Is. 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
Some facts about Tyre: It was a Phoenician city—that eventually included both a mainland and island location. Hiram, the King of Tyre, was in league with Kings David and Solomon. Lumber and workmen from Tyre helped build Solomon’s Temple and his palace. Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, was a daughter of a king of Tyre. When threatened by the Babylonians, the people of Tyre were able to save themselves by transporting the whole city to an island offshore. Alexander the Great finally conquered the island kingdom after a 7-month siege during which he constructed a bridge/ramp that connected the island to the mainland from the debris left when Neb destroyed the empty city.
Tarshish = a seaport that transported silver, iron, tin and lead to Tyre. It was considered to be far from Tyre and Israel, but its exact location is not known. Some consider it to be in Africa, others in Spain or Britain.
Isaiah is directing this burden to the people of Tyre; he is prophesying of a future event. Tarshish, one of its main trading partners, is put on notice that Tyre has been destroyed. As I read on in this chapter, this destruction must reference the time that the island city was destroyed.
The merchants of Chittim (probably Cyprus) were the ones who gave the news to the merchants of Tarshish, probably when they stopped there as part of their trade route on the way to Tyre.
Is. 23:2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
Is. 23:3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.
Evidently, the isle (Tyre) was a partner in trade with Zidon from whom they restocked much of their merchandise. Zidon was the oldest of the Phoenician cities and planted Tyre as a colony to increase their fishing industry (JFB).
Sihor is another name for the Nile River; it was known for the great harvest it produced along its banks as a result of its yearly flooding. Evidently, Tyre had a great trade with the land of Egypt. Tyre had seemingly positioned itself as the Super Walmart of the nations.
Is. 23:4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.
It seems that Zidon is to feel the repercussions of Tyre’s destruction as the parent city of the colony.
Is. 23:5 As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
The following words are in the Hebrew: report Egypt pained report Tyre.
It makes more sense to say that Egypt is also going to experience great pain and sorrow at the loss of her trading partner. (This KJV wording is confusing, but the NIV is clearer. – “When word comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report from Tyre.”)
Is. 23:6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
Is. 23:7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
The people left on the island of Tyre are encouraged to find refuge in Tarshish. The prophecy seems to be mocking the pride of the people of Tyre. They were proud of their heritage as an ancient city and of their self-sufficiency, and it would be greatly humbling to be reduced to the position of fugitives.
Is. 23:8 Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?
Is. 23:9 The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
Tyre was a greatly admired city in the eyes of the world. Those who traded with her included princes and nobility of the earth. (This brings to mind the description of Babylon in Revelation.)
Who is really the one responsible for the downfall of Tyre? Isaiah makes it clear that it is the work of YHWH. Why did He purpose its destruction? Because of its pride. God hates the sin of pride.
Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood….
This should sound a great alarm today to the people of the United States.
Is. 23:10 Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Is. 23:11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
I’m not sure what is being said in the first part of verse 10. Some commentators posit it is a call for the people fo Tyre to leave as quickly as they can.
The word for river indicates a reference to the Nile. It seems to be saying that Tarshish is going to have to depend on their own resources since their main trading harbor has been destroyed. Picking up with the last half of verse 10, emphasis is made that once God has determined judgment, it is sure. Isaiah seems to be indicating that the rest of the Phoenician cities will also be destroyed.
Is. 23:12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.
Even though the people of Tyre (the daughter of Zidon) escape to Chittim (Cyprus), they will not find rest (an indication that they won’t be able to establish roots there).
Is. 23:13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.
Chaldeans = Those from the land area between the Tigris and Euphrates better known as the land of Babylon, currently centered in Iraq.
Again, the wording in the KJV is confusing. The NIV and NLT agree that it is speaking of the destruction caused in Babylon by Assyria.
NIV - Look at the land of the Babylonians, this people that is now of no account! The Assyrians have made it a place for desert creatures; they raised up their siege towers, they stripped its fortresses bare and turned it into a ruin.
NLT - Look at the land of Babylonia—the people of that land are gone! The Assyrians have handed Babylon over to the wild beasts. They have built siege ramps against its walls, torn down its palaces, and turned it into a heap of rubble.
“The Assyrian…….he brought it to ruin – The wording seems to be emphasizing the king or leader of Assyria.
Is. 23:14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
It sounds like Tarshish was afforded a certain security because of their position as a trading partner with Tyre. That position is no more.
Is. 23:15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
Is. 23:16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
Is. 23:17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
This seems to be a confirmation of the message of Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 25:11-12 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
Belshazzar was king of Babylon when she was taken over by the Medes and Persians. Evidently, after the fall of the Babylonian empire, Tyre was safe to set up her business and advertise once again. JFB had an interesting comment: “Large marts of commerce are often compared to harlots seeking many lovers, that is, they court merchants of all nations, and admit any one for the sake of gain.”
Is. 23:18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
This verse is definitely talking about a time when Tyre will provide for the people of YHWH. This seems to be a reference to the position that Tyre will enjoy during the Messianic Kingdom. (I think Isaiah is seeing those mountain peaks in the distance and not the valleys in between.)
JFB = Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Some scholars call chapters 24-27 “The Little Apocalypse.” It addresses worldwide judgment as described in Revelation followed by the establishment of Messiah’s Kingdom who rules from the throne of David in Israel.
Is. 24:1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
“earth” = alll inhabited lands
This chapter starts without an introduction by Isaiah. Although Isaiah is prophesying to the people of Judah, he seems to be addressing the world in general. He is speaking of a time when God is going to bring about events that will make the earth:
empty (depopulated) – evidently relative to what it was before these acts of YHWH.
waste (annihilated)
turn it upside down (this has a reference to the face of the earth)
scatter the inhabitants
Obviously, the term empty must be relative since there will be inhabitants left to scatter or disperse to different areas.
