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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter is concerning Tyre, an ancient wealthy city, situated upon
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the sea, and for many ages one of the most celebrated cities for trade
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and merchandise in those parts of the world. The lot of the tribe of
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Asher bordered upon it. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+19:29">Joshua xix. 29</A>,
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where it is called "the strong city Tyre." We seldom find it a
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dangerous enemy to Israel, but sometimes their faithful ally, as in the
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reigns of David and Solomon; for trading cities maintain their
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grandeur, not by the conquest of their neighbours, but by commerce with
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them. In this chapter is foretold,
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I. The lamentable desolation of Tyre, which was performed by
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Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean army, about the time that they
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destroyed Jerusalem; and a hard task they had of it, as appears
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+29:18">Ezek. xxix. 18</A>,
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where they are said to have "served a hard service against Tyre," and
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yet to have no wages,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:1-14">ver. 1-14</A>.
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II. The restoration of Tyre after seventy years, and the return of the
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Tyrians out of their captivity to their trade again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:15-18">
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ver. 15-18</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa23_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Doom of Tyre.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 718.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is
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laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the
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land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
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2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants
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of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
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3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the
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river, <I>is</I> her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.
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4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, <I>even</I> the
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strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth
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children, neither do I nourish up young men, <I>nor</I> bring up
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virgins.
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5 As at the report concerning Egypt, <I>so</I> shall they be sorely
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pained at the report of Tyre.
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6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
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7 <I>Is</I> this your joyous <I>city,</I> whose antiquity <I>is</I> of ancient
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days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
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8 Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning
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<I>city,</I> whose merchants <I>are</I> princes, whose traffickers <I>are</I>
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the honourable of the earth?
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9 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all
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glory, <I>and</I> to bring into contempt all the honourable of the
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earth.
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10 Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish:
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<I>there is</I> no more strength.
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11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the
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kingdoms: the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath given a commandment against the merchant
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<I>city,</I> to destroy the strong holds thereof.
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12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed
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virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there
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also shalt thou have no rest.
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13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not,
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<I>till</I> the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the
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wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the
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palaces thereof; <I>and</I> he brought it to ruin.
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14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Tyre being a sea-port town, this prophecy of its overthrow fitly begins
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and ends with, <I>Howl, you ships of Tarshish;</I> for all its
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business, wealth, and honour, depended upon its shipping; if that be
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ruined, they will be all undone. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. Tyre flourishing. This is taken notice of that her fall may appear
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the more dismal.
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1. <I>The merchants of Zidon,</I> who traded at sea, had at first
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<I>replenished her,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Zidon was the more ancient city, situated upon the same sea-cost, a few
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leagues more to the north, and Tyre was at first only a colony of that;
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but the daughter had outgrown the mother, and become much more
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considerable. It may be a mortification to great cities to think how
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they were at first replenished.
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2. Egypt had helped very much to raise her,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Sihor was the river of Egypt: by that river, and the ocean into which
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it ran, the Egyptians traded with Tyre; and the harvest of that river
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was her revenue. The riches of the sea, and the gains by goods exported
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and imported, are as much the harvest to trading towns as that of hay
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and corn is to the country; and sometimes <I>the harvest of the
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river</I> proves a better revenue than the harvest of the land. Or it
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may be meant of all the products of the Egyptian soil, which the men of
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Tyre traded in, and which were the harvest of the river Nile, owing
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themselves to the overflowing of that river.
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3. She had become the mart of the nations, the great emporium of that
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part of the world. Some of every known nation might be found there,
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especially at certain times of the year, when there was a general
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rendezvous of merchants. This is enlarged upon by another prophet,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+27:2,3">Ezek. xxvii. 2, 3</A>,
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&c. See how the hand of the diligent, by the blessing of God upon it,
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makes rich. Tyre became rich and great by industry, though she had no
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other ploughs going than those that plough the waters.
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4. She was a <I>joyous city,</I> noted for mirth and jollity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Those that were so disposed might find there all manner of sports and
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diversions, all the delights of the sons and daughters of men, balls,
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and plays, and operas, and every thing of that kind that a man had a
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fancy to. This made them secure and proud, and they despised the
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country people, who neither knew nor relished any joys of that nature.
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This also made them very loth to believe and consider what warnings God
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gave them by his servants; they were too merry to mind them. Her
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<I>antiquity</I> likewise was <I>of ancient days,</I> and she was proud
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of that, and that helped to make her secure; as if because she had been
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a city time out of mind, and her antiquity had been of ancient days,
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therefore she must continue a city time without end, and her
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continuance must be to the days of eternity.
