Nations to come up againſt thee: Hee is King of nations, Jerem. 10.7. Governor among the nations, Pſal. 22.28. and if hee call, they come, Iſa. 5.26. hee will lift up an enſign to the nations, hee will hiſſe unto them, and behold they ſhall come with ſpeed; and let the Lord make known his minde by word or ſign, by any acts of his providence, and the nations come preſently, and are ready to do what he will to aſſault Cities, even Jeruſalem, Rabbath, Tyre, or Babylon it ſelf, Jerem. 50.9. I will raiſe and cauſe to come up againſt Babylon, an aſſembly of great nations from the North Countrey, and they ſhall ſet themſelves in array againſt her. God hath the Command of great nations, and can cauſe them to come out of their Countries, and do him ſervice, where he pleaſe. Let us then fear this God, who hath ſuch command, and ſay; Who ſhould not fear thee O thou King of Nations! p. 427for to thee doth it appertain.

Verſ. 7 For thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar King of Babylon; a King of Kings, from the North, with Horſes, and with Chariots, and with Horſemen, and companies, and much people.

8 He ſhall ſlay with the ſword, thy Daughters in the field, and hee ſhall make a fort againſt thee, and caſt a mount againſt thee, and lift up the buckler againſt thee.

9 He ſhall ſet Engines of Warre againſt thy walls, and with his Axes he ſhall break down thy towers.

10 By reaſon of the abundance of his Horſes, their duſt ſhall cover thee, thy walls ſhall ſhake at the noiſe of the horſemen, and of the wheels, and of the Charets, when he ſhall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a City, wherein is made a breach.

11 With the hoofes of his horſes ſhall hee tread down all thy ſtreets, hee ſhall ſtay thy people by the ſword, and thy ſtrong Garriſons ſhall go down to the ground.

12 And they ſhall make a ſpoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy Merchandize, and they ſhall break down thy walls, and deſtroy thy pleaſant houſes, and they ſhall lay thy ſtones, and thy timber, and thy duſt in the midſt of the water.

13 And I will cauſe the noiſe of thy Songs to ceaſe, and the ſound of thy harpes ſhall be no more heard.

14 And I will make thee like the top of a rock, they ſhall be a place to ſpread nets upon, thou ſhalt bee built no more, for I the Lord have ſpoken it, ſaith the Lord God.

In theſe verſes, 1 is ſet out what Inſtrument the Lord will uſe in this great work of deſtroying Tyre, and that is Nebuchadrezzar, with his forces, v. 7.

2 A Narration of his doings, from the 7. v. to the 13.

3 The Events following thereupon, v. 13, 14.

p. 4287 I will bring upon Tyrus, Nebuchadrezzar K…ng of Babylon.

This name Nebuchadrezzar wee had not in our Prophet before, moſt often its written Nebuchadnezzar, yet its thirty one times in Jeremy, and Ezekiel Nebuchadrezzar. Its a compound name of Nebochad & netzar or retzar, which are proper and ſimple Chaldee names, ſerving to diſtinguiſh the Chaldee King from the Aſſyrian, Vid. Martin. Lexicon.Nebo according to their account, is one, Chad twenty four, and netzar ſeven. Nebuchadnezzar, ſome make to ſignify gemitum judicii, preſſuras, the bewailing of that judgement, which is a preſſure. Nebuchadrezzar, gemitum generationis anguſtiae, the mourning of the generation of ſtraitening,Levater. hee was a man did oppreſſe and ſtraiten the Nations much, and made them to mourn. This man was King of Babylon, and not onelyonly ſo, but King of Kings, that is, either the chiefeſt of all Kings, or one that had many Kings under him, hee was an univerſal Monarch, Dan. 2.37, 38. and as appears by Jerem. 52.32. left many Kings under the power of Evilmerodach, who ſucceeded him.

