Bible Commentary

Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: [there is] no more strength. 10. as a river ] Rather: as the Nile (as R.V.). The people of Tarshish are now as free of the land they live in as the Nile is of Egypt in the time of the annual inundation. there … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:10”

The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, [and] to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. 9. Jehovah has purposed it in accordance with a fixed principle of His government. to stain (render to desecrate) the pride of all glory ] The thought is the same … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:9”

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants [are] princes, whose traders [are] the honorable of the earth? 8, 9. This is the execution of Jehovah’s purpose, and therefore irreversible. the crowning city ] Or, the crown-giver. Tyre is rightly so-called, inasmuch as some of her colonies (Kition, Tarshish and Carthage) … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:8”

[Is] this your joyous [city], whose antiquity [is] of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. 7. The reference is of course to Tyre, the principal subject of the prophecy. whose antiquity days ] Next to Zidon, Tyre was regarded as the most ancient city of Phnicia. Her priests claimed … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:7”

Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. 6. The second strophe commences here with a summons to the Phnicians to betake themselves to their Spanish colony for refuge, their own country being at the mercy of the invader. So the Tyrians, when attacked by Alexander the Great, sent all those unfit … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:6”

As at the report concerning Egypt, [so] shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. 5. The verse should be read as in R.V. When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Assyria being the common enemy of Egypt and Tyre, the report of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:5”

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, [even] the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, [nor] bring up virgins. 4. even the strength of the sea ] Better as R.V. the stronghold of the sea. The fine figure of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:4”

And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, [is] her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. 3. The easiest translation would be: and on great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, ( was) her revenue, and it (i.e. her revenue) was the gain of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:3”

Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. 2. The prophet next apostrophises the inhabitants of the coast (render so, as in ch. Isa 20:6), i.e. Phnicia, calling them to be still, or rather dumb, with bewilderment. the merchants (in Heb. collective sing.) … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:2”

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. 1. The returning ships are apprised, at the last stage of their voyage, of the disaster that has overtaken their mother-country. Ships … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 23:1”