And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and line gold as the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful; and Ekron, for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod; and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8 And I will encamp about mine house, because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
Hadrach lay near to Hameth, which some have thought to be the same with Antioch; and Tyrus and Zidon, we are well acquainted with in the Gospel. So that when we consider that Christ's followers were called Christians first in Antioch, doth it not seem to imply very plainly, that this burden spoken of to those nations, was intended for a joyful one, and not to groan under. See that sweet, prophecy of Isaiah concerning gospel mercies, to this effect. Isaiah 9:1-7; Acts 11:26. With respect to what is said about Tyrus laying up silver as the dust, and the Lord casting her out; if read spiritually, and with an eye to the Lord's rich mercies in Christ, these self-confidences we know must be all removed to make way for the humble reception of Jesus. Before Christ is revealed to the heart, it is the conduct of everyone to weary himself for very vanity. Habakkuk 2:13; Isaiah 19:18. to the end.