Isaiah 23 - Printer Friendly

What does Isaiah 23 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Isaiah's prophecy against the city of Tyre is the final last of his series of oracles against the nations nearby Judah. The point of these oracles has been to show Judah that none of these nations—who they may have been tempted to turn to for help— was strong enough to protect them. Even the great wealth and natural defenses of a city like Tyre would not be enough to protect it from destruction.

Tyre was a great port city on the Mediterranean coast, about 12 miles, or 19 kilometers, north of the modern border of Israel. During Isaiah's time, it was a thriving center of trade and shipping. The city's natural defenses made it difficult to conquer. Twin islands stood not far off the coast, and natural deep-water harbors made it easily accessible to boats of all sizes from around the world.

This oracle about Tyre's future destruction begins by describing the reaction of various groups. They are responding to the idea that this ancient and powerful city has been wiped out. It is not clear which destruction of Tyre Isaiah is pointing to in this chapter. However, most commentators suggest it is either an attack by the Assyrians during Isaiah's era or the decimation of the city by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.

The prophecy calls for the ships of Tarshish to wail and mourn because everything on Tyre has been destroyed. This includes everything from the harbor to the houses. The sailors get the news when putting in at the large island of Cyprus, about 75 miles, 120 kilometers, off the Phoenician coast. The ships of Tarshish would sail from one end of the Mediterranean to the other. Isaiah pictures these sailors returning from a long voyage only to find their home port obliterated (Isaiah 23:1).

Next, the oracle instructs the inhabitants of the coast, including Sidon to be still, or to mourn, because the source of their enrichment is gone. No more would Egypt's grain be arriving to provide sustenance and revenue. The sea itself seems to grieve the loss of the sailors since it has no children of its own. Egypt's farming economy will be devastated. The people of Tarshish, likely in modern-day Spain, will wail, unable to believe the ancient city has been destroyed (Isaiah 23:2–7).

Regarding who has caused this destruction, Isaiah is clear: It is the Lord of hosts. God has defiled the pompous pride of Tyre and turned its honor to dishonor. He has stretched His hand over the sea, showing it belongs to Him and not to the Canaanite sea god. He has given the command to destroy all the strongholds of Canaan. He tells Sidon, 25 miles, or 40 kilometers, north of Tyre, that the party is over. Running away won't help. The Lord God's judgment has come (Isaiah 23:8–12).

As evidence that the destruction is coming, the Lord tells the people of Tyre to remember Babylon, in the land of the Chaldeans. That once great city and its people have been reduced to nothing since the Lord sent the Assyrians. This invading army set a siege on the city and destroyed it. Tyre, too, will be destroyed (Isaiah 23:13–14).

The city of Tyre will be forgotten, a shell of its former self, for 70 years. When it returns it will make its wages as a prostitute to the all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. This time, however, the Lord declares that her merchandise and wages will be used to supply abundance for the Lord's people. The city's wealth will not just be stored up in Tyre (Isaiah 23:15–18).

Chapter 23:1–12 describes the aftermath of the Lord's judgment against Tyre. The passage makes it clear that God is bringing this doom because the city's pride. The command which the Lord gives is absolute and cannot be avoided. Upcoming passages will compare this ruin to a then-extinct civilization, the Chaldeans. Tyre will become a trading hub once again, but with much less glory and her wealth will be used to provide for the Lord's people.

Isaiah 23:13–18 completes predictions about the future of Tyre and Sidon. Previous verses indicated the city would be destroyed. Here, Isaiah offers other examples of God's judgment. He then indicates that Tyre's ruin will last seventy years. After comes a form of restoration. However, this will not be the proud status of the past. Instead, the city will be like a prostitute returning to that role. In some way, the profit of Tyre's return will help God's people.

Chapter Summary:

Isaiah's final oracle against the nations describes the aftermath of God's judgment on the port city of Tyre. This city was a great center of trade and shipping in the world. The sailors returning will mourn when they get the news the city and its port is wiped out. The mourning will extend to the Phoenician people, the sea itself, the Egyptian grain industry, and the people of Tarshish. The prophet is clear that the Lord has done this in judgment against Tyre's pride. After 70 years of being forgotten, Tyre will thrive again as a prostitute to the nations. The Lord's people will receive her wages.

Chapter Context:

Prior chapters included prophecies about the nations surrounding Israel. Most of these have been arranged to warn Israel not to assume those neighbors would make effective allies against God's judgment. Chapter 23 is the final of these "oracles." Tyre was a great center of shipping and trade on the Mediterranean coast north of Israel. When it is destroyed, it will be mourned all around the great sea. After this, the predictions expand to a worldwide focus, with implications for the end times.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

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