8 Hee ſhall make a fort againſt thee, and caſt a mount againſt thee.

Hee ſhall beſiedge thee, and uſe all warlike inſtruments to batter and break thee. This undertaking of Nebuchadnezzar was very difficult, Tyrus was ſo ſituated and fortifyed, that it was thought impregnable, and had not Nebuchadrezzar been a man tenax propoſiti, exceeding reſolute and obſtinate in his deſignes, he had fainted in this buſineſſe, for the ſiedge laſted thirteen years,Uſhers Annals p. 133. as Junius obſerves out of Joſephus, and hee out of Beroſus, Philoſtratus and other Phaenician writers. I…hobalus then reigning there. Hence Ezekiel, ch. 29.18. ſaith, that Nebuchadrezzar cauſed his Army to ſerve a great ſervice againſt Tyre; for an Army to lye thirteen years before a City on a rock in the Sea, was a great ſervice, which he and his Army endured, and went through.

p. 4299 He ſhall ſet Engines of war againſt thy walls.

The Hebrew is, Mechi ravollo, The blow of his ſtings or battering Rams ſhall hee give againſt thy walls; the words properly ſound thus, percuſſio adverſi ſui, the ſmiting of her adverſary; The walls being over againſt theſe Engines (which ſome call Helepoles, others, tormenta expugnatoria) they were their adverſaries, and them they did ſmite and batter.

10 By reaſon of the abundance of Horſes, the duſt ſhall cover thee.

The Horſes imployed in the ſervice were ſo numerous, that they raiſed great clouds of Duſt, which fell upon their Habitations, Orchards, and Gardens, like Snow, and covered them.

The Walls ſhall ſhake at the noiſe of the Horſemen, &c.

Such ſhould bee the ratling and noiſe of horſes and charets, that the earth, and things founded upon it ſhould ſhake, or ſuch fear ſhould the inhabitants be ſtricken withall, that they ſhould apprehend all to be tottering and ſhaken.

As men enter into a City wherein is made a breach.

Hebrew, According to the entrance of a City which is broken up: When the walls of a City are broken down, there is great ſhouting, and men enter with great noiſe, triumphing and tumult, which makes the earth to ring, and fills all with trembling.

11 Thy ſtrong Garriſons ſhall go down to the ground.

The Hebrew for ſtrong Garriſons is, Mazeboth uzzech; The Statues of thy ſtrength. Tyrus being upon a rock in p. 430the Sea, its probable had many Arches and pillars to ſupport it. The Septuagint is, foreign, the ſubſiſtence or underpropping of thy ſtrength, or what ever thou haſt gotten to bear thee up. Some by Mazeboth, Statues, lead us to their Tutelar gods, Hercules and Apollo, whoſe ſtatues ſaith Pradus, the Tyrians kept bound with chains, Ne forte hoſtili carmine avocari poſſent, aut indignati deſcederent. The Vulgar hath it, ſtatuae tuae nobiles, thy noble ſtatues, that is, thoſe ſtatues were erected for thoſe men had done great and heroical exploits. Their Idol gods, their ſtatues ſhould be thrown down to the earth, and what ever they had conſiderable in the City. Rabbi David renders the words, Turres fortitudinis tuae, the towers of thy ſtrength, or ſtrong Towers, which ſuits with our tranſlation, Thy ſtrong Garriſons, even thoſe wherein the Tyrians did much confide, ſhould be level'd with the ground.

12 They ſhall make a ſpoil of thy riches, &c.

They ſhould take and carry away all was profitable and portable, and as for other things, they ſhould break them down, and throw them into the Sea, their walls, houſes of deſire, the ſtones, timber, and duſt of the City, ſhould bee thrown into the waters. Such ſhould bee the ruine of this ſtrong and famous City, that the duſt of it ſhould not remain.

13 I will cauſe the noiſe of thy ſongs to ceaſe, &c. and the ſound of thy Harps, &c.

The Tyrians being a rich people were jovial and merry, Ezek. 28.13. they had their Tabrets, and Pipes, their Harpes, and Songs, they ſo abounded in mirth and muſick, that their City was called the joyous City, Iſa. 23.7. is this your joyous City? they were given to delights and ſenſuality. God would cauſe their mirth to ceaſe, Jerem. 5.10. he would take away the voice of mirth, the voice of gladneſſe, &c. God would turn their mirth, into mourning, their Songs into howlings; they ſhould be for a long ſeaſon in a darkſome, and ſuffering condition.

p. 43114 Thou ſhalt be built no more.

