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.
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The Oracle Against Tyre

1
The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. ​
2
Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
3
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. ​
4
Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. ​
5
As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
6
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
7
Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

The Lord's Purpose for Judgment

8
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? ​
9
The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. ​
10
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
11
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
12
And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.
13
Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin. ​
14
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

Restoration After Seventy Years

15
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. ​
16
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. ​
17
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. ​
18
And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. ​

Study Notes for Isaiah 23

Verse 1

The 'burden' (Hebrew: *massa*) is an oracle of judgment against Tyre, the dominant maritime power of the Phoenician coast. Tarshish, likely a major trading colony in the far west (Spain), is called to mourn the collapse of its economic hub.

Verse 3

Sihor is often identified with the Nile River. This verse highlights that Tyre’s great wealth was derived not just from shipping, but also from brokering Egyptian grain and goods to the international market.

Verse 4

Zidon, the older 'mother city' of Phoenicia, is addressed here. The 'strength of the sea' (Tyre) is personified as a woman who has lost her economic vitality, no longer producing wealth or ships ('children').

Verse 8

Tyre is called the 'crowning city' because it established colonies and was the center of a maritime empire. The question asks rhetorically who could challenge such power, leading to the answer in the next verse.

Verse 9

This is the theological core of the oracle: God judges Tyre’s immense wealth and power not out of malice, but specifically to humble human pride and demonstrate the vanity of relying on earthly glory.

Verse 13

This verse is complex, possibly pointing to the destruction brought by the Chaldeans (Babylonians), who, despite their eventual rise to power, are also subject to ruin by God, confirming divine sovereignty over all nations.

Verse 15

The seventy-year period mirrors the length of Judah’s Babylonian exile (Jer. 25:11), suggesting a temporary suspension of Tyre’s influence, after which it will return to commercial activity.

Verse 16

The metaphor of the harlot illustrates Tyre’s desperate effort to regain its place in international commerce after being forgotten, aggressively soliciting trade partners like a prostitute seeking clients.

Verse 17

Committing 'fornication' refers to returning to intense, often morally dubious, international trade practices necessary to rebuild its empire and regain its 'hire' (revenue).

Verse 18

The prophecy concludes with the surprising dedication of Tyre's vast commercial wealth ('hire') to the LORD. This signifies a future time when Gentile economic resources will be consecrated to support God’s people and work (cf. Isa. 60:5–7).

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