mh_parser/vol_split/23 - Isaiah/Chapter 23.xml

<div2 id="Is.xxiv" n="xxiv" next="Is.xxv" prev="Is.xxiii" progress="8.58%" title="Chapter XXIII">
<h2 id="Is.xxiv-p0.1">I S A I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Is.xxiv-p0.2">CHAP. XXIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Is.xxiv-p1" shownumber="no">This chapter is concerning Tyre, an ancient
wealthy city, situated upon the sea, and for many ages one of the
most celebrated cities for trade and merchandise in those parts of
the world. The lot of the tribe of Asher bordered upon it. See
<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.19.29" parsed="|Josh|19|29|0|0" passage="Jos 19:29">Joshua xix. 29</scripRef>, where it
is called "the strong city Tyre." We seldom find it a dangerous
enemy to Israel, but sometimes their faithful ally, as in the
reigns of David and Solomon; for trading cities maintain their
grandeur, not by the conquest of their neighbours, but by commerce
with them. In this chapter is foretold, I. The lamentable
desolation of Tyre, which was performed by Nebuchadnezzar and the
Chaldean army, about the time that they destroyed Jerusalem; and a
hard task they had of it, as appears <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.29.18" parsed="|Ezek|29|18|0|0" passage="Eze 29:18">Ezek. xxix. 18</scripRef>, where they are said to have
"served a hard service against Tyre," and yet to have no wages,
<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.1-Isa.23.14" parsed="|Isa|23|1|23|14" passage="Isa 23:1-14">ver. 1-14</scripRef>. II. The
restoration of Tyre after seventy years, and the return of the
Tyrians out of their captivity to their trade again, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.15-Isa.23.18" parsed="|Isa|23|15|23|18" passage="Isa 23:15-18">ver. 15-18</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Is.xxiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23" parsed="|Isa|23|0|0|0" passage="Isa 23" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Is.xxiv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.1-Isa.23.14" parsed="|Isa|23|1|23|14" passage="Isa 23:1-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.xxiv-p1.7">
<h4 id="Is.xxiv-p1.8">The Doom of Tyre. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p1.9">b. c.</span> 718.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.xxiv-p2" shownumber="no">1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of
Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no
entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
  2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the
merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
  3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the
river, <i>is</i> her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.  
4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, <i>even</i>
the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth
children, neither do I nourish up young men, <i>nor</i> bring up
virgins.   5 As at the report concerning Egypt, <i>so</i>
shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.   6 Pass ye
over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.   7
<i>Is</i> this your joyous <i>city,</i> whose antiquity <i>is</i>
of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
  8 Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning
<i>city,</i> whose merchants <i>are</i> princes, whose traffickers
<i>are</i> the honourable of the earth?   9 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p2.1">Lord</span> of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the
pride of all glory, <i>and</i> to bring into contempt all the
honourable of the earth.   10 Pass through thy land as a
river, O daughter of Tarshish: <i>there is</i> no more strength.
  11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the
kingdoms: the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p2.2">Lord</span> hath given a
commandment against the merchant <i>city,</i> to destroy the strong
holds thereof.   12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O
thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to
Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.   13 Behold the
land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, <i>till</i> the
Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set
up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof;
<i>and</i> he brought it to ruin.   14 Howl, ye ships of
Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p3" shownumber="no">Tyre being a sea-port town, this prophecy
of its overthrow fitly begins and ends with, <i>Howl, you ships of
Tarshish;</i> for all its business, wealth, and honour, depended
upon its shipping; if that be ruined, they will be all undone.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p4" shownumber="no">I. Tyre flourishing. This is taken notice
of that her fall may appear the more dismal. 1. <i>The merchants of
Zidon,</i> who traded at sea, had at first <i>replenished her,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.2" parsed="|Isa|23|2|0|0" passage="Isa 23:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Zidon was the
more ancient city, situated upon the same sea-cost, a few leagues
more to the north, and Tyre was at first only a colony of that; but
the daughter had outgrown the mother, and become much more
considerable. It may be a mortification to great cities to think
how they were at first replenished. 2. Egypt had helped very much
to raise her, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.3" parsed="|Isa|23|3|0|0" passage="Isa 23:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>.
