Isaiah 23
23
A Prophecy concerning Tyre and Sidon
1A prophecy for Tyre and Sidon:
Wail, you cargo ships of Tarshish! # 23:1 Tarshish refers most likely to the city of Tartessus, Spain, on the Guadalquivir River. Archaeological evidence suggests it may have been near present-day Seville.
For Tyre, # 23:1 Tyre means “rock,” “compressed,” or “pressed together.” Tyre, a Phoenician port on the Mediterranean, was once a symbol of power on the sea and a capital of world commerce. It was known as wealthy, influential, and evil. Now it is a small village known as Sur. Isaiah used it as a metaphor for commerce and trafficking. your port city, has fallen without a house or a harbor!
Word has come to them from the land of Cyprus.
2Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast
and you merchants of Sidon, # 23:2 Sidon is a coastal town in Lebanon. Sidon means “one who lies in wait,” “to hunt,” or “to trap.” once thronged by seafarers.
3On the great waters your revenue
was the grain from the Nile basin. # 23:3 Or “Sihor,” a tributary of the Nile. Sihor means “to wipe out” or “to uproot.”
The harvest of the Nile was your revenue.
You were merchants who traded with the nations.
4Sidon, be ashamed,
for the sea, the stronghold of the sea, declares,
“I have never gone into labor to give birth to children,
nor have I raised up sons or daughters.” # 23:4 In this cryptic verse, it appears that Tyre is given the name “sea, the stronghold of the sea.” With poetic impact, the sea is personified and speaks of being childless. There are churches today that are “childless” (without evangelistic outreach) and don’t “raise up sons and daughters” (training and equipping them for ministry).
5When the Egyptians hear it, they will be stunned
over the destruction of Tyre.
6Cross over to Tarshish.
Wail, you inhabitants of the coast.
7Is this your once boisterous city, founded so long ago?
Is this the city that once sent settlers over the sea?
8Who has planned this for imperial Tyre, who once wore her crown?
Your merchants were nobles,
and your traders were honored by the world.
9Yahweh, the Commander of Angel Armies, has planned it!
His plan is to eliminate # 23:9 Or “pollute” or “defile.” the pride of your presumed splendor
and to humiliate the honored of the world.
10Daughter Tarshish, cross over your land # 23:10 Or “farm your land.”
as one crosses the Nile,
for there is no more harbor marketplace. # 23:10 Or “waistband.” The Hebrew of this verse is uncertain.
11Yahweh has stretched out his hand over the sea of humanity
and has shaken the kingdoms of this world.
He has given his command to destroy Phoenicia’s fortresses. # 23:11 Or “He has given his command to Canaan to destroy its fortresses.”
12He said, “Fair Sidon, the oppressed one,
your celebrating is over.
Rise and cross over to Cyprus;
even there you will find no rest.”
13Behold the land of the Babylonians.
They are a people who have lost their identity.
The Assyrians have made her a home for wild animals.
They erected siege towers against her,
demolished her palaces,
and made her a heap of ruins.
14Wail, you merchant ships of Tarshish,
for your fortress is destroyed.
15In that day, Tyre will remain forgotten for seventy years, equal to the life span of a king. After seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song about the prostitute:
16Take a harp and go about the city,
you prostitute long forgotten.
Make your sweet melody and sing many songs
so that you will be remembered again.
17At the end of seventy years, the Lord Yahweh will restore Tyre, but she will return to her trade. She will prostitute herself again with every kingdom of the world. 18But her merchandise and earnings will be set apart as holy to the Lord Yahweh. They will neither be stored nor hoarded, but they will supply abundant # 23:18 See John 10:10; 3 John 2. food and splendid garments for those who live in the presence of the Lord Yahweh! # 23:18 Or “for those on whom Yahweh’s face shines.” Or “for those who live before Yahweh’s face.”
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 23: TPT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 23
23
A Pronouncement against Tyre
1A pronouncement#Is 13:1 concerning Tyre:#Jos 19:29; 1Kg 5:1; Jr 25:22; 47:4; Ezk 26:1–27:36; Jl 3:4–8; Am 1:9; Zch 9:2–4
Wail, ships of Tarshish,#Gn 10:4; 1Kg 10:22
for your haven has been destroyed.
Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.#23:1 Hb Kittim#Jr 2:10; Ezk 27:6; Ac 11:19
2Mourn, inhabitants of the coastland,
you merchants of Sidon;#Gn 10:15; Jos 19:28; Jr 25:22; 27:3; Ezk 27:8; 32:30; Jl 3:4; Zch 9:2
your agents have crossed the sea#23:2 DSS; MT reads Sidon, whom the seafarers have filled
3over deep water.
Tyre’s revenue was the grain from Shihor —
the harvest of the Nile.
She was the merchant among the nations.#Ezk 27:3–23
4Be ashamed, Sidon, the stronghold of the sea,
for the sea has spoken:
“I have not been in labor or given birth.
I have not raised young men
or brought up young women.”
5When the news reaches Egypt,
they will be in anguish over the news about Tyre.#Ac 21:7
6Cross over to Tarshish;
wail, inhabitants of the coastland!
7Is this your jubilant city,
whose origin was in ancient times,
whose feet have taken her
to reside far away?
8Who planned this against Tyre,
the bestower of crowns,
whose traders are princes,
whose merchants are the honored ones of the earth?
9The Lord of Armies planned it,
to desecrate all its glorious beauty,
to disgrace all the honored ones of the earth.
10Overflow#23:10 DSS, LXX read Work your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish;
there is no longer anything to restrain you.#23:10 Or longer any harbor
11He stretched out his hand over the sea;#Ex 14:21; Is 14:26
he made kingdoms tremble.
The Lord has commanded
that the Canaanite fortresses be destroyed.
12He said,
“You will not celebrate anymore,
ravished young woman, daughter of Sidon.
Get up and cross over to Cyprus#Is 23:1; Jr 2:10; Ezk 27:6; Ac 4:36; 11:19–20; 13:4; 15:39; 21:3,16; 27:4 —
even there you will have no rest!”
13Look at the land of the Chaldeans —
a people who no longer exist.
Assyria destined it for desert creatures.
They set up their siege towers
and stripped its palaces.
They made it a ruin.
14Wail, ships of Tarshish,
because your fortress is destroyed!
15On that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years — the life span of one king. At the end of seventy years, what the song says about the prostitute will happen to Tyre:
16Pick up your lyre,
stroll through the city,
you forgotten prostitute.
Play skillfully,
sing many a song
so that you will be remembered.
17And at the end of the seventy years,#Jr 25:11,22 the Lord will restore Tyre#Ac 21:7 and she will go back into business, prostituting herself with all the kingdoms of the world throughout the earth. 18But her profits and wages will be dedicated to the Lord. They will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live in the Lord’s presence, to provide them with ample food and sacred clothing.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers