Isaiah 23:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I will tear down the walls of Tyre and demolish its towers; I will scrape her dust from her and make her like the bare rock" (Ezekiel 26:2-4). The multitude of nations that will surge upon Tyre like a tumultuous sea is further specified, as it states, "Behold, I will bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from the north, a king of kings, with horses, chariots, and horsemen, and a great multitude to Tyre. He will slay your daughters who are in the field with the sword; he will build a siege wall against you and cast up a mound against you, and raise a shield against you. He will direct the weapons toward your walls and will tear down your towers with battering rams" (Ezekiel 26:7-9). Additionally, in another prophecy against Egypt, it is written, "Son of man! Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has worked hard at Tyre; every head is bald and every shoulder chafed, yet neither he nor his army will receive any reward from Tyre" (Ezekiel 29:18). This illustrates that the Babylonian forces amassed a siege for an extended duration; thus, what Alexander later accomplished—uniting the island with the mainland—was first attempted by Nebuchadnezzar.

Similarly, we read of God's threats against Babylon, the Philistines, Moab, Egypt, the Edomites, and Ishmaelites for their rejoicing in the captivity of His people. A prophecy now opposes Tyre, which celebrated the destruction of Jerusalem, foretelling its own demise at the hands of the same enemy. Historical texts from Greek writers, notably chronicling the Assyrians' warfare, reveal that following Jerusalem's captivity, the Philistines, Arabs, Damascenes, and ultimately the Egyptians were all defeated. It is noted that these nations, especially Tyre, were perpetually hostile to Israel, finding pleasure in its ruin, as noted by the prophet Amos at the beginning of his writings, which is echoed by the Psalmist, who praises God saying, “O God, who is like You? Do not remain silent, O God. For behold, Your enemies make a tumult, and those who hate You have lifted up their heads. They have conspired against Your people and consulted together against Your saints. They have said, 'Come, let us cut them off from being a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.' Indeed, they have conspired with one consent; they form a confederacy against You, the tents of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre" (Psalm 82:1-8).

Thus, we learn that the weight of divine wrath is upon the unloving Tyre, depicted metaphorically as a harlot, and in Ezekiel represented as a vessel (Ezekiel 26). The ships of the sea are commanded to wail. Instead, the Septuagint refers to Carthage, while the Hebrew script mentions Tarshish. Since Carthage was established by the Tyrians, the reference to Tarshish may not solely denote the general sea but can also signify Carthage—indicating that the vessels of Tyre will no longer come from Africa or from the land of Cethim, which some interpret as Cyprus. To this day, they are still linked to Cethi, from which Zeno, the founder of Stoic philosophy, hailed. However, traditional interpretations suggest that Cethim refers to the islands near Italy and Macedonia. The Scriptures rightly refer to Tyre as an island, for it was Nebuchadnezzar or later Alexander who transformed it into dry land by constructing many embankments over the shallow waters of the sea. The trade of Sidon is likewise referenced in the next verse, where it reads, "Be ashamed, Sidon," showing that Tyre originated as a colony of Sidon.

Turning to the subject of Tyre, we can further explore the prophecy through an allegorical lens, stepping away from the historical context previously discussed. Tyre, known as Sor in Hebrew, implies constriction. Thus, any soul engulfed in wickedness and unclean thoughts can be seen as "Sor." Let the merchants cry out, for they will perish and cease to exist. Captivity has come upon them from the land of Cethim. Similar to the merchants of Phoenicia, afloat on the water, they now resemble the harvesters of nations who reap like those gathering in a harvest. In Hebrew, Tarshish is found alongside Sidon, the latter translated as "hunting." Unfortunately, these individuals are ensnared by vile thoughts and, motivated by desire for wealth, find themselves trapped and plunged into perilous temptations (1 Timothy 6:9). They are invited to mourn as the earthly riches will fade, and joy will wither into grief and sorrow. The sea shall no longer bear ships, but shall be coated in ice, and the captured colonies of Tyrians will face judgment. The inhabitants of this island, acting as merchants or goods bearers, drift aimlessly with every wind of doctrine, transitioning from one vice to another. We inhabit this island as long as we are weighed down by worldly temptations and as our lives and beliefs are tossed about like ships in a turbulent sea. The merchants from Sidon, indicating "hunters," comprise a multitude described in Psalms as those whom the Lord shall rescue from the snares laid by the wicked (Psalm 93). The efforts of Gentile merchants who exist like fields destined to wither, or as harvesters by the river nourished solely by earthly rains, are fated to perish alongside the rest. The reference to the seed of merchants in Hebrew alludes to Sior, which may signify the Nile, known for its murky waters, responsible for nourishing the fields of Egypt.