Sihor was the river of Egypt: by that river, and the ocean into
which it ran, the Egyptians traded with Tyre; and the harvest of
that river was her revenue. The riches of the sea, and the gains by
goods exported and imported, are as much the harvest to trading
towns as that of hay and corn is to the country; and sometimes
<i>the harvest of the river</i> proves a better revenue than the
harvest of the land. Or it may be meant of all the products of the
Egyptian soil, which the men of Tyre traded in, and which were the
harvest of the river Nile, owing themselves to the overflowing of
that river. 3. She had become the mart of the nations, the great
emporium of that part of the world. Some of every known nation
might be found there, especially at certain times of the year, when
there was a general rendezvous of merchants. This is enlarged upon
by another prophet, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.27.2-Ezek.27.3" parsed="|Ezek|27|2|27|3" passage="Eze 27:2,3">Ezek. xxvii. 2,
3</scripRef>, &amp;c. See how the hand of the diligent, by the
blessing of God upon it, makes rich. Tyre became rich and great by
industry, though she had no other ploughs going than those that
plough the waters. 4. She was a <i>joyous city,</i> noted for mirth
and jollity, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.7" parsed="|Isa|23|7|0|0" passage="Isa 23:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>.
Those that were so disposed might find there all manner of sports
and diversions, all the delights of the sons and daughters of men,
balls, and plays, and operas, and every thing of that kind that a
man had a fancy to. This made them secure and proud, and they
despised the country people, who neither knew nor relished any joys
of that nature. This also made them very loth to believe and
consider what warnings God gave them by his servants; they were too
merry to mind them. Her <i>antiquity</i> likewise was <i>of ancient
days,</i> and she was proud of that, and that helped to make her
secure; as if because she had been a city time out of mind, and her
antiquity had been of ancient days, therefore she must continue a
city time without end, and her continuance must be to the days of
eternity. 5. She was <i>a crowning city</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.8" parsed="|Isa|23|8|0|0" passage="Isa 23:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), that crowned herself. Such were
the power and pomp of her magistrates that they crowned those who
had dependence on her and dealings with her. It is explained in the
following words: <i>Her merchants are princes,</i> and live like
princes for the ease and state they take; and <i>her
traffickers,</i> whatever country they go to, <i>are the honourable
of the earth,</i> who are respected by all. How slightly soever
some now speak of tradesmen, it seems formerly, and among the
wisest nations, there were merchants, and traders, and men of
business, that were the honourable of the earth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p5" shownumber="no">II. Here is Tyre falling. It does not
appear that she brought trouble upon herself by provoking her
neighbours with her quarrels, but rather by tempting them with her
wealth; but, if it was this that induced Nebuchadnezzar to fall
upon Tyre, he was disappointed; for after it had stood out a siege
of thirteen years, and could hold out no longer, the inhabitants
got away by sea, with their families and goods, to other places
where they had an interest, and left Nebuchadnezzar nothing but the
bare city. See a history of Tyre in Sir Walter Raleigh's History of
the World, <i>lib.</i> 2. <i>cap.</i> 7. <i>sect.</i> 3, 43.
<i>page.</i> 283, which will give much light to this prophecy and
that in Ezekiel concerning Tyre.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p6" shownumber="no">1. See how the destruction of Tyre is here
foretold. (1.) The haven shall be no convenient harbour for the
reception of the ships of Tarshish, but all <i>laid waste</i> (1.),
so that there shall be no house, no dock for the ships to ride in,
no inns, or public houses for the seamen, no entering into the
port. Perhaps it was choked with sand or blocked up by the enemy.
