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.”
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Isaiah 23: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 23
23
XXIII
1THE ORACLE CONCERNING TYRE.
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish,
For she is laid waste; so that there is no house, no entering in:
From the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
2Be silent, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast:
Thou whom the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, crowded.
3And upon the mighty waters the seed of Sihor,
The harvest of the river, was her revenue;
And she was the mart of nations.
4Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea hath spoken.
Even the fortress of the sea, saying:
I have travailed not, nor brought forth children;
Neither have I nourished youths, nor reared up virgins.
5When the tidings shall reach Egypt,
They shall be seized with anguish at the tidings of Tyre.
6Pass ye over to Tarshish;
Howl, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast!
7Is this your joyous city;
Whose antiquity is of ancient days?
Her own feet bear her far away to sojourn.
8Who hath purposed this against Tyre, the dispenser of crowns;
Whose merchants are princes,
Her traders the honourable of the earth!
9 Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it,
To defile the pride of all beauty;
To bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth,
10Pass through thy land, like the river, O daughter of Tarshish!
There is now no defence left
11He hath stretched his hand over the sea,
He hath caused the kingdoms to tremble:
Jehovah hath issued a command concerning Canaan,
To destroy her strong holds.
12And he hath said: Thou shalt no more rejoice,
O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon:
Arise, pass over to Chittim; even there thou shalt have no rest.
13Behold the land of the Chaldeans!
This people was not,
Till the Assyrian founded it for the inhabitants of the desert.
They have raised their watch-towers,
They have demolished the palaces thereof;
Reduced her to a ruin.
14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish:
For your strong hold is destroyed.
15And it shall come to pass in that day,
That Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years,
According to the days of one king:
At the end of seventy years,
There shall be unto Tyre as it were the song of an harlot.
16Take an harp, go about the city,
Thou harlot that hast been forgotten;
Touch skilfully the strings, sing many songs, that thou mayest again be remembered.
17And it shall come to pass at the end of seventy years, That Jehovah will visit Tyre,
And she shall return to her hire;
And she shall play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world,
That are upon the face of the earth.
18But her merchandise and her hire shall be holy to Jehovah:
It shall not be treasured up, nor shall it be kept in store;
For her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah,
To eat sufficiently; and for beautiful clothing.
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Translated by Rev John Jones (Ioan Tegid).Published at Oxford in 1830, second edition 1842.