Theſe words we muſt not take ſimply & abſolutely, for then they will contradict, Iſa. 23.15, 16. where its foretold, that after ſeventy years, Tyre ſhould bee again, and ſing. The minde then of the words is this, thou ſhalt bee built no more to bee the metropolis of a Kingdome; or thou ſhalt bee built no more with that ſtrength and glory thou waſt before; or thou ſhalt bee built no more to injoy the ſame name; for that City built afterwards in the ſame place, was called Palatyrus; or thou ſhalt be built no more, that is, for a long time: the word foreign notes a Jubilee, or long time.

Obſ. 1 Things difficult and impoſſible in the apprehenſions of men, are accompliſhed by the Lord, Tyrus was a ſtrong City, upon a rock in the Sea, had ſtrong walls, Towers, Garriſons, indured a ſiedge of thirteen years, yet was taken and levelled with the ground, which to men ſeem'd incredible and impoſſible; Therefore let not Princes, Merchants, Citizens, confide in their ſtrong holds, abundance of wealth, or any humane foundation.

Obſ. 2 The Lord makes places of renown contemptible, and ſubjects them to Ʋulgar, and inconſiderable uſes, Tyrus was a famous City the Mart of Nations, her Merchants were Princes, her tr…ffiquers the honourable of the earth, Iſa. 23.3, 8, and God made her like the top of a rock, a place for fiſhermen to ſpread nets upon.

Obſ, 3 Wealthy Cities, are uſually given to mirth and ſenſual delights which God will make to ceaſe. Tyrus was rich, and ſhee had her ſongs, muſick, and ſinful delights, which God made in time to ceaſe.

Verſ. 15 Thus ſaith the Lord God to Tyrus, ſhall not the Iſles ſhake at the ſound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the ſlaughter is made in the midſt of thee?

16 Then all the Princes of the Sea ſhall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broydered garments: they ſhall cloath themſelves with trembling, they ſhall ſit upon the ground, and tremble at every moment, p. 432and bee aſtoniſhed at thee.

17 And they ſhall take up a lamentation for thee, and ſay to thee, how art thou deſtroyed, thou that waſt inhabited of Seafareing men, the renowned City, which was ſtrong in the Sea, ſhee and her Inhabitants, which cauſe their terror to be on all that haunt it?

18 Now ſhall the Iſles tremble in the day of thy fall, yea, the Iſles that are in the Sea, ſhall bee troubled at thy departure.

19 For thus ſaith the Lord God, when I ſhall make thee a deſolate City, like the Cities that are not inhabited, when I ſhall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters ſhall cover thee.

20 When I ſhall bring thee down, with them that deſcend into the pit, with the people of old time, and ſhall ſet thee in the low parts of the earth, in places deſolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou bee not inhabited, and I ſhall ſet glory in the land of the living:

21 I will make thee a terror, and thou ſhalt be no more, though thou be ſought for, yet ſhalt thou never bee found again, ſaith the Lord God.

In theſe verſes the Prophet proceeds in laying down events and conſequences of Tyrus deſtruction. As,

1 The ſhaking and trembling of the Iſlanders, verſ. 15, 16, 18, 21.

2 Their mourning and Lamentation for Tyrus, v. 17.

3 Deſolatneſſe of the place, v. 19.

4 Oblivion, ſhe ſhould be forgotten, v. 20, 21. ſo deſtroyed as not to be found.

15 Shall not the Iſles ſhake at the ſound of thy fall.

They look at thee as impregnable, being fortified by art and nature, beyond all other Cities and places, but when they ſhall hear of thy fall, they ſhall tremble, fearing that ruine will be their portion, if the enemy ſhall beſiedge and aſſault them; ſhall not the Iſles ſhake? its an interrogation, which imports they will ſhake, and ſhake greatly.

p. 433When the wounded cry, when the ſlaughter is made in the midſt of thee.

