---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 23"
description: "CHAPTER 23   :-. PROPHECY
RESPECTING TYRE. MENANDER,
the historian, notices a siege of Tyre by Shalmaneser, about the time
of the siege of Samaria. Sidon,"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23"
---

CHAPTER 23

. PROPHECY
RESPECTING TYRE.
MENANDER,
the historian, notices a siege of Tyre by Shalmaneser, about the time
of the siege of Samaria. Sidon, Acco, and Old Tyre, on the mainland,
were soon reduced; but New Tyre, on an island half a mile from the
shore, held out for five years. Sargon probably finished the siege.
Sennacherib does not, however, mention it among the cities which the
Assyrian kings conquered (thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh chapters).
The expression, "Chaldeans" (), may imply reference to its siege under Nebuchadnezzar,
which lasted thirteen years. Alexander the Great destroyed New Tyre
after a seven months' siege.

**1. Tyre**—*Hebrew, Tsur,*
that is, "Rock."
**ships of Tarshish**—ships
of Tyre returning from their voyage to Tarshish, or Tartessus in
Spain, with which the Phoelignicians had much commerce (). "Ships of Tarshish" is a phrase also used of
large and distant-voyaging merchant vessels ([Isaiah 2:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/16);
[1 Kings 10:22](../../../kjv/1-kings/10/22); [Psalms 48:7](../../../kjv/psalms/48/7)).
**no house**—namely, left;
such was the case as to Old Tyre, after Nebuchadnezzar's siege.
**no entering**—There is *no*
house to *enter* ([Isaiah 24:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/10))
[G. V. SMITH]. Or, Tyre is
so laid waste, that there is no possibility of *entering the harbor*
[BARNES]; which is
appropriate to the previous "ships."
**Chittim**—Cyprus, of
which the cities, including *Citium* in the south (whence came
"Chittim"), were mostly Phoelignician ([Isaiah 24:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/10)). The ships from Tarshish on their way to Tyre learn the
tidings ("it is revealed to them") of the downfall of Tyre.
At a later period Chittim denoted the islands and coasts of the
Mediterranean ([Daniel 11:30](../../../kjv/daniel/11/30)).

**2. Be still**—"struck dumb
with awe." Addressed to those already in the country,
eye-witnesses of its ruin (); or, in contrast to the *busy din* of commerce once
heard in Tyre; now all is hushed and *still.*
**isle**—strictly
applicable to New Tyre: in the sense *coast,* to the mainland
city, Old Tyre (compare [Isaiah 23:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/6);
[Isaiah 20:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/20/6)).
**Zidon**—of which Tyre was
a colony, planted when Zidon was conquered by the Philistines of
Ascalon. Zidon means a "fishing station"; this was its
beginning.
**replenished**—with wealth
and an industrious population ([Ezekiel 27:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/3);
[Ezekiel 27:8](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/8); [Ezekiel 27:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/23)).
Here "Zidon," as the oldest city of Phoelignicia, includes
all the Phoelignician towns on the strip of "coast." Thus,
Eth-baal, king of Tyre [JOSEPHUS,
*Antiquities,* 8.3,2], is called king of the Sidonians ([Ezekiel 27:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/23)); and on coins Tyre is called the metropolis of the
Sidonians.

**3. great waters**—the wide
waters of the sea.
**seed**—"grain,"
or crop, as in [1 Samuel 8:15](../../../kjv/1-samuel/8/15); [Job 39:12](../../../kjv/job/39/12).
**Sihor**—literally,
"dark-colored"; applied to the Nile, as the Egyptian *Jeor,*
and the *Greek Melas,* to express the "dark, turbid"
colors given to its waters by the fertilizing soil which it deposits
at its yearly overflow ([Jeremiah 2:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/18)).
**harvest of the river**—the
growth of the Delta; the produce due to the overflow of the Nile:
Egypt was the great granary of corn in the ancient world ([Genesis 41:1-57](../../../kjv/genesis/41/1-57);
[Genesis 42:1-38](../../../kjv/genesis/42/1-38); [Genesis 43:1-34](../../../kjv/genesis/43/1-34)).
**her revenue**—Tyrian
vessels carried Egyptian produce obtained in exchange for wine, oil,
glass, &c., into various lands, and so made large profits.
**mart**— ([Genesis 43:1-1](../../../kjv/genesis/43/1-1)). No city was more favorably situated for commerce.

**4. Zidon**—called on, as being
the parent country of Tyre (), and here equivalent to Phoelignicia in general, to feel
the shame (as it was esteemed in the East) of being now as childless
as if she never had any. "I (no more now) travail, nor bring
forth," c. "Strength of the sea," that is, stronghold,
namely, New Tyre, on a rock (as "Tyre" means) surrounded by
the sea ([Ezekiel 26:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/26/4) [Ezekiel 26:14-17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/26/14-17);
so Venice was called "Bride of the sea"; [Ezekiel 26:14-26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/26/14-26)).