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5. She was <I>a crowning city</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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that crowned herself. Such were the power and pomp of her magistrates
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that they crowned those who had dependence on her and dealings with
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her. It is explained in the following words: <I>Her merchants are
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princes,</I> and live like princes for the ease and state they take;
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and <I>her traffickers,</I> whatever country they go to, <I>are the
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honourable of the earth,</I> who are respected by all. How slightly
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soever some now speak of tradesmen, it seems formerly, and among the
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wisest nations, there were merchants, and traders, and men of business,
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that were the honourable of the earth.</P>
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<P>
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II. Here is Tyre falling. It does not appear that she brought trouble
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upon herself by provoking her neighbours with her quarrels, but rather
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by tempting them with her wealth; but, if it was this that induced
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Nebuchadnezzar to fall upon Tyre, he was disappointed; for after it had
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stood out a siege of thirteen years, and could hold out no longer, the
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inhabitants got away by sea, with their families and goods, to other
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places where they had an interest, and left Nebuchadnezzar nothing but
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the bare city. See a history of Tyre in Sir Walter Raleigh's History
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of the World, <I>lib.</I> 2. <I>cap.</I> 7. <I>sect.</I> 3, 43.
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<I>page.</I> 283, which will give much light to this prophecy and that
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in Ezekiel concerning Tyre.</P>
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<P>
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1. See how the destruction of Tyre is here foretold.
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(1.) The haven shall be no convenient harbour for the reception of the
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ships of Tarshish, but all <I>laid waste</I>
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(1.), so that there shall be no house, no dock for the ships to ride
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in, no inns, or public houses for the seamen, no entering into the
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port. Perhaps it was choked with sand or blocked up by the enemy. Or,
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Tyre being destroyed and laid waste, the ships that used to come from
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Tarshish and Chittim into that port shall now no more enter in; for
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<I>it is revealed</I> or made known <I>to them,</I> they have received
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the dismal news, that Tyre is destroyed and laid waste; so that there
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is now no more business for them there. See how it is in this world;
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those that are spoiled by their enemies are commonly slighted by their
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old friends.
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(2.) The inhabitants are struck with astonishment. Tyre was an island.
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The inhabitants of it, who had made a mighty noise and bustle in the
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world, and revelled with loud huzzas, shall now be still and silent
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>);
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they shall sit down as mourners, so overwhelmed with grief that they
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shall not be able to express it. Their proud boasts of themselves, and
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defiances of their neighbours, shall be silenced. God can soon quiet
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those, and strike them dumb, that are the noisy busy people of the
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world. Be still; for God will do his work
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:10,Zec+2:13">Ps. xlvi. 10; Zech. ii. 13</A>),
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and you cannot resist him.
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(3.) The neighbours are amazed, blush, and are in pain for them:
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<I>Zidon is ashamed</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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by whom Tyre was at first replenished; for the rolling waves of the sea
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brought to Zidon this news from Tyre; and there <I>the strength of the
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sea,</I> a high spring-tide, proclaimed saying, "<I>I travail not, nor
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bring forth children</I> now, as I have done. I do not now, as I used
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to do, bring ship-loads of young people to Tyre, to be bred up there in
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trade and business," which was the thing that had made Tyre so rich and
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populous. Or the sea, that used to be loaded with fleets of ships
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about Tyre, shall not be as desolate as a sorrowful widow that is
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bereaved of all her children, and has none about her to nourish and
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bring up. Egypt indeed was a much larger and more considerable kingdom
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than Tyre was; and yet Tyre had so large a correspondence, upon the
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account of trade, that all the nations about shall be as much in pain,
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upon the report of the ruin of that one city, as they would have been,
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and not long after were, upon the report of the ruin of all Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Or, as some read it, <I>When the report shall reach to the Egyptians
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they shall be sorely pained to hear it of Tyre,</I> both because of the
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loss of their trade with that city and because it was a threatening
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step towards their own ruin; when their neighbour's house was on fire
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their own was in danger.
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(4.) The merchants, as many as could, should transmit their effects to
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other places, and abandon Tyre, where they had raised their estates,
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and thought they had made them sure
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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"<I>You</I> that have long been <I>inhabitants of this isle</I>" (for
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it lay off in the sea about half a mile from the continent); "It is
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time to howl now, for you must pass over to Tarshish. The best course
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you can take is to make the best of your way to Tarshish, to the sea"
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(to Taressus, a city in Spain; so some), "or to some other of your
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plantations." Those that think their mountain stands strong, and cannot
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be moved, will find that here they have no continuing city. <I>The
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mountains shall depart and the hills be removed.</I>
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(5.) Those that could not make their escape must expect no other than
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to be carried into captivity; for it was the way of conquerors, in
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those times, to take those they conquered to be bondmen in their own
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country, and send of their own to be freemen in theirs
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>Her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn;</I> they shall be
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hurried away on foot into captivity, and many a weary step they shall
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take towards their own misery. Those that have lived in the greatest
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pomp and splendour know not what hardships they may be reduced to
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before they die.