When great Cities are taken, oft many are ſlain, and many are ſorely wounded, and when the men in the neighbour Iſlands ſhould hear of their ſufferings, cries, and fall of the City, they ſhould bee troubled and ſtand amazed. The Hebrew for ſlaughter is double, Behareg hereg, In interficiendo interfectione, in ſlaughtering with a ſlaughter. The ſlaughter was great.

16 Then all the Princes of the Sea ſhall come down from their Thrones.

Tyrus was upon the Mediterranean Sea, and that had many Iſlands. Lavater tells us of eight, viz. Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete, Sicilie, Melita, Sardinia, Samos, Chius, and others are mentioned, Act. 27. in ſome of theſe were Princes, and they ſhould bewail the fall of Tyrus; or theſe were the principal Iſlands of the Sea, and had many principal Marriners which ſailed from Port to Port, and were as Princes and Commanders of that Sea, both they, and the Governours of the Iſlands ſhall bee ſtraitened and affected with the condition of Tyre, there was wont to bee great trading between them and Tyrus, which now ſhould ceaſe.

And lay away their robes.

The Hebrew for their Robes is, Meileehem, pallia ſua, foreign Meil, by the Septuagint is rendred ſometimes foreign, a coat, Exod. 28.4. ſometimes foreign, Exod. 39.22. Sometimes foreign, 2 Sam. 13.18. Sometimes foreign, 1 Sam. 15.27. Sometimes foreign, Job 2.12. Sometimes foreign, Job 1.20. Sometimes foreign, Iſa. 61.10. and here foreign, however the Septuagint expreſſe it by various words, it ſignifies ſuch a garment, quo ſuperinduebantur honoratiores, as men of quality did wear.

p. 434And put off their broidered garments.

Kirker in verbo foreign French, Deſueſtiront ſeurs veſtemens de brodery.In the Hebrew its, Their garments of broidery, and ſo runs the French of the word, rickmah, broidery was ſpoken Ezek. 16.10. theſe they ſhould put off, paſhat, which is the word for putting off, notes, vim & impetum, a forcible putting off, they ſhould through anger and grief pull off their rich coats, with a violence, and throw them aſide, when the news of Tyrus ruine came unto them.

They ſhall cloath themſelves with trembling.

They ſhall bee greatly afraid, trembling ſhall take hold of them, they ſhall tremble and tremble, the word is in the plural number tremblings, from foreign which ſignifies open and viſible trembling, the downfall and deſolation of Tyre, that ſtrong place, ſhould fill them with ſuch aſtoniſhment and fear, as they ſhould openly tremble, or be cloathed with tremblings, that is, put on ſuch garments as teſtify grief and fear.

They ſhall ſit upon the ground.

They that ſate in the Throne a little before, ſhall ſit on the ground. Sitting on the ground, implies a ſad and troubled condition, Job 2.13. Job and his Friends in the time of their ſorrows and trouble, ſate upon the ground. So Iſa. 47.1. Babylon is called to ſit on the ground, that is, to a mourning condition, for the judgements ſhould come upon her. So the evils came upon Jeruſalem, made her to ſit upon the ground, Iſa. 3.26. and her Elders, Lamen. 2.10.

And tremble every moment.

They ſhould have a continual fear upon them, leaſt Nebuchadrezzar ſhould come, and deal by them, as hee had done by Tyrus, if that could not reſiſt him, much leſſe could they; The word for every moment is, Lir jaim, a moment, p. 435is a little fragment of time, foreign is diſrumpere findere, thence regayn or regah, a moment, and it may here note the moment paſt, as thus, they ſhall tremble for the moment, the ſuddain ſurprize and ruine of Tyrus, or the moment to come; they ſhall tremble from moment to moment, fearing there will bee ſuch a moment for them. The French is, Seront eſtonnez de moment en moment.

And be aſtoniſhed at thee.

When they ſhall hear that thy walls and ſtrong garriſons are broken down, that thy pleaſant houſes, ſtones, and timber, are laid in the water, that thou art made like the top of a rock they will be aſtoniſhed at thee, at thy deſolation.

