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 ).
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.
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 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.