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(6.) Many of those that attempted to escape should be pursued and fall
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into the hands of the enemy. Tyre shall <I>pass through her land as a
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river</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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running down, one company after another, into the ocean or abyss of
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misery. Or, though they hasten away as a river, with the greatest
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swiftness, hoping to outrun the danger, yet <I>there is no more
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strength;</I> they are quickly tired, and cannot get forward, but fall
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an easy prey into the hands of the enemy. And, as Tyre has no more
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strength, so her sister Zidon has no more comfort
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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"<I>Thou shalt no more rejoice, O oppressed virgin, daughter of
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Zidon,</I> that art now ready to be overpowered by the victorious
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Chaldeans! Thy turn is next; therefore <I>arise; pass over to
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Chittim;</I> flee to Greece, to Italy, any where to shift for thy own
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safety; yet <I>there also shalt thou have no rest;</I> thy enemies
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shall disturb thee, and thy own fears shall disquiet thee, where thou
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hopedst to find some repose." Note, We deceive ourselves if we promise
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ourselves rest any where in this world. Those that are uneasy in one
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place will be so in another; and, when God's judgments pursue sinners,
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they will overtake them.</P>
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<P>
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2. But whence shall all this trouble come?</P>
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<P>
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(1.) God will be the author of it; it is a <I>destruction from the
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Almighty.</I> It will be asked
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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"<I>Who has taken this counsel against Tyre?</I> Who has contrived it?
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Who has resolved it? Who can find in his heart to lay such a stately
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lovely city in ruins? And how is it possible that its ruin should be
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effected?" To this it will be answered,
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[1.] God has designed it, who is infinitely wise and just, and never
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did, nor ever will do, any wrong to any of his creatures
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>).
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<I>The Lord of hosts,</I> that has all things at his disposal and gives
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not account of any of his matters, he <I>has purposed it.</I> It shall
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be done according to the counsel of his will; and that which he aims at
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herein is <I>to stain the pride of all glory,</I> to pollute it,
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profane it, and throw it to be trodden upon; <I>and to bring into
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contempt</I> and make despicable <I>all the honourable ones of the
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earth,</I> that they may not admire themselves and be admired by others
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as usual. God did not bring those calamities upon Tyre in a way of
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sovereignty, to show an arbitrary and irresistible power; but he did it
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to punish the Tyrians for their pride. Many other sins, no doubt,
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reigned among them--idolatry, sensuality, and oppression; but the sin
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of pride is fastened upon as that which was the particular ground of
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God's controversy with Tyre; for he resists the proud. All the world
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observing and being surprised at the desolation of Tyre, we have here
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an exposition of it. God tells the world what he meant by it.
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<I>First,</I> He designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainty
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of all earthly glory, to show them what a withering, fading, perishing
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thing it is even when it seems most substantial. It were well if men
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would be thoroughly taught this lesson, though it were at the expense
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of so great a destruction. Are men's learning and wealth, their pomp
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and power, their interest in, and influence upon, all about them, their
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glory? Are their stately houses, rich furniture, and splendid
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appearances, their glory? Look up on the ruins of Tyre, and see all
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this glory stained, and sullied, and buried in the dust. The honourable
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ones of heaven will be for ever such; but see the grandees of Tyre,
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some fled into banishment, others forced into captivity, and all
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impoverished, and you will conclude that the honourable of the earth,
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even the most honourable, know not how soon they may be brought into
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contempt. <I>Secondly,</I> He designed hereby to prevent their being
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proud of that glory, their being puffed up, and confident of the
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continuance of it. Let the ruin of Tyre be a warning to all places and
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persons to take heed of pride; for it proclaims to all the world that
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he who exalts himself shall be abased.
