Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:17
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD 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.
17. The application of the song to Tyre. The comparison of commerce to prostitution is found in Rev 18:3 and perhaps in Nah 3:4. Here it signalises the mercenary motive which was prominent in Tyre’s dealings with other nations.
shall return to her hire ] Shall resume her former lucrative activity. The last word is a technical term for the hire of a harlot.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Lord will visit Tyre – He will restore her to her former wealth and magnificence.
And she shall turn to her hire – The word hire here denotes the wages or reward that is given to an harlot; and the idea which was commenced in the previous verses is here continued – of Tyre as an harlot – frivolous, splendid, licentious, and holding intercourse with strangers and foreigners. The gains of that commerce with other nations are here represented as her hire.
And shall commit fornication … – Shall again be the mart of commerce Isa 23:3; shall have contact with all the nations, and derive her support, splendor, luxury, from all. The idea is, that she would be restored to her former commercial importance, and perhaps, also, the prophet intends to intimate that she would procure those gains by dishonest acts, and by fraudulent pretexts. After the destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, it remained desolate until the close of the Babyloian monarchy. Then a new city was built on the island, that soon rivaled the former in magnificence. That new city was besieged and taken by Alexander the Great, on his way to the conquests of the East.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 23:17-18
And it shall come to pass, after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre
The revival of Tyre
In the fourth and last strophe, the prophet dwells upon the revival of Tyre in the ideal future.
After seventy years of enforced retirement and quiescence, Tyre will resume her previous activity, but with the significant change, that her gains will now be consecrated to Jehovah, supplying food and stately clothing to the people of Israel who dwell in His immediate presence (Isa 23:18). The figure under which Isaiah expresses this thought, appears to us a strange one; but it is suggested by the reflection that devotion to gain as such, unrelieved by any ennobling principle, is an unworthy occupation, which may easily degenerate into spiritual prostitution. The prophet, having once made use of the figure, retains it to the end. Disengaged from its singular garb, the truth which he enunciates is an important one. Tyre was preeminently, in Isaiahs day, the representative of the spirit of commerce: and the prophet here anticipates the time when this spirit may be elevated and purified. Isaiah pictures to himself the future growth of religion among the different nations with which he was acquainted under figures consonant to the peculiarities of each; in the case of Tyre, it takes the form of a purification of the base spirit of commerce; the old occupation of Tyre is not discarded, it is only purged of its worldliness, and ennobled. (Prof. S. R. Driver, D. D.)
The mercenary spirit a prostitution of the soul
In so far as commercial activity, thinking only of earthly advantage, does not recognise a God-appointed limit, and carries on a promiscuous traffic with all the world, it is a prostitution of the soul. (F. Delitzsch.)
Phoenician harlotry
Moreover, at markets and fairs, especially Phoenician ones, prostitution of the body was an old custom. (F. Delitzsch.)
Commercial harlotry
The harlot converts into a matter of traffic what should be a sacred relationship: so trade brings men together merely as buyers and sellers, not as brethren; and consequently rapidly degenerates from self-interest into selfishness, unless it be perpetually counterbalanced by other and nobler aims in the man. (Sir E. Strachey, Bart.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 17. After the end of seventy years] Tyre, after its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, recovered, as it is here foretold, its ancient trade, wealth, and grandeur; as it did likewise after a second destruction by Alexander. It became Christian early with the rest of the neighbouring countries. St. Paul himself found many Christians there, Ac 21:4. It suffered much in the Diocletian persecution. It was an archbishopric under the patriarchate of Jerusalem, with fourteen bishoprics under its jurisdiction. It continued Christian till it was taken by the Saracens in 639; was recovered by the Christians in 1124; but in 1280 was conquered by the Mamelukes, and afterwards taken from them by the Turks in 1517. Since that time it has sunk into utter decay; is now a mere ruin, a bare rock, “a place to spread nets upon,” as the Prophet Ezekiel foretold it should be, Eze 26:14. See Sandy’s Travels; Vitringa on the place; Bp. Newton on the Prophecies, Dissert. xi.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Visit Tyre, to wit, in mercy, as this phrase is used, Rth 1:6; Psa 65:9, and elsewhere.
Her hire: the Hebrew word properly signifies, the hire of an harlot; which agrees well with the
fornication in the next clause; although these phrases are not to be understood properly, but metaphorically, of trading or commerce with others.
Shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world; shall trade promiscuously with people of all sorts of nations, as harlots entertain all comers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. visitnot in wrath, butmercy.
hireimage from aharlot: her gains by commerce. After the Babylonian dynastywas ended, Tyre was rebuilt; also, again, after the destruction underAlexander.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years,…. When the seventy years before mentioned are ended:
that the Lord will visit Tyre; not in judgment, as before, but in mercy:
and she shall return to her hire; trade and merchandise; that shall revive, and be as in times past:
and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world, upon the face of the earth; be a mart of nations again, as in
Isa 23:3 that is, trade and traffic with all nations of the earth, in the most ample and public manner; this is called committing fornication, in agreement with the simile of a harlot before used, whereunto Tyre is compared; as well as to observe the illicit ways and methods used in her commerce. The Targum is,
“and her merchandise shall be sufficient to all the kingdoms of the people, which are upon the face of the earth;”
and so the Septuagint,
“and shall be a mart to all the kingdoms of the world, upon the face of the earth.”