17 And they ſhall take up a lamentation for thee.

When great judgements and changes fell out, many who were concerned therein, did not onelyonly grieve, but took up lamentations, and made a formal buſineſſe thereof, Jer. 31.15. ſo Rachel lamented for her children. So Ezekiel for the Princes of Iſrael, Ezek. 19.1, 14. So the Kings of the earth for Babylon, Rev. 18.9, 10. and ſo the Princes of the Sea took up a lamentation for Tyrus.

How art thou deſtroyed?

How haſt thou periſhed? ſo is the Original, its a queſtion full of admiration, they wondred that ſuch a ſtrong City, ſeated in the Sea, that had ſtood ſo long inviolable, ſhould now bee deſtroyed; its a queſtion full of Lamentation, how art thou deſtroyed? O it grieves us at the heart, and troubles our ſoules that thou art thrown down, and laid in the water, wee cannot beleeve, it was by an ordinary power that thou art deſtroied for.

p. 436That was inhabited by Sea-fareing men.

Here is one argument, which made the Princes of the Sea to ſay, How art thou deſtroyed? wee wonder at it, wee mourn for it, but cannot tell how it ſhould bee, ſeeing thou hadſt a multitude of Sea-men from all parts, who were able to fetch in proviſions upon all occaſions to releeve thee, and ſufficient to have kept out any enemy from entring into thee. The Hebrew here is, Noſhe bah mijammim, inhabited by the Seas, that is, by Merchants and Marriners, which dwelt in other Sea-towns, and came thither by the Seas, to ſojourn and Trade.

The renowned City.

This was a ſecond Argument, which begate aſtoniſhment, and grief in them for the deſtruction of Tyre, ſhee was a renowned City. In Iſa. 23. ſhe is called the joyous, the crowning, the Merchant City, and here the renowned City. foreign Civitas laudatiſsima, The City moſt praiſeable, being a City of Merchants, and theſe Princes and her traffiquers the honourable of the earth, Iſa. 23.8. ſhee muſt needs bee renowned, and of great fame abroad, which made her friends wonder at her ruine, and mourn, that ſhee ſhould be a place for fiſher men, and ſpreading of nets.

Which was ſtrong in the Sea.

Tyrus was a City upon a rock in the Sea the waters compaſſed it about, and made it an Iſland, ſo that it was hard to come at the waters, the rock, the walls were choice protections to it, ſo that the Princes of the Sea, thought it inacceſſible, and if attempted, yet impregnable, and this made them to ſay, how art thou deſtroyed?

p. 437She and her inhabitants, which cauſe their terror on all that haunt it.

Tyrus was ſo ſeated and fortified, that ſhee was dreadfull to all that knew her, to all the Iſlands far and near. She was rich in ſhipping, furniſhed with all things needful for a Naval expedition, and had the command of the Seas, which cauſed the Princes of the Sea to wonder at, and greatly to lament for her unexpected ruine.

18 Now ſhall the Iſles tremble in the day of thy fall?

When ſome great Tower or houſe is blown up by powder, or fall by an earth-quake, it ſhakes all the houſes and parts adjacent. So ſhould the fall of Tyre bee, it ſhould make all the Iſlands and Iſlanders, to tremble openly and viſibly, for ſo foreign is interpreted by Kirker.

Yea, the Iſles that are in the Sea, ſhall be troubled at thy departure.

The word for Troubled is from foreign which is, ſubito terrore percelli, to bee ſtricken with ſuddain fear and trouble, when they hear of thy departure or going out, that thou art laid waſte and become no City, they ſhall immediately be troubled and perplexed, fearing their own deſolations and deaths, or captivities.

19 When I ſhall make thee a deſolate City, like the Cities that are not inhabited.

A City without people, is like a field without Cattle, Corne, or graſſe, a very wilderneſſe, ſolitary and dangerous, by reaſon of Serpents and wilde Beaſts which lurk in it, Cities broken down, and uninhabited are no better; ſuch would the Lord make Tyrus.

p. 438When I ſhall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters ſhall cover thee.