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[2.] God will do it, who has all power in his hand and can do it
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effectually
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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<I>He stretched out his hand over the sea.</I> He has done so many a
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time, witness the dividing of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh
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in it. He has often shaken the kingdoms that were most secure; and he
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has now given commandment concerning this merchant-city, to destroy the
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strongholds thereof. As its beauty shall not intercede for it, but that
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shall be stained, so its strength shall not protect it, but that shall
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be broken. If any think it strange that a city so well fortified, and
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that has so many powerful allies, should be so totally ruined, let them
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know that it is the Lord of hosts that has given a commandment to
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destroy the strongholds thereof: and who can gainsay his orders or
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hinder the execution of them?</P>
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<P>
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(2.) The Chaldeans shall be the instruments of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
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<I>Behold the land of the Chaldeans;</I> how easily they and their land
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were destroyed by the Assyrians. Though their own hands <I>founded it,
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|
set up the towers</I> of Babylon, and <I>raised up its palaces,</I> yet
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the Assyrians brought it to ruin, whence the Tyrians might infer that
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as easily as the old Chaldeans were subdued by the Assyrians so easily
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shall Tyre be vanquished by those new Chaldeans. Babel was built by the
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Assyrians for <I>those that dwelt in the wilderness.</I> It may be
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rendered <I>for the ships</I> (the Assyrians founded it for ships and
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shipmen that traffic upon those vast rivers Tigris and Euphrates to the
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|
Persian and Indian seas), <I>for men of the desert,</I> for Babylon is
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|
called the <I>desert of the sea,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:1"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 1</A>.
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|
Thus Tyrus was built upon the sea for the like purpose. But the
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Assyrians (says Dr. Lightfoot) brought that to ruin, now lately, in
|
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Hezekiah's time, and so shall Tyre hereafter be brought to ruin by
|
|
Nebuchadnezzar. If we looked more upon the falling and withering of
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others, we should not be so confident as we commonly are of the
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continuance of our own flourishing and standing.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa23_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa23_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Restoration of Tyre.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 718.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be
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|
forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after
|
|
the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as a harlot.
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|
16 Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been
|
|
forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest
|
|
be remembered.
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|
17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years,
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|
that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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.
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|
18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise
|
|
shall be for them that dwell before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to eat
|
|
sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
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|
</FONT></P>
|
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<P>
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|
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|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The time fixed for the continuance of the desolations of Tyre, which
|
|
were not to be perpetual desolations: <I>Tyre shall be forgotten
|
|
seventy years,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
So long it shall lie neglected and buried in obscurity. It was
|
|
destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar much about the time that Jerusalem was, and
|
|
lay as long as it did in its ruins. See the folly of that proud
|
|
ambitious conqueror. What the richer, what the stronger, was he for
|
|
making himself master of Tyre, when all the inhabitants were driven out
|
|
of it and he had none of his own subjects to spare for the replenishing
|
|
and fortifying of it? It is surprising to see what pleasure men could
|
|
take in destroying cities and making <I>their memorial perish with
|
|
them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:6">Ps. ix. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
He trampled on the pride of Tyre, and therein served God's purpose; but
|
|
with greater pride, for which God soon after humbled him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A prophecy of the restoration of Tyre to its glory again: <I>After
|
|
the end of seventy years, according to the years of one king,</I> or
|
|
one dynasty or family of kings, that of Nebuchadnezzar; when that
|
|
expired, the desolations of Tyre came to an end. And we may presume
|
|
that Cyrus at the same time when he released the Jews, and encouraged
|
|
them to rebuild Jerusalem, released the Tyrians also, and encouraged
|
|
them to rebuild Tyre. Thus the prosperity and adversity of places, as
|
|
well as persons, are <I>set the one over against the other,</I> that
|
|
the most glorious cities may not be secure nor the most ruinous
|
|
despair. It is foretold,
|
|
|
|
1. That God's providence shall gain smile upon this ruined city
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord will visit Tyre</I> in mercy; for, though he contend, he
|
|
will not contend for ever. It is not said, Her old acquaintance shall
|
|
visit her, the colonies she has planted, and the trading cities she has
|
|
had correspondence with (they have forgotten her); but, The Lord shall
|
|
visit her by some unthought-of turn; he shall cause his indignation
|
|
towards her to cease, and then things will run of course in their
|
|
former channel.
|
|
|
|
2. That she shall use her best endeavours to recover her trade again.
|
|
She shall sing as a harlot, that has been some time under correction
|
|
for her lewdness; but, when she is set at liberty (so violent is the
|
|
bent of corruption), she will use her old arts of temptation. The
|
|
Tyrians having returned from their captivity, and those that remained
|
|
recovering new spirits thereupon, they shall contrive how to force a
|
|
trade, shall procure the best choice of goods, under-sell their
|
|
neighbours, and be obliging to all customers; as a harlot that has been
|
|
forgotten, when she comes to be spoken of again, recommends herself to
|
|
company by singing and playing, <I>takes a harp, goes about the
|
|
city,</I> perhaps in the night, serenading, <I>makes sweet melody, and
|
|
sings many songs.</I> These are innocent and allowable diversions, if
|
|
soberly, and moderately, and modestly used; but those that value
|
|
themselves upon their virtue should not be over-fond of them, nor
|
|
ambitious to excel in them, because, whatever they are now, anciently
|
|
they were some of the baits with which harlots used to entice fools.
