Isaiah23

Isaiah 23 pronounces a "burden" against Tyre, a powerful maritime city, foretelling its utter destruction and the lament of its trading partners like the ships of Tarshish. The Lord of hosts is declared as the one who purposed this downfall to humble the city's pride and its princely merchants. After a period of seventy years of desolation, Tyre is prophesied to be restored to its commercial activity, likened to a harlot returning to her trade. Intriguingly, its future merchandise is ultimately dedicated as holiness to the Lord, for the benefit of those who dwell before Him.

The Oracle Against Tyre

1
The Burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For it hath been destroyed, Without house, without entrance, From the land of Chittim it was revealed to them.
2
Be silent, ye inhabitants of the isle, Trader of Zidon, passing the sea, they filled thee.
3
And in many waters is the seed of Sihor, The harvest of the brook is her increase, And she is a mart of nations.
4
Be ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea spake, The strength of the sea, saying: `I have not been pained, nor have I brought forth, Nor have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.'
5
As at the report of Egypt they are pained, So at the report of Tyre.
6
Pass over to Tarshish, howl, ye inhabitants of the isle,
7
Is this your exulting one? From the days of old is her antiquity, Carry her do her own feet afar off to sojourn.

The Lord's Purpose for Judgment

8
Who hath counselled this against Tyre, The crowning one, whose traders are princes, Her merchants the honoured of earth?'
9
Jehovah of Hosts hath counselled it, To pollute the excellency of all beauty, To make light all the honoured of earth.
10
Pass through thy land as a brook, Daughter of Tarshish, there is no more a girdle.
11
His hand He hath stretched out over the sea, He hath caused kingdoms to tremble, Jehovah hath charged concerning the merchant one, To destroy her strong places.
12
And He saith, `Thou dost not add any more to exult, O oppressed one, virgin daughter of Zidon, To Chittim arise, pass over, Even there--there is no rest for thee.'
13
Lo, the land of the Chaldeans--this people was not, Asshur founded it for the Ziim, They raised its watch-towers, They lifted up her palaces, --He hath appointed her for a ruin!
14
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For your strength hath been destroyed.

Restoration After Seventy Years

15
And it hath come to pass, in that day, That forgotten is Tyre seventy years, According to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years there is to Tyre as the song of the harlot.
16
Take a harp, go round the city, O forgotten harlot, play well, Multiply song that thou mayest be remembered.
17
And it hath come to pass, At the end of seventy years Jehovah inspecteth Tyre, And she hath repented of her gift, That she committed fornication With all kingdoms of the earth on the face of the ground.
18
And her merchandise and her gift have been holy to Jehovah, Not treasured up nor stored, For to those sitting before Jehovah is her merchandise, To eat to satiety, and for a lasting covering!
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