Is. 24:2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
The acts of God will affect everyone—no matter what position they have in society. God is no respecter of persons.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Is. 24:3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.
This seems to be an emphasis that the destruction that will be experienced on planet earth will be extensive and complete. God has spoken it, and it will happen as He says.
Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
Is. 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
“away” = to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively, to despise, disgrace:
Again, we see Isaiah’s poetic repetitive style of writing. I thought it was interesting that the word for away included the idea of being foolish, wicked and in disgrace. Again, he emphasizes that even the people in the loftiest positions will be brought to mourning because of the judgment that comes upon their foolish and wicked ways.
Is. 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
“defiled” = to soil, especially in a moral sense: corrupt, pollute
Even the earth has been polluted because of the actions of the people. The last part of this verse seems to be directed to the nation of Israel in particular. The word for laws has reference to the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments. The “everlasting covenant” seems to be a reference to the covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob.
You could also look at it in light of God’s purpose and plan for man in general as a creation. The root word for laws also references teaching and instruction. God endowed Adam and his descendants with a knowledge of right and wrong, what was acceptable to God and what was not. Man is the one that made changes in these instructions to suit his own purposes. Man’s action brought about the resultant decay and death that invaded planet earth.
Guzik: “The Hebrew word for ordinance here is torah, which often means the law of God and the word of God. Mankind is ripe for judgment because we have changed God’s word into something “lighter,” into something “more acceptable.” Mankind has changed the law of God in the sense of changing the basic moral code which men have recognized and lived by for centuries. When once it was universally recognized that it was wrong to lie, wrong to cheat, wrong to be sexually immoral, wrong to do so many other things, today all of that is approved and celebrated! We have changed the ordinance, and are ripe for judgment! Mankind has changed the word of God by replacing it with substitutes, or by fashioning it into something more suitable to his liking. Every time a preacher soft-peddles the gospel, every time a politician twists the Scriptures to rise in the opinion polls, every time a counselor wrenches the context of God’s word to make it fit a crazy psychological theory, they have changed the ordinance, and are ripe for judgment!
Is. 24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
Eventually, the curse devoured the whole earth as man increased to the point of covering the earth and acted according to what was right in his own eyes. I can’t help but wonder if the last part of this verse is referencing a nuclear holocaust.
Guzik quoting Morgan: “This is the interpretation of all disease, all insanity, all the things of waste, of disorder, of strife, of misery in human history and human experience. A polluted race pollutes the earth, and chaos is the result.”
Other verses that seem to be relative to this time are found in Malachi and Revelation.
Isaiah 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Revelation 16:8-9 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Is. 24:7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.
Is. 24:8 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.
Is. 24:9 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
No longer will men be able to find comfort through drunkenness. No longer will they party and make noise or song with strong drink.
Is. 24:10 The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
Is. 24:11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
Is. 24:12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
“confusion” = from an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing
The message seems to be directed to a particular city, i.e., Jerusalem, at this point. Maybe it is also representative of all the other cities on earth.
The people are locked inside their houses for protection. The desperate are out in the streets looking for wine. Joy and happiness are not to be found. The city has become a ruin and the gate of protection is useless.
Is. 24:13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.
Is. 24:14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.
The prophet seems to be saying that when the situation finally reaches the point that men are few and the future looks hopeless, the people will finally lift up their voice in praise of the Lord. No one will doubt that it has been His mighty hand at work. This would seem to apply most appropriately to the remnant of Israel that God always preserves, some of which are in nations beyond the sea (usually referencing the Mediterranean).
Is. 24:15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
It was interesting that the word for fires made reference to the East. That seems to be the bookend to the isles of the sea, which would be west. Scripture gives direction from the perspective of Israel.
Is. 24:16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
Is. 24:17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
It would seem that the righteous have not lost their faith in God. On the contrary, they are singing His praise because of His righteous acts. It would seem that Isaiah isn’t comforted by the response of the people. He is well aware of how deceitful man is and that there is more judgment to come.
Is. 24:18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
Isaiah seems to be saying that no matter how you may try, there is no escape.
This judgment will involve the forces of nature. It would appear to be hail and earthquakes. This would match with the description of the 7th vial judgment in the tribulation.
Revelation 16:18-21 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Is. 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
Is. 24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
“down” = properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)
“dissolved” = to break up (usually figuratively, i.e. to violate, frustrate), make void
“moved” = to waver; by implication , to slip, shake, fall…be out of course, be fallen in decay
Even though we are seeing different words in the English, the Hebrew word is being repeated for emphasis in these phrases:
Utterly - (broken) down
Clean - dissolved
Moved - exceedingly
Reel - to and fro
After looking at the Hebrew, I think I would word it like this: The earth is spoiled, made void (of people in particular) and fallen in decay. The earth will be quite shaken because of the impact of an overwhelming rule of sin. This rule of sin will be cast down/overthrown, never to rise again to that position of influence on planet earth.
Is. 24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
Is. 24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
This seems to be talking of the time when Satan and his legions of fallen angels, as well as the kings of the earth that were in league with him, will face judgment/punishment at the hand of God. The day will come when those souls are gathered together to wait in hell until the great white throne judgment, the final judgment.
Is. 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
Because the Lord is going to assume his throne after these events, it would seem that the previous verses are talking about the judgments that will be exacted on planet earth during the tribulation and at the final battle of Armageddon. How can the moon and sun be put to shame? By the shekinah glory of the LORD as He reigns on planet earth.
Isaiah 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Ezekiel 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
“before His ancients” – This makes me think of the verse in Hebrews regarding the fathers of faith who died without seeing their promise fulfilled. They will get to see a glorious fulfillment when Christ establishes His earthly Kingdom from the throne of David.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.