|
|
Tyre shall now by degrees come to be the mart of nations again; she
|
|
shall <I>return to her hire,</I> to her traffic, <I>and shall commit
|
|
fornication</I> (that is, she shall have dealings in trade, for the
|
|
prophet carries on the similitude of a harlot) <I>with all the kingdoms
|
|
of the world</I> that she had formerly traded with in her prosperity.
|
|
The love of worldly wealth is a spiritual whoredom, and therefore
|
|
covetous people are called <I>adulterers and adulteresses</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:4">James iv. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
and covetousness is spiritual idolatry.
|
|
|
|
3. That, having recovered her trade again, she shall make a better use
|
|
of it than she had done formerly; and this good she should get by her
|
|
calamities
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Her merchandise, and her hire, shall be holiness to the Lord.</I>
|
|
The trade of Tyre, and all the gains of her trade, shall be devoted to
|
|
God and to his honour and employed in his service. It shall not be
|
|
treasured and hoarded up, as formerly, to be the matter of their pride
|
|
and the support of their carnal confidence; but it shall be laid out in
|
|
acts of piety and charity. What they can spare from the maintenance of
|
|
themselves and their families <I>shall be for those that dwell before
|
|
the Lord,</I> for the priests, the Lord's ministers, that attend in his
|
|
temple at Jerusalem; not to maintain them in pomp and grandeur, but
|
|
that they and theirs may <I>eat sufficiently,</I> may have food
|
|
convenient for them, with as little as may be of that care which would
|
|
divert them from their ministration, and that they may have, not rich
|
|
and fine clothing, but <I>durable clothing,</I> that which is strong
|
|
and lasting, <I>clothing for old men</I> (so some read it), as if the
|
|
priests, though they were young, must wear such plain grave clothing as
|
|
old men used to wear. Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) This supposes that religion should be set up in New Tyre, that
|
|
they should come to the knowledge of the true God and into communion
|
|
with the Israel of God. Perhaps their being fellow-captives with the
|
|
Jews in Babylon (who had prophets with them there) disposed them to
|
|
join with them in their worship there, and turned them from idols, as
|
|
it cured the Jews of their idolatry: and when they were released with
|
|
them, and as they had reason to believe for their sakes, when they were
|
|
settled again in Tyre, they would send gifts and offerings to the
|
|
temple, and presents to the priests. We find men of Tyre then dwelling
|
|
in the land of Judah,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+13:16">Neh. xiii. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Tyre and Sidon were better disposed to religion in Christ's time than
|
|
the cities of Israel; for, if Christ had gone among them, <I>they would
|
|
have repented,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:21">Matt. xi. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
And we meet with Christians at Tyre
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:3,4">Acts xxi. 3, 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, many years after, did Christianity flourish there. Some of the
|
|
rabbin refer this prophecy of the conversion of Tyre to the days of the
|
|
Messiah.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It directs those that have estates to make use of them in the
|
|
service of God and religion, and to reckon that best laid up which is
|
|
so laid out. Both the merchandise of the tradesmen and the hire of the
|
|
day-labourers shall be devoted to God. Both the merchandise (the
|
|
employment we follow) and the hire (the gain of our employments) must
|
|
<I>be holiness to the Lord,</I> alluding to the motto engraven on the
|
|
frontlet of the high priest
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+39:30">Exod. xxxix. 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to the separation of the tithe under the law,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+27:30">Lev. xxvii. 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
See a promise like this referring to gospel times,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+14:20,21">Zech. xiv. 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
We must first give up ourselves to be holiness to the Lord before what
|
|
we do, or have, or get, can be so. When we abide with God in our
|
|
particular callings, and do common actions after a godly sort--when we
|
|
abound in works of piety and charity, are liberal in relieving the
|
|
poor, and supporting the ministry, and encouraging the gospel--then our
|
|
merchandise and our hire are holiness to the Lord, if we sincerely look
|
|
at his glory in them. And our wealth need not be treasured and laid up
|
|
on earth; for it is treasured and laid up in heaven, in <I>bags that
|
|
wax not old,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:33">Luke xii. 33</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
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