**5. As,** &c.—rather, "*When*
the report (shall reach) the people of Egypt, they shall be sorely
pained at the report concerning Tyre" (namely, its overthrow).
So JEROME, "When the
Egyptians shall hear that so powerful a neighboring nation has been
destroyed, they must know their own end is near" [LOWTH,
&c.].

**6. Pass . . . over**—Escape from
Tyre to your colonies as Tarshish (compare ). The Tyrians fled to Carthage and elsewhere, both at the
siege under Nebuchadnezzar and that under Alexander.

**7.** *Is this* silent ruin
all that is left of *your* once *joyous city* ()?
**antiquity**—The Tyrian
priests boasted in HERODOTUS'
time that their city had already existed 2300 years: an exaggeration,
but still implying that it was *ancient* even then.
**her own feet**—walking on
foot as captives to an enemy's land.

**8. Who**—answered in , "The Lord of hosts."
**crowning**—crown-giving;
that is, the city from which dependent kingdoms had arisen, as
Tartessus in Spain, Citium in Cyprus, and Carthage in Africa ().
**traffickers**—literally,
"Canaanites," who were famed for commerce (compare , *Margin*).

**9.** Whoever be the instruments in
overthrowing haughty sinners, God, who has all hosts at His command,
is the First Cause ().
**stain**—rather, "to
profane"; as in [Exodus 31:14](../../../kjv/exodus/31/14),
the *Sabbath,* and other objects of religious reverence; so
here, "the pride of all glory" may refer to the Tyrian
temple of Hercules, the oldest in the world, according to ARRIAN
([Isaiah 2:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/16)); the prophet of the
true God would naturally single out for notice the idol of Tyre [G.
V. SMITH]. It may,
however, be a *general* proposition; the destruction of Tyre
will exhibit to all how God mars the luster of whatever is haughty
([Isaiah 2:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/11)).

**10. a river**—*Hebrew,*
"the river," namely, Nile.
**daughter of Tarshish**—Tyre
and its inhabitants ([Isaiah 1:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/8)),
about henceforth, owing to the ruin of Tyre, to become inhabitants of
its colony, Tartessus: they would *pour forth* from Tyre, as
waters flow on when the barriers are removed [LOWTH].
Rather, Tarshish, or Tartessus and its inhabitants, as the phrase
usually means: they had been kept in hard bondage, working in silver
and lead mines near Tarshish, by the parent city ([Isaiah 1:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/8)): but now "the bond of restraint" (for so
"strength," *Margin,* "girdle," that is,
bond, [Psalms 2:3](../../../kjv/psalms/2/3), ought to be
translated) is removed, since Tyre is no more.

**11. He**—Jehovah.
**kingdoms**—the
Phoelignician cities and colonies.
**the merchant city**—rather,
*Canaan,* meaning the north of it, namely, Phoelignicia. On
their coins, they call their country *Canaan.*

**12. he**—God.
**rejoice**—riotously ().
**oppressed**—"deflowered";
laying aside the figure "taken by storm"; the Arabs compare
a city never taken to an undefiled virgin (compare , &c.).
**daughter of Zidon**—Tyre:
or else, sons of Zidon, that is, the whole land and people of
Phoelignicia (see on [Isaiah 23:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/2))
[MAURER].
**Chittim**—Citium in
Cyprus ([Isaiah 23:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/1)).
**there also . . . no rest**—Thy
colonies, having been harshly treated by thee, will now repay thee in
kind (see on [Isaiah 23:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/2)). But
VITRINGA refers it to the
calamities which befell the Tyrians in their settlements
subsequently, namely, Sicily, Corcyra, Carthage, and Spain, all
flowing from the original curse of Noah against the posterity of
Canaan ([Genesis 9:25-27](../../../kjv/genesis/9/25-27)).