In the 3. verſ. hee had ſaid, hee would cauſe many Nations to come up againſt Tyrus, that was a mighty Army of Nebucharezzars, which here hee calls Tehom, The deep, and hamanjim harabbim, many or great waters. Great Armies are like waters of the Sea, which breaking into Countries, Cities, and Townes, do multiply their Calamities, and lay them deſolate.

20 When I ſhall bring thee down with them that deſcend into the pit.

By Pit is meant the grave, Pſalm 28.1. Like them that go down into the pit, that is, like them which dye, and go down into the grave, foreign ſignifies a pit, a priſon, a grave. Tyrus ſhould become like one dead and buried.

With the people of old time.

The Hebrew is, foreign ad populum ſeculi, to the People of old time. God had cauſed many by the flood, many by the ſword formerly to deſcend into the grave, and ſo ſhould the Tyrians. The Vulgar tranſlation is, ad populum ſempiternum, To the everlaſting people, that is, to thoſe that lye from generation to generation in the duſt, and muſt lye there till the day of judgement, to thoſe that ſleep a perpetual ſleep, as the phraſe is, Jerem. 51.57. that place in Lamentation 3.6. hee hath ſet mee in dark places, as they that bee dead of old, gives light unto this, thoſe that were dead long agoe, lye in the dark, are unſeen, unknown, forgotten, and Tyrus with her people ſhould bee like unto them.

p. 439And ſhall ſet thee in the low parts of the earth, in places deſolate of old.

Thou ſhalt bee made like Cities that were ruined long ago, and have no veſtigiaes of them remaining; now thou art high, ſeen far at Sea and land, but thou ſhalt ſhortly come down, and bee as deep under water and earth, as thou art now above them; the words are beeretz Tachtijeth, in terra inferorum.

And I ſhall ſet glory in the land of the Living.

The land of the living was Canaan, which is frequently ſo called by David, as Pſa. 27.13.52.5.116.9.142.5. by Iſaiah, Iſa. 38.11.53.8. by Jerem. 11. chap. 19. and by Ezekiel here it was ſo called, becauſe there Lively God was known and worſhipped, Pſalm 42.2. with Pſalm 76.1, 2. becauſe there were the living Oracles, Act. 7.38. the Living Waters, and wells of Salvation, Iſa. 12.3. becauſe there were the living Saints, and only there; in other lands though the people had wealth, honour, greatneſſe, natural excellencies, yet as to God they were dead, but in Canaan they were quickned and made alive.

For the ſetting glory therein, underſtand it of reſtoring Canaan, or Judaea unto its former condition. Tyrus thou judgeſt Canaan now a land deſolate without Temple, Cities, people, and thinkeſt it ſhall for ever bee ſo, but thy glory ſhall down, deſcend into the pit, and I will ſet glory in the land of the living again. Jeruſalem ſhall live, and bee glorious, but Tyrus ſhall dye, and bee ignominious. By Glory, Piſcater underſtands the People, who being carried into captivity, the Tyrians and Heathens thought ſhould never return, but God would bring them back, being his glory, into that land where they ſhould injoy the lively Oracles, drink the living waters, and have the ſpecial preſence and protection of the living God.

21 I will make thee a terror.

The Hebrew is, Terrors, thou ſhalt bee matter of terror p. 440to every Iſland near or far off, when they ſhall hear of thy downfall, it ſhall terrify them. The word for terror, may be rendered Conſumption, being from foreign to wax old, to conſume. I will ſo conſume thee as that thy conſumption ſhall be terrible to all others.

Thou ſhalt be no more, though thou be ſought for, yet ſhalt thou never be found again.

Thou ſhalt bee ſo demoliſhed, as that a ſtone upon a ſtone ſhall not bee left in thee, thou ſhalt bee brought to a nothingneſſe, how buſhy and ſtrong ſoever thou art now; and when thou ſhalt bee ſought, and inquired after, thou ſhalt not bee found by this generation. The Hebrew is thus, non invenieris ultra in ſeculum, thou ſhalt not bee found any more for ever, that is, for a long time, ſo Leolam is oft uſed, as Exod. 21.6. Pſalm 89.1. Prov. 29.14. and ſo here, for ever, is not abſolute, but for a long time. After ſeventy years Tyrus was built again, or Palatyrus near unto that place, but not by the Tyrians who were either all ſlain, or carried ſo away captive, that they periſhed in their Captivity; it was built by ſtrangers.