Or, Tyre being destroyed and laid waste, the ships that used to
come from Tarshish and Chittim into that port shall now no more
enter in; for <i>it is revealed</i> or made known <i>to them,</i>
they have received the dismal news, that Tyre is destroyed and laid
waste; so that there is now no more business for them there. See
how it is in this world; those that are spoiled by their enemies
are commonly slighted by their old friends. (2.) The inhabitants
are struck with astonishment. Tyre was an island. The inhabitants
of it, who had made a mighty noise and bustle in the world, and
revelled with loud huzzas, shall now be still and silent (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.2" parsed="|Isa|23|2|0|0" passage="Isa 23:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>); they shall sit down as
mourners, so overwhelmed with grief that they shall not be able to
express it. Their proud boasts of themselves, and defiances of
their neighbours, shall be silenced. God can soon quiet those, and
strike them dumb, that are the noisy busy people of the world. Be
still; for God will do his work (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.10 Bible:Zech.2.13" parsed="|Ps|46|10|0|0;|Zech|2|13|0|0" passage="Ps 46:10,Zec 2:13">Ps. xlvi. 10; Zech. ii. 13</scripRef>), and you
cannot resist him. (3.) The neighbours are amazed, blush, and are
in pain for them: <i>Zidon is ashamed</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.4" parsed="|Isa|23|4|0|0" passage="Isa 23:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), by whom Tyre was at first
replenished; for the rolling waves of the sea brought to Zidon this
news from Tyre; and there <i>the strength of the sea,</i> a high
spring-tide, proclaimed saying, "<i>I travail not, nor bring forth
children</i> now, as I have done. I do not now, as I used to do,
bring ship-loads of young people to Tyre, to be bred up there in
trade and business," which was the thing that had made Tyre so rich
and populous. Or the sea, that used to be loaded with fleets of
ships about Tyre, shall not be as desolate as a sorrowful widow
that is bereaved of all her children, and has none about her to
nourish and bring up. Egypt indeed was a much larger and more
considerable kingdom than Tyre was; and yet Tyre had so large a
correspondence, upon the account of trade, that all the nations
about shall be as much in pain, upon the report of the ruin of that
one city, as they would have been, and not long after were, upon
the report of the ruin of all Egypt, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.5" parsed="|Isa|23|5|0|0" passage="Isa 23:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Or, as some read it, <i>When the
report shall reach to the Egyptians they shall be sorely pained to
hear it of Tyre,</i> both because of the loss of their trade with
that city and because it was a threatening step towards their own
ruin; when their neighbour's house was on fire their own was in
danger. (4.) The merchants, as many as could, should transmit their
effects to other places, and abandon Tyre, where they had raised
their estates, and thought they had made them sure (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.6" parsed="|Isa|23|6|0|0" passage="Isa 23:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): "<i>You</i> that have
long been <i>inhabitants of this isle</i>" (for it lay off in the
sea about half a mile from the continent); "It is time to howl now,
for you must pass over to Tarshish. The best course you can take is
to make the best of your way to Tarshish, to the sea" (to Taressus,
a city in Spain; so some), "or to some other of your plantations."
Those that think their mountain stands strong, and cannot be moved,
will find that here they have no continuing city. <i>The mountains
shall depart and the hills be removed.</i> (5.) Those that could
not make their escape must expect no other than to be carried into
captivity; for it was the way of conquerors, in those times, to
take those they conquered to be bondmen in their own country, and
send of their own to be freemen in theirs (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.7" parsed="|Isa|23|7|0|0" passage="Isa 23:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>Her own feet shall carry her
afar off to sojourn;</i> they shall be hurried away on foot into
captivity, and many a weary step they shall take towards their own
misery. Those that have lived in the greatest pomp and splendour
know not what hardships they may be reduced to before they die.