**13. Behold**—Calling attention
to the fact, so humiliating to Tyre, that a people of yesterday, like
the Chaldees, should destroy the most ancient of cities, Tyre.
**was not**—had no
existence as a recognized nation; the Chaldees were previously but a
rude, predatory people ([Job 1:17](../../../kjv/job/1/17)).
**Assyrian founded it**—The
Chaldees ("them that dwell in the wilderness") lived a
nomadic life in the mountains of Armenia originally (Arphaxad, in [Job 1:17](../../../kjv/job/1/17), refers to such a region of Assyria near Armenia), north
and east of Assyria proper. Some may have settled in Mesopotamia and
Babylonia very early and given origin to the astrologers called
*Chaldees* in later times. But most of the people had been
transferred only a little before the time of this prophecy from their
original seats in the north to Mesopotamia, and soon afterwards to
South Babylonia. "Founded it," means "assigned *it*
(the land) to them who had (heretofore) dwelt in the wilderness"
as a permanent settlement (so in [Job 1:17](../../../kjv/job/1/17)) [MAURER]. It
was the Assyrian policy to infuse into their own population of the
plain the fresh blood of hardy mountaineers, for the sake of
recruiting their armies. Ultimately the Chaldees, by their powerful
priest-caste, gained the supremacy and established the later or
Chaldean empire. HORSLEY
refers it to Tyre, founded by an Assyrian race.
**towers thereof**—namely,
of Babylon, whose towers, HERODOTUS
says, were "set up" by the Assyrians [BARNES].
Rather, "The *Chaldees* set up their *siege-towers*"
against Tyre, made for the attack of high walls, from which the
besiegers hurled missiles, as depicted in the Assyrian sculptures [G.
V. SMITH].
**raised up**—rather, "They
*lay bare,*" namely, the foundations of "her (Tyre's)
*palaces,*" that is, utterly overthrew them ([Job 1:17](../../../kjv/job/1/17)).

**14. strength**—stronghold
(compare [Ezekiel 26:15-18](../../../kjv/ezekiel/26/15-18)).

**15. forgotten**—Having lost its
former renown, Tyre shall be in obscurity.
**seventy years**—(so
[Jeremiah 25:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/11); [Jeremiah 25:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/12);
[Jeremiah 29:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/10)).
**days of one king**—that
is, a dynasty. The Babylonian monarchy lasted properly but seventy
years. From the first year of Nebuchadnezzar to the taking of
Babylon, by Cyrus, was seventy years; then the subjected nations
would be restored to liberty. Tyre was taken in the middle of that
period, but it is classed in common with the rest, some conquered
sooner and others later, all, however, alike to be delivered at the
end of the period. So "king" is used for dynasty ([Daniel 7:17](../../../kjv/daniel/7/17);
[Daniel 8:20](../../../kjv/daniel/8/20)): Nebuchadnezzar, his
son Evil-merodach, and his grandson, Belshazzar, formed the whole
dynasty ([Jeremiah 25:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/11); [Jeremiah 25:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/12);
[Jeremiah 27:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/7); [Jeremiah 29:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/10)).
**shall Tyre sing as . . .
harlot**—It shall be to Tyre as the song of the harlot, namely, a
harlot that has been forgotten, but who attracts notice again by her
song. Large marts of commerce are often compared to harlots seeking
many lovers, that is, they court merchants of all nations, and admit
any one for the sake of gain ([Nahum 3:4](../../../kjv/nahum/3/4);
[Revelation 18:3](../../../kjv/revelation/18/3)). Covetousness is
closely akin to idolatry and licentiousness, as the connection
([Ephesians 5:5](../../../kjv/ephesians/5/5); [Colossians 3:5](../../../kjv/colossians/3/5))
proves (compare [Isaiah 2:6-8](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/6-8);
[Isaiah 2:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/16)).

**16.** Same figure [] to express that Tyre would again prosper and attract
commercial intercourse of nations to her, and be the same joyous,
self-indulging city as before.

**17. visit**—not in wrath, but
mercy.
**hire**—image from a
harlot: her *gains* by commerce. After the Babylonian dynasty
was ended, Tyre was rebuilt; also, again, after the destruction under
Alexander.

**18. merchandise . . . holiness**—Her
traffic and gains shall at last (long after the restoration mentioned
in [Isaiah 23:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/17)) be consecrated
to Jehovah. Jesus Christ visited the neighborhood of Tyre ([Isaiah 23:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/17)); Paul found disciples there ([Isaiah 23:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/17)); it early became a Christian bishopric, but the full
evangelization of that whole race, as of the Ethiopians ([Isaiah 23:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/17)), of the Egyptians and Assyrians ([Isaiah 23:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/17)), is yet to come ([Isaiah 23:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/23/17)).
**not treasured**—but
freely expended in His service.
**them that dwell before the
Lord**—the ministers of religion. But HORSLEY
translates, "them that *sit* before Jehovah" as
*disciples.*
**durable clothing**—Changes
of raiment constituted much of the wealth of former days.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 23"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 23","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 23   :-. PROPHECY\nRESPECTING TYRE. MENANDER,\nthe historian, notices a siege of Tyre by Shalmaneser, about the time\nof the siege of Samaria. Sidon,","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","name":"Isaiah"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/23","name":"23"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```