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Isaias xxiii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1.
Tyre was destroyed, in part, by Nabuchodonosor. Cyrus permitted all the captives of this, as well as of other countries,
to return. --- Cethim; Cyrus, or rather Macedonia. Merchants come thence no longer.
Ver. 2.
Island. Tyre was originally surrounded with water. A communication with the land was made afterwards, Josue xix. 29.
(Calmet) (Ezechiel xxvii.) (Worthington)
Ver. 3.
Nile. Hebrew Shichor, or "muddy water," designates that river, Josue xiii. 3. --- River. The overflowing
of the Nile gave fertility to Egypt, insomuch that Tyre and other nations were supplied by it with corn.
Ver. 4.
Strength: people who sail. Septuagint, "but the strength....replied: I," &c. Sidon will not be concerned for the
fall of her rival. She alleges that she has nothing to do with Tyre. That city would not allow that it was a colony of Sidon,
ver. 12. (Calmet)
Ver. 6.
Seas. The rich Tyrians did so. (St. Jerome) --- Septuagint, "to Carthage." Hebrew Tharsis, in Cilicia. (Calmet)
--- Hence Nabuchodonosor did not find a sufficient reward, Ezechiel xxix. 18.
Ver. 7.
Sojourn. Many fled, others were made captives.
Ver. 8.
Earth. The merchants were as rich as kings, or the latter sent their merchandise to Tyre, Ezechiel xxvii. 33.
Ver. 10.
Girdle, fortress; or rather, thou art naked, like a slave, chap. xx. 4.
Ver. 12.
Daughter; colony. (Calmet) --- Oppressed. Literally, "calumniated." (Haydock)
Ver. 13.
It. Hebrew adds, "for fishermen." It was formerly covered with water. (Eusebius, pręp. ix.) --- Ruin. The fall
of Babylon has been denounced, chap. xiii.
Ver. 15.
King Nabuchodonosor, whose two sons reigned but a short time. The captivity of the people of God began also the year
of the world 3398, and ended the year of the world 3468, the first of Cyrus. --- Harlot. She shall be re-established,
(Calmet) and shall invite people to her markets. (Sanchez) --- Before Cyrus, she had kings, but they were of small power.
The city was become very rich, and well fortified, when Alexander [the Great] was stopped by it for seven months. See Ezechiel
xxvi. 14. (Calmet) --- Tyre had rejoiced at the misfortunes of the Hebrews, and was punished by the like captivity. (Worthington)
Ver. 17.
Commit. Septuagint, "be the emporium for all." Great injustice prevailed formerly among merchants, so that it is represented
as a dishonest calling. (Haydock)
Ver. 18.
Sanctified to the Lord. This alludes to the conversion of the Gentiles. (Challoner) --- Before, the Tyrians were great
enemies to the Jews, 2 Esdras xiii. 16., and 1 Machabees v. 15. Our Saviour wrought a miracle in favour of one of this country,
Matthew v. 22., and Zacharias viii. 20. (Calmet) --- Continuance. Literally, "old age." Aquila, "with changes of dress."
(Haydock)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
The destruction of Tyre. It shall be repaired again after
seventy years.
1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of the sea, for the house is destroyed,
from whence they were wont to come: from the land of Cethim it is revealed to them.
2 Be silent, you that dwell in the island: the merchants of Sidon passing
over the sea, have filled thee.
3 The seed of the Nile, in many waters, the harvest of the river, is
her revenue: and she is become the mart of the nations.
4 Be thou ashamed, O Sidon: for the sea speaketh, even the strength of
the sea, saying: I have not been in labour, nor have I brought forth, nor have I nourished up young men, nor brought up virgins.
5 When it shall be heard in Egypt, they will be sorry when they shall
hear of Tyre:
6 Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island.
7 Is not this your city, which gloried from of old in her antiquity?
her feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
8 Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, that was formerly crowned,
whose merchants were princes, and her traders the nobles of the earth?
9 The Lord of hosts hath designed it to pull down the pride of all glory,
and bring to disgrace all the glorious ones of the earth.
10 Pass thy land as a river, O daughter of the sea, thou hast a girdle
no more.
11 He stretched out his hand over the sea: he troubled kingdoms: the
Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan, to destroy the strong ones thereof,
12 And he said: Thou shalt glory no more, O virgin, daughter of Sidon,
who art oppressed: arise and sail over to Cethim, there also thou shalt have no rest.
13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans, there was not such a people, the
Assyrian founded it: they have led away the strong ones thereof into captivity; they have destroyed the houses thereof; they
have brought it to ruin.
14 Howl, O ye ships of the sea, for your strength is laid waste.
15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that thou, O Tyre, shalt be
forgotten, seventy years, according to the days of one king: but after seventy years, there shall be unto Tyre as the song
of a harlot.
16 Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot, that hast been forgotten:
sing well, sing many a song, that thou mayst be remembered.
17 And it shall come to pass after seventy years, that the Lord will
visit Tyre, and will bring her back again to her traffic: and she shall commit fornication again with all the kingdoms of
the world upon the face of the earth.
18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be sanctified to the Lord:
they shall not be kept in store, nor laid up: for her merchandise shall be for them that shall dwell before the Lord, that
they may eat unto fulness, and be clothed for a continuance.
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