(6.) Many of those that attempted to escape should be pursued and
fall into the hands of the enemy. Tyre shall <i>pass through her
land as a river</i> (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.10" parsed="|Isa|23|10|0|0" passage="Isa 23:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>), running down, one company after another, into the
ocean or abyss of misery. Or, though they hasten away as a river,
with the greatest swiftness, hoping to outrun the danger, yet
<i>there is no more strength;</i> they are quickly tired, and
cannot get forward, but fall an easy prey into the hands of the
enemy. And, as Tyre has no more strength, so her sister Zidon has
no more comfort (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.12" parsed="|Isa|23|12|0|0" passage="Isa 23:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>): "<i>Thou shalt no more rejoice, O oppressed virgin,
daughter of Zidon,</i> that art now ready to be overpowered by the
victorious Chaldeans! Thy turn is next; therefore <i>arise; pass
over to Chittim;</i> flee to Greece, to Italy, any where to shift
for thy own safety; yet <i>there also shalt thou have no rest;</i>
thy enemies shall disturb thee, and thy own fears shall disquiet
thee, where thou hopedst to find some repose." Note, We deceive
ourselves if we promise ourselves rest any where in this world.
Those that are uneasy in one place will be so in another; and, when
God's judgments pursue sinners, they will overtake them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p7" shownumber="no">2. But whence shall all this trouble
come?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p8" shownumber="no">(1.) God will be the author of it; it is a
<i>destruction from the Almighty.</i> It will be asked (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.8" parsed="|Isa|23|8|0|0" passage="Isa 23:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), "<i>Who has taken this
counsel against Tyre?</i> Who has contrived it? Who has resolved
it? Who can find in his heart to lay such a stately lovely city in
ruins? And how is it possible that its ruin should be effected?" To
this it will be answered, [1.] God has designed it, who is
infinitely wise and just, and never did, nor ever will do, any
wrong to any of his creatures (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.9" parsed="|Isa|23|9|0|0" passage="Isa 23:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>). <i>The Lord of hosts,</i> that
has all things at his disposal and gives not account of any of his
matters, he <i>has purposed it.</i> It shall be done according to
the counsel of his will; and that which he aims at herein is <i>to
stain the pride of all glory,</i> to pollute it, profane it, and
throw it to be trodden upon; <i>and to bring into contempt</i> and
make despicable <i>all the honourable ones of the earth,</i> that
they may not admire themselves and be admired by others as usual.
God did not bring those calamities upon Tyre in a way of
sovereignty, to show an arbitrary and irresistible power; but he
did it to punish the Tyrians for their pride. Many other sins, no
doubt, reigned among them—idolatry, sensuality, and oppression;
but the sin of pride is fastened upon as that which was the
particular ground of God's controversy with Tyre; for he resists
the proud. All the world observing and being surprised at the
desolation of Tyre, we have here an exposition of it. God tells the
world what he meant by it. <i>First,</i> He designed to convince
men of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory, to show
them what a withering, fading, perishing thing it is even when it
seems most substantial. It were well if men would be thoroughly
taught this lesson, though it were at the expense of so great a
destruction. Are men's learning and wealth, their pomp and power,
their interest in, and influence upon, all about them, their glory?
Are their stately houses, rich furniture, and splendid appearances,
their glory? Look up on the ruins of Tyre, and see all this glory
stained, and sullied, and buried in the dust. The honourable ones
of heaven will be for ever such; but see the grandees of Tyre, some
fled into banishment, others forced into captivity, and all
impoverished, and you will conclude that the honourable of the
earth, even the most honourable, know not how soon they may be
brought into contempt. <i>Secondly,</i> He designed hereby to
prevent their being proud of that glory, their being puffed up, and
confident of the continuance of it. Let the ruin of Tyre be a
warning to all places and persons to take heed of pride; for it
proclaims to all the world that he who exalts himself shall be
abased. [2.] God will do it, who has all power in his hand and can
do it effectually (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.11" parsed="|Isa|23|11|0|0" passage="Isa 23:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>): <i>He stretched out his hand over the sea.</i> He
has done so many a time, witness the dividing of the Red Sea and
the drowning of Pharaoh in it. He has often shaken the kingdoms
that were most secure; and he has now given commandment concerning
this merchant-city, to destroy the strongholds thereof. As its
beauty shall not intercede for it, but that shall be stained, so
its strength shall not protect it, but that shall be broken. If any
think it strange that a city so well fortified, and that has so