Obſ. 1 God by his deſtructive judgements upon ſtrong Cities and great ſtates, being ſinful, makes others to tremble that were ſecure: Shall not the Iſles ſhake at the ſound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the ſlaughter is made in the midſt of thee? Gods deſtroying of Tyrus ſhould awaken and affright all the Iſles and Iſlanders who were ſecure, and laughed at the attempt of Nebuchadnezzar againſt Tyrus, they thought it impoſſible that ever hee ſhould take it, but being taken and ruined, ſhaking ſeiſed upon them; when the ſound of Gods judgements come to mens ears, they ſtartle them, and trouble them, Ezek. 30.3. the ſword ſhall come upon Egypt, that is, warres ſhall lay waſte the Egyptians, and great pain ſhall bee in AEthiopia, their fear ſhall bee ſuch as ſhall pain and torment them, and verſe 8, 9. God would ſet a fire in Egypt, deſtroy all her helpers, and then meſſengers ſhould go forth from him in ſhips, to make the careleſſe AEthiopian afraid, God deſtroies wicked Cities, States, and people, that hee may p. 441beget fear in others, who were careleſſe. When the Lord drowned the Egyptians in the red Sea, it cauſed the Nations to fear, Exod. 15.14. when Sihon King of Heſhbon, and Ogg King of Baſhau, they, and their people were deſtroyed by Joſhuah, and the Jews, then Balack and the Moabites were ſore afraid, Numb. 22.2, 3. when God brought deſtruction upon Babylon, it made all hands faint, all hearts melt, they were as full of fears and pains as a woman in travail, Iſa. 13.6, 7, 8.

Obſ. 2 There is that dreadfulneſſe in the judgements of God, as will drive the greateſt out of their Thrones and Glory, make them tremble continually, put on Sackcloath and lye in the duſt. Then all the Princes of the Sea, bee they never ſo great, ſo ſtout, ſhall come down from their Thrones, lay away their Robes, and put off their broidered garments, &c. When Tyrus, her ſtreets were trodden down with the hoofes of Nebuchadrezzars horſes, her People ſlain, her ſtrong garriſons thrown down to the ground, her riches become a prey to the enemy; Her ſtones, timber, and duſt, laid in the water, then ſhould fear ſeiſe upon theſe Princes; the dreadfulneſſe apprehended in that judgement of God, ſhould make them forget themſelves, their glory, and greatneſſe, and to ſit upon the ground trembling, and fearing their own deſtruction from day to day. Gods judgements make great changes, thoſe ſate in the morning like Princes in th…ir Thrones, commanding at Sea and Land, in a little time, ſit on the ground trembling. When the Syrians beſiedged Samaria, and the famine increaſed amongſt them, it made Jehoram the King to fear, and wear Sackcloath next his fleſh, 2 King 6.30. and did not Ben-hadad the King of Syria, and all his men of might, fearing the noiſe of Charets, Horſes. and a great hoſt, fear, flee for their lives, and throw away their garments, 2 King. 7.6, 7, 15. When the hand of God was ſtretched out for the Iſraelites, and againſt the Egyptians, the Dukes of Edom were amazed, and the mighty men of Moab trembled, Exod. 15.15. When Saul beheld the Army of the Philiſtines, hee was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled, 1 Sam. 28.5. When God brought the deſtroyer of the Gentiles, viz. Nebuchadrezzar, to execute his judgements p. 442upon Judaea and Jeruſalem, then did the heart of King and Princes periſh, then they laid aſide their Robes, girded themſelves with Sack-cloath, lamented, and howled, Jer. 4.7, 8, 9.

