Isaiah 23:2,3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Be still, &c.— The second apostrophe is addressed to the islands of the Mediterranean sea, which are here collectively called the isle, and which are summoned to silence and wonder. That this is the true interpretation appears from Ezekiel 26:16-17; Ezekiel 26:19. The order of the apostrophes is observable. The first is directed to the sailors of Tarshish, the inhabitants of the Farthest Spain, the most remote of all; the second to the islands of the Mediterranean sea, which were nearer to Tyre; the third to the Sidonians, who were allied to the Tyrians; and the fourth to Tyre itself. That the Tyrians are called; Isaiah 23:6, the inhabitants of the isle, can be no objection to this interpretation, as they had this attribute in common with other insular people: (The merchants of Sidon, comprehend those of Tyre also) accordingly the 2nd verse may be rendered, Be dumb, ye inhabitants of the isle, thou whom the Sidonian; or, Tyrian merchants, passing over the sea, replenished. The cause is subjoined in the next verse; the meaning whereof is, that the merchandises of Egypt and Arabia, which were esteemed the most excellent, as also of other nations, were carried to Tyre and Sidon, and by their care and industry conveyed to the inhabitants of the islands in the Mediterranean sea. By Sihor, which is its proper name, and the river, is meant the Nile. See Jeremiah 2:18. The 3rd verse might be rendered, And whose produce, namely, Sidon's, was by great waters, the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river of Egypt; and who became the mart of nations. The phrase is metaphorical, and is taken from the produce of well-cultivated lands. See Ezekiel 27:12; Ezekiel 27:36. Bishop Newton and Vitringa.