The chapter begins with the announcement that Tyre will be destroyed. This chapter speaks of a prophecy concerning Tyre, Isaiah 23:1. Tyre was an ancient, wealthy city situated upon the sea and celebrated for its trade and commerce, Isaiah 23:1. It was seldom a dangerous enemy to Israel and usually a faithful ally as in the reigns of David and Solomon.
Trading cities maintained their grandeur not by the conquest of their neighbours but by commerce with them, Ezekiel 27:9-23. King Hiram, who was contemporary with Solomon, made Tyre one of the best port cities in of all Palestine, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
De Hoff, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This prophecy was written one hundred twenty years before its fulfilment.’
The ‘ships of Tarshish’, Isaiah 23:1 / Isaiah 2:16, were Phoenician, sailing the Mediterranean and going as far west as Spain. As they docked at Cyprus on their eastward voyage, they learned that the harbour to which they were sailing had been laid waste, Isaiah 23:1.
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following concerning Tarshish.
‘It is generally believed that Tarshish, as mentioned here must be identified with Tartessus, a colony of Tyre built upon the southwest coastline of Spain “beyond the Pillars of Hercules, which was the centre of an important and lucrative commerce.’
‘Sidon’, Isaiah 23:2, was the older city or mother city of Phoenicia, located around twenty-five miles north of Tyre. The Nile river is here called ‘Shihor’, Isaiah 23:3 / Jeremiah 2:18 / 1 Chronicles 13:5. The fertility of the Nile Valley was controlled by the overflowing of the river, Isaiah 23:3. A good corn crop in Egypt meant good trade for the people of Tyre, Isaiah 23:3. Sidon, is told to be ashamed and their fortress of the sea because the sea says, I have neither been in labour nor given birth, I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters, Isaiah 23:4.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Tyre was a colony of Sidon. Sidon is here addressed as the mother of Tyre and is called on to lament over her daughter that was destroyed. In Isaiah 23:12, Tyre is called the ‘daughter of Sidon;’ and such appellations were commonly given to cities, Isaiah 1:8. Sidon is here represented as ashamed, or grieved, as a mother is who is bereft of all her children.’
Great anguish would prevail in Egypt at the report of Tyre because of the great effect it would have on the shipping and sale of Egyptian goods, Isaiah 23:5. In other words, Egypt would also mourn and everyone who profited from Tyre would also mourn.
Isaiah exhorted the inhabitants of the Phoenician coastlands to flee as far away as Tarshish, Isaiah 23:6, which was the main colony of Tyre. From Tarshish, the Phoenicians imported silver, iron, tin, and lead, Ezekiel 27:12. Tyre had been a joyous city and knew nothing about hard times, Isaiah 23:7 / Isaiah 22:2.
These verses show us that God purposed the destruction because of the pride of Tyre, Isaiah 23:8 / Amos 1:9-10. It was God who gave Tyre its beauty, Isaiah 23:8, and He would take it away again, Isaiah 23:9. They were proud but God will humble them, Isaiah 23:9. The colonists of Tarshish are now called upon to exert their full independence of Tyre which no longer provided competition, Isaiah 23:10.
Even the nations who depended upon Phoenicia to distribute the goods would be affected, Isaiah 23:11-12. Unrest will go with them wherever they go, Isaiah 23:12. The Babylonians are the ones who will carry out God’s purpose, Isaiah 23:13 / Deuteronomy 32:21. Babylon never existed so strong until the Assyrians produced circumstances for them to become the world power but as Babylon was brought to ruin, so will Tyre, Isaiah 23:13-14 / Ezekiel 26:16-21.
After seventy years, Tyre will be restored, Isaiah 23:15, and her goods used to serve God.
Pledge, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Tyrians used their goods, as did all other people in areas adjacent to Israel, in subjection to the command of the Persian kings, to help the Jews rebuild the temple. Once proud Tyre who devoted her goods to her own selfish means and purposes will now humbly offer them to God’s people that they might abound to the glory of God.’
Lowth, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Nebuchadnezzar began his conquests in the first year of his reign, from thence to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus are seventy years, at which time the nations taken by Nebuchadnezzar were to be restored to liberty. Some of the nations were conquered sooner, some later but the end of the seventy years was the occasion for the deliverance of all of them.’
It’s as though the people would forget Tyre once it was destroyed, Isaiah 23:16 / Daniel 7:17 / Daniel 8:20 / Jeremiah 25:11, but after seventy years she will continue to be a prostitute, Isaiah 23:17. This is indicating the seriousness of Tyre’s destruction. God declared that He would again visit Tyre only because what she had to offer might be used to His glory, Isaiah 23:18 / Psalm 45:12 / Acts 11:19.
After it was rebuilt they helped the Israelites to rebuild Jerusalem. The words, ‘she will return to her lucrative prostitution,’ Isaiah 23:17, literally means she will return to her hire as a fornicator and will continue her trade with other kingdoms. In other words, as a prostitute, she would rejoice in the restoration of her financial gain, so Tyre would be restored once again to prosper from her trade among the nations.
However, her trade would be restored only because God was working in the nations, Isaiah 23:18. Tyre’s merchandise shall be holy to the Lord, Isaiah 23:18, in that they will help rebuild Jerusalem, 1 Corinthians 16:1. Tyre was visited by the Saviour, Matthew 15:21, and Paul found many Christians in Tyre, Acts 21:4, after the establishment of the church.