Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 23

Verse 1

burden = oracle.

Tyre. It had rejoiced in the misfortunes of Judah (Amos 1:9 ); so it is punished by the same king of Babylon (Isaiah 23:13 ). Ezekiel 26:2-21 .

Ships of Tarshish. See note on Isaiah 2:16 and 1 Kings 10:22 .

ships. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the people in them.

house. In this case "port".

Chittim. Originally used of Cyprus, but extended to the islands and coast-lands of the Mediterranean.

it: i.e. the fall of Tyre.

Verse 2

isle. Here, Tyre itself.

thou whom = which.

pass over = cross, in trading. In verses: Isaiah 23:2 , Isaiah 23:3 , Isaiah 23:6 , Isaiah 23:10 , Isaiah 23:12 , imperative, implying flight.

Verse 3

seed: or, grain.

Sihor = the black river, the Nile (compare Jeremiah 2:18 ).

harvest. Egypt was the field, the Phoenician coast its granary.

river. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Isaiah 7:18 . "River" is here put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the country (Egypt) through which it passes.

she is a mart of nations: or, it became merchandise for the nations.

mart = gain resulting from merchandise, as in Isaiah 23:18 (Isaiah 45:14 .Proverbs 3:14 ; Proverbs 31:18 ).

Verse 4

Zidon. Was a seaport. the mother city of Phoenicia, the granary of Egypt's harvests. The Zidonians had built Tyre on a rocky island, and connected it with the mainland.

I travail not = I have not travailed. The verbs which follow in Isaiah 23:4 are in the past tense. The sea speaks to the mother Zidon: thou seekest Tyre thou findest only the sea.

children = sons.

Verse 5

As at the report concerning &c. : or, When the report comes to Egypt they are forthwith in terror at the report concerning Tyre.

Verse 7

antiquity = origin.

feet. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the vessels in which the Tyrians fled from Nebuchadnezzar.

Verse 8

crowning = crown-giver: i.e. conferring crowns on other Phoenician cities.

Verse 9

The Lord of hosts. See note on Isaiah 1:9 .

stain = pollute.

Verse 11

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

the merchant city = Tyre, or Phoenician coast. Hosea 12:7 .

thereof: or, which are upon it.

Verse 12

oppressed = humbled.

Verse 13

this people was not = a people that were no people (i.e. Assyria). Tyre boasted antiquity (Isaiah 23:7 ), Assyria was their object-lesson and warning.

and: or, but.

He. God.

Verse 15

seventy years. See Jeremiah 25:9-11 ; Jeremiah 27:2-7 . From the first year of Nebuchadnezzar (496 B.C.) to the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus (426 B.C.)

one. Hebrew. ehad , a compound unity, hence "one" of a dynasty, here, the Babylonian dynasty. Not yahid , a single one. See note on Deuteronomy 6:4 .

Verse 16

Take an harp, &c. Figure of speech Apostrophe . Not a quotation.

Verse 17

world = the earth. Hebrew. ha- arez .

upon = which are upon.

earth = ground, or, soil. Hebrew. ha- adamah .

Verse 18

holiness = hallowed.

sufficiently = abundantly.