The phrase is used of mystical Tyre or Babylon, and of her merchants, in Re 18:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When it begins again to make love to all the world, it will get rich again from the gain acquired by this worldly intercourse. “And it will come to pass at the end of the seventy years: Jehovah will visit Tzor, and she comes again to her hire, and commits prostitution with all the kingdoms of the earth on the broad surface of the globe.” Such mercantile trading as hers, which is only bent upon earthly advantages, is called zanah , on account of its recognising none of the limits opposed by God, and making itself common to all the world, partly because it is a prostitution of the soul, and partly because from the very earliest times the prostitution of the body was also a common thing in markets and fairs, more especially in those of Phoenicia (as the Phoenicians were worshippers of Astarte). Hence the gain acquired by commerce, which Tyre had now secured again, is called ‘ ethnan (Deu 23:19), with a feminine suffix, according to the Masora without mappik (Ewald, 247, a).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
17. Jehovah will visit Tyre. (117) Although the Lord will afflict Tyre in such a manner that she will appear to be ruined, yet he declares that she will obtain mercy, because, rising at length out of her ruins, she will be restored to her former vigor. Such a restoration is justly ascribed to the favor of God; for otherwise the same thing must have happened to them as Malachi foretells would happen to the Edomites, that the Lord would overturn and destroy all that men would build. (Mal 1:4.) Consequently they would never have returned to their former condition if the Lord had not aided them.
From these words we ought to draw a profitable doctrine, that though the Lord is a severe judge towards the wicked, yet he leaves room for the exercise of his compassion, and is never so harsh as not to mitigate his chastisements, and at length to put an end to them. And if he is such towards the wicked, what will he be towards those whom he has adopted, and on whom he determines to pour out his goodness? When kingdoms therefore are re-established, when cities are rebuilt, and nations regain their freedom, this is brought about solely by the providence of God, who, whenever he pleases, lays low what is high, (1Sa 2:7, Luk 1:52,) and quickly raises up and restores what was fallen.
And then she will return to her hire. This ought to be viewed as a contrast to the former statement, for the meaning is, that Tyre will be no better, and will not be reformed by so severe a chastisement, because she will quickly return to her natural disposition; for he accuses her of ingratitude. We see instances of the same kind every day. There is scarcely a corner of the world in which the Lord has not exhibited proofs of his judgment. To those whom he has chastised he allows time to breathe, but they become no better. Isaiah says that this will happen to Tyre.
She will commit fornication. “She will not repent, but, on the contrary, will return to her former courses. She will commit fornication, as she was formerly accustomed to do.” He unquestionably speaks of buying and selling, but continues to employ the comparison which he had adopted; not that he wishes to condemn the occupation of a merchant, as we have already said, but that it is so largely mingled with the corruption of men as to resemble closely the life of a harlot; for it is so full of tricks, and hidden stratagems, and deep-laid traps, (as we often see,) that it appears to have been contrived for the purpose of ensnaring and deceiving men. How many new and unheard of contrivances for making gain and exacting usury are every day invented, which no one who has not been long trained in the school of merchandise can understand? We need not wonder, therefore, that the Prophet made use of this comparison, for it means that Tyre will have no more honesty than before in mercantile transactions.
(117) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) She shall turn to her hire.The words indicate, in the strong imagery of Isa. 23:15, the revival of the commercial prosperity of Tyre under the rule of the Persian kings. To that commerce there was to be no limit. The ships of all nations were once more to crowd her harbours.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. After seventy years Return of commercial prosperity is here really promised after a time, and she is again to makes large figure in the world.
Commit fornication Why is this figure so much used by our prophet? Because harlotry and whoredom were terms applied to idolatry, and expressed the extreme contempt felt by the pious Jews for that abomination. In her coming again into prosperity Tyre would re-enact her old practices.
The Lord will visit Tyre Under divine providential auspices she is to become rich again, but, through her own renewed excesses, to be only again doomed to more overwhelming calamity.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 23:17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD 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.
Ver. 17. The Lord will visit Tyre. ] Bad though she be, he will graciously visit her, both by suffering her to grow rich again, as here, and by converting some of them to the faith of Christ. Isa 23:18 See it fulfilled, Act 21:3-5 . Eusebius also telleth of many made martyrs there.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
world = the earth. Hebrew. ha- arez.
upon = which are upon.
earth = ground, or, soil. Hebrew. ha- adamah.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
visit: Jer 29:10, Zep 2:7, Act 15:14
and she shall: Deu 23:18, Eze 16:31, Eze 22:13, Eze 27:6-36, Hos 12:7, Hos 12:8, Mic 1:7, Mic 3:11, 1Ti 3:3, 1Ti 3:8, 1Pe 5:2
shall commit: Nah 3:4, Rev 17:2-5, Rev 18:9-14, Rev 19:2
Reciprocal: Gen 41:56 – the face Jos 6:19 – all the silver Psa 45:12 – And the Isa 18:7 – shall the Jer 12:15 – after Eze 26:12 – thy merchandise Eze 28:16 – the multitude Eze 29:11 – forty Act 21:3 – Tyre
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
23:17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her {y} hire, and shall play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
(y) Though she has been chastised by the Lord, yet she will return to her old wicked practises and for gain will give herself to all men’s lusts like a harlot.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
At the end of 70 years, the Lord would restore Tyre to her former position of playing the materialistic harlot among the nations.