Obſ. 3 That great Cities have their periods, they abide not for ever. As they have a time to come into the World, ſo a time to go out of it; as they have a time to get up on high, ſo a time to deſcend low. Tyrus had her day to fall, her day of departure, verſ. 18. ſhee deſcended into the pit with people of old time, verſ. 20. Jeruſalem formerly called Jebus, 1 Chron. 11.4. and Salem, Gen. 14.18. as it had its time for building, ſo its day for burning, Jerem. 52.12, 13. The like end had Jericho, a walled and ſtrong City, Joſh. 6.24. Babylon had its time to begin, Geneſis 11.8. and its time to ceaſe, Iſa. 14.4. So Damaſcus ſtood long, but at laſt it became a ruinous heap, Iſa. 17.1. You may read of Ninevehs raiſing, Gene. 10.11. and of her Deſolation, Nahum. 3.7. Zephany 2.13. Hence wee may ſee the inſtability of humane things, learn not to truſt in ſtrong holds, neither think it any great priviledge to bee Citizens of ſuch periſhing Cities, but labour to bee Citizens of t…e heavenly Jeruſalem, which is the City prepared of God, and hath Foundations ſhall never bee raſed, Hebrews 11.10, 16.

Obſ. 4 Gods People are dear unto him, they are glorious, and the Glory of a land. That which is the Glory of any is dear unto them. Gods People are his Glory, Iſa. 4.5. Zach. 2.8. In both thoſe places, Gods people are called his Glory. They bear his Image, 2 Cor. 3.18. they ſhew forth his vertues, 1 Peter 2.9. they Worſhip him in the Spirit, Philip. 3.3. they are formed for himſelf, Iſa. 43.21. they bee his vineyard, his pleaſant plant, Iſa. 5.1, 7. his Jewels, Mala. 3.17. his peculiar treaſure, Exod. 19.5. his pleaſant portion, Jerem. 12.30. his Spouſe, Ezek. 16.8. they are near unto God, Pſa. 148.14. annointed ones, Pſalm 105.15. Trees of righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 61.3. a Congregation of Saints, Pſalm 89.5. They have the Law of God in their hearts and keep the p. 443ſame, Iſa. 51.7. ſo that they are dear unto him, and his Glory, and not onelyonly ſo, but the glory of a Land, Joſeph and the Jews were the glory of Egypt, Dan. 7. they were the glory of Babylon, and the godly ones were the glory of Sion, Iſaiah 6.13. The holy ſeed ſhall bee the ſubſtance thereof. Saints, a holy ſeed, is the ſubſtance and glory, of any Nation. Let men take heed how they wrong them, for in ſo doing they wrong the glory of God, and the glory of the land.

Obſ. 5 There is a difference of lands in the world, all are not alike, there is the land of the Living. Canaan differed from all other lands, there dwelt the living God, there were the living waters, the Ordinances and means of grace and ſalvation, which other lands had not, that land once flowed with ſpiritual milk and honey, and was the glory of all lands, Eze. 20.6. Egypt, Chaldaea, and the other lands round about, were as dry and dead lands unto that, they had gods in them, but they were Idol gods, they had worſhip, but it was falſe Worſhip, they had waters, but they were bitter waters, ſuch as Gods people could not drink, they killed thoſe that drank of them: where Gods name is recorded, his Ordinances ſet up in purity and power, hee worſhipped in Spirit and Truth, there is life, and the land of the living. David judged himſelf even among the dead, when he was ſhut out from the people, preſence, worſhip, and ordinances of God, Pſal. 84.2. his ſoul fainted, and he was almoſt gone. Moſt lands are lands of darkneſſe, drineſs, and death, they have neither the light nor waters of life in them. Let us bleſſe God that we are in the land of the living.

Obſ. 6 Gods people may be deprived of their priviledges and comforts for a ſeaſon, but he will in due time reſtore them to the injoyment of the ſame. I ſhall ſet glory in the land of the living. Gods glory, his people, were in Babylon, but hee would not looſe nor leave his glory there, he brought them back again, and ſet them in the land of the living, hee gave them another Temple, all thoſe ordinances and priviledges they had before, Iſa. 46.13. I will place ſalvation in Sion for Iſrael my glory.