many powerful allies, should be so totally ruined, let them know
that it is the Lord of hosts that has given a commandment to
destroy the strongholds thereof: and who can gainsay his orders or
hinder the execution of them?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p9" shownumber="no">(2.) The Chaldeans shall be the instruments
of it (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.13" parsed="|Isa|23|13|0|0" passage="Isa 23:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>):
<i>Behold the land of the Chaldeans;</i> how easily they and their
land were destroyed by the Assyrians. Though their own hands
<i>founded it, set up the towers</i> of Babylon, and <i>raised up
its palaces,</i> yet the Assyrians brought it to ruin, whence the
Tyrians might infer that as easily as the old Chaldeans were
subdued by the Assyrians so easily shall Tyre be vanquished by
those new Chaldeans. Babel was built by the Assyrians for <i>those
that dwelt in the wilderness.</i> It may be rendered <i>for the
ships</i> (the Assyrians founded it for ships and shipmen that
traffic upon those vast rivers Tigris and Euphrates to the Persian
and Indian seas), <i>for men of the desert,</i> for Babylon is
called the <i>desert of the sea,</i> <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.21.1" parsed="|Isa|21|1|0|0" passage="Isa 21:1"><i>ch.</i> xxi. 1</scripRef>. Thus Tyrus was built upon
the sea for the like purpose. But the Assyrians (says Dr.
Lightfoot) brought that to ruin, now lately, in Hezekiah's time,
and so shall Tyre hereafter be brought to ruin by Nebuchadnezzar.
If we looked more upon the falling and withering of others, we
should not be so confident as we commonly are of the continuance of
our own flourishing and standing.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Is.xxiv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.15-Isa.23.18" parsed="|Isa|23|15|23|18" passage="Isa 23:15-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.xxiv-p9.4">
<h4 id="Is.xxiv-p9.5">The Restoration of Tyre. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p9.6">b. c.</span> 718.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.xxiv-p10" shownumber="no">15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that
Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one
king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as a harlot.
  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.   17 And it shall come to pass after the
end of seventy years, that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p10.1">Lord</span>
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.   18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness
to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p10.2">Lord</span>: it shall not be
treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that
dwell before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.xxiv-p10.3">Lord</span>, to eat
sufficiently, and for durable clothing.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p11" shownumber="no">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> <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.15" parsed="|Isa|23|15|0|0" passage="Isa 23:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>.
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> <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.6" parsed="|Ps|9|6|0|0" passage="Ps 9:6">Ps. ix.
6</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="Is.xxiv-p12" shownumber="no">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 (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.17" parsed="|Isa|23|17|0|0" passage="Isa 23:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>): <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> (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Jas.4.4" parsed="|Jas|4|4|0|0" passage="Jam 4:4">James iv.
4</scripRef>), 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 (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.18" parsed="|Isa|23|18|0|0" passage="Isa 23:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>):
<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, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.13.16" parsed="|Neh|13|16|0|0" passage="Ne 13:16">Neh.
xiii. 16</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.11.21" parsed="|Matt|11|21|0|0" passage="Mt 11:21">Matt. xi. 21</scripRef>. And we meet with
Christians at Tyre (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Acts.21.3-Acts.21.4" parsed="|Acts|21|3|21|4" passage="Ac 21:3,4">Acts xxi. 3,
4</scripRef>), 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 (<scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.30" parsed="|Exod|39|30|0|0" passage="Ex 39:30">Exod.
xxxix. 30</scripRef>), and to the separation of the tithe under the
law, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.30" parsed="|Lev|27|30|0|0" passage="Le 27:30">Lev. xxvii. 30</scripRef>. See a
promise like this referring to gospel times, <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:Zech.14.20-Zech.14.21" parsed="|Zech|14|20|14|21" passage="Zec 14:20,21">Zech. xiv. 20, 21</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="Is.xxiv-p12.10" osisRef="Bible:Luke.12.33" parsed="|Luke|12|33|0|0" passage="Lu 12:33">Luke
xii. 33</scripRef>.</p>
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