Isaiah 23:18. And her merchandise, &c. The meaning of the prophet is extremely clear; namely, that the time would come after the restoration of Tyre, in which the Tyrians, out of reverence to the true God, would consecrate their wealth and gain to him, and would readily contribute that gain and wealth to the use and support of the teachers of true religion: in short, that the Tyrians would become converts to that religion. The reader will easily observe that the passage is metaphorical, and that consequently no reasonable objections can be urged against it. See Zechariah 9:1-8. Psalms 45:12; Psalms 72:10. The Tyrians were much addicted to the worship of Hercules, as he was called by the Greeks, or of Baal, as he is denominated in Scripture; but in process of time, by the means of some Jews and proselytes living and conversing with them, some of them also became proselytes to the Jewish religion; so that we find a great multitude of people from the sea-coasts of Tyre and Sidon came to hear our Saviour; and he, though peculiarly sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet came into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon; and the first-fruits of the Gospel there was a Tyrian woman, a woman of Canaan as she is called, a Syro-phoenician by nation, Luke 6:17. Matthew 15:21.Mark 7:24. When St. Paul, in his way to Jerusalem, came to Tyre, he found disciples there who were inspired by the Holy Ghost, and prophesied; and with them he tarried seven days, Acts 21:4. In the time of Dioclesian's persecution, the Tyrians were such sincere converts to Christianity, that they exhibited several glorious examples of confessors and martyrs; and when the storm of persecution was blown over, under their Bishop Paulinus, they built an oratory, or rather a temple, for the public worship of God, the most magnificent and sumptuous (to an extreme) in all Palestine and Phoenicia. To these particulars we will only add, that Tyre was erected into an archbishopric, and the first under the patriarchate of Jerusalem having fourteen bishops under its primacy; and in this state it continued several years. See Bishop Newton's Dissertations. Vitringa has shewn at large, that this prophesy concerning Tyre has a further and mystical reference to papal Rome, of which St. John speaks in the very words of this prophet; Thy merchants were the great men of the earth, Revelation 18:23. And he has been at great pains to shew how exactly the remarkable attributes of Tyre, in a mystical sense, belong to the corrupt Romish church. See Revelation 13 throughout.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, Tyre was a city in Phoenicia, of great antiquity, and the grand mart of trade for all the commodities of the east and west. It stood on an island, about half a mile from the sea, strongly fortified by art and nature, and deemed impregnable: but when God hath a controversy with any people, their strength is weakness. We have here,
1. Her prosperity. She was a mart of nations, enriched by the traffic of all people, whose merchants resorted thither, peopled at first by a colony from Sidon or Zidon, a few leagues distant from Tyre, and therefore called her daughter, though soon eclipsing her mother city. Thither the products of Egypt were carried, and her revenue increased with the harvest, which the river Sihor, or Nile, by overflowing, produced. A city, full of wealth, and, as the sad effect of it, grown proud and haughty. A joyous city, where pleasure as well as business abounded; and siting as a queen on the seas, her seat of empire, seemed established for ever; her citizens, great as princes, and her merchants among the honourable of the earth.
2. Her fall by Nebuchadnezzar, after a siege of thirteen years. When the city could hold out no longer, the inhabitants stripped the place of every thing valuable, and sailed away, leaving little but empty houses, and a naked rock. The ships of Tarshish or Tartessus, and more generally the ships of the sea of all nations, are called upon to howl over her desolations; no house being left standing by the conqueror, nor is there any more entering into the port, her commerce being utterly ruined. From the land of Chittim it is revealed to them, the Tyrians are informed of the preparations made against them by the Babylonians; or there is no entering in from the land of Chittim, the merchants of Greece and Italy can no longer carry on their trade thither: it is revealed to them that Tyre is destroyed. In mournful silence the inhabitants would sit astonished at their overthrow, and Zidon her neighbour, and nearly connected with her, be ashamed, having placed such confidence in Tyre that it could not be taken; but the waves of the sea carry the tidings, and this proud city, late the strength of the sea, so fortified and strengthened by it, bemoans her desolations; no longer full of inhabitants, and sending out her colonies to distant parts, but now a widow, bereaved of her children. Not Egypt's fall, though so potent a kingdom, would spread a greater terror, or, as the words may be read, when the report cometh to the Egyptians, they will be in pain at the report of Tyre, trembling for themselves when this bulwark between them and the Chaldeans is fallen. Hasting now to forsake the place, the inhabitants are enjoined to embark for Tarshish, and her own feet shall carry her away; those that should be seized by the conqueror, would be led into captivity; or this may signify her ships, whose oars and mariners would serve her instead of feet to escape. Swift as a river, the merchants of Tarshish, who were at Tyre, or the people so called, are urged to hasten away; because the place is no longer defensible, and is ready to fall. Thus for a season her joy should be silenced. The oppressed virgin, the daughter of Zidon, that had never been conquered before, must pass over to the isles of Chittim, Greece, or Italy; or to the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, where colonies of the Tyrians were planted; and yet even there thou shalt have no rest, these countries being doomed to fall under the yoke of their enemies. Note; (1.) When God pursues, there is no flying from our misery. (2.) They who think themselves most secure, feel the heavier anguish in their falls.
3. If it be asked, who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the answer is, one that is fully able to execute his designs, the Lord of Hosts, who would abase their pride, and stain all human glory; that others, warned by their fall, might be admonished of the vanity of every temporal possession, and the folly of being proud, and trusting on that which can profit so little in the day of wrath. As he did of old, when Egypt was smitten under his mighty hand, so hath he now given commandment to the destroyer, and is pleased to use the Chaldean sword. Though this people was not of note and figure till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwelt in the wilderness, who drove out the original inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and translated thither the Chaldeans, who before dwelt scattered in the wilderness; they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces of Babylon, greatly augmenting and fortifying it; he brought it, or he shall bring it, to ruin; these Chaldeans shall be instruments to execute the divine judgments.
2nd, The desolations of Tyre are not designed to be perpetual.
1. Seventy years are appointed for the term of her captivity, as of the Jews, during the days of one king, or kingdom; for so long Nebuchadnezzar and his family reigned before Babylon was taken: and on the conquest Cyrus made, these, among other captive nations, were permitted to resettle in their own country.
2. On their return, Tyre is represented under the character of a harlot, returning from confinement, or recovering from sickness, when all her paramours had forsaken her; and resuming all her former arts to recover her trade, and to engage the return of her merchants, as a harlot, with the harp, by her voice and music seeks to draw in her lovers, and enrich herself by the wages of her fornication: and so far she would succeed, as to become again a general mart, and to increase her wealth, as in her former days of prosperity. Note; (1.) This world's wealth carries a harlot's smiles, and too often seduces the heart into spiritual fornication. (2.) Though our case be reduced never so low, we need nor despair: when God will turn our captivity, he can bring back our lost prosperity.
3. A better state than that of her worldly prosperity closes the prophesy. In the days of the Messiah her gains should be employed in the service of his kingdom, to support the preachers of his Gospel, and be consecrated to his glory; which was fulfilled, Acts 21:3 when we find Christianity planted there; and, according to the custom of the primitive church, no doubt, the inhabitants being rich contributed liberally to the necessities of the saints. Note; (1.) If God give abundance, it becomes then a blessing indeed, when we have, through his grace, a desire to employ it to his glory. (2.) The ministers of the sanctuary have a just claim to a liberal maintenance, and they who honour the maker they serve will be happy to support his ministers for his sake. (3.) They who devote themselves to God's work, must desire no great things in this world; if they have sufficient bread, and durable clothing, they want not niceties and elegance.