Isaías 23

1 Profecía sobre Tiro. Gemid, naves de Tarsis, porque Tiro ha sido destruida, sin casas y sin puerto; desde la tierra de Chipre les ha sido revelado.

2 Callad, moradores de la costa, mercaderes de Sidón; tus mensajeros cruzaron el mar ,

3 y estuvieron en muchas aguas. Sus ingresos eran el grano del Nilo y la cosecha del río, y ella era el mercado de las naciones.

4 Averguénzate, Sidón, porque habla el mar, la fortaleza del mar, diciendo: No he estado de parto, ni he dado a luz, no he educado jóvenes, ni he criado vírgenes

5 Cuando la noticia llegue a Egipto, se angustiarán por las nuevas de Tiro.

6 Pasad a Tarsis; gemid, moradores de la costa.

7 ¿Es ésta vuestra ciudad divertida cuyos días se remontan a la antiguedad, cuyos pies solían llevarla a establecerse en lugares distantes?

8 ¿Quién ha planeado esto contra Tiro, la que concedía coronas, cuyos mercaderes eran príncipes, cuyos comerciantes eran los nobles de la tierra?

9 El SEÑOR de los ejércitos lo ha planeado para abatir el orgullo de toda hermosura, para humillar a todos los nobles de la tierra.

10 Inunda tu tierra como el Nilo, hija de Tarsis, ya no hay más restricción.

11 Su mano ha extendido sobre el mar, ha hecho temblar los reinos; el SEÑOR ha dado orden respecto a Canaán para que destruyan sus fortalezas,

12 y ha dicho: No te divertirás más, virgen oprimida, hija de Sidón. Levántate, pasa a Chipre; aun allí no hallarás descanso.

13 He aquí la tierra de los caldeos. Este pueblo ya no existía; Asiria lo designó para moradores del desierto. Ellos levantaron sus torres de sitio, despojaron sus palacios y la convirtieron en ruinas.

14 Gemid, naves de Tarsis, porque ha sido destruida vuestra fortaleza

15 Y acontecerá en aquel día que Tiro será olvidada por setenta años, como los días de un rey. Al cabo de los setenta años le sucederá a Tiro como en la canción de la ramera:

16 Toma la lira, anda por la ciudad, oh ramera olvidada; tañe hábilmente las cuerdas, canta muchas canciones, para que seas recordada.

17 Y sucederá al cabo de los setenta años que el SEÑOR visitará a Tiro. Entonces ella regresará a su paga de ramera, y se prostituirá con todos los reinos sobre la faz de la tierra.

18 Y sus ganancias y su paga de ramera serán consagradas al SEÑOR; no serán almacenadas ni acumuladas, sino que su ganancia llegará a ser suficiente alimento y vestidura selecta para aquellos que habiten en la presencia del SEÑOR.

Isaías 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

The overthrow of Tyre. (1-14) It is established again. (15-18)

Verses 1-14 Tyre was the mart of the nations. She was noted for mirth and diversions; and this made her loth to consider the warnings God gave by his servants. Her merchants were princes, and lived like princes. Tyre being destroyed and laid waste, the merchants should abandon her. Flee to shift for thine own safety; but those that are uneasy in one place, will be so in another; for when God's judgments pursue sinners, they will overtake them. Whence shall all this trouble come? It is a destruction from the Almighty. God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory. Let the ruin of Tyre warn all places and persons to take heed of pride; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. God will do it, who has all power in his hand; but the Chaldeans shall be the instruments.

Verses 15-18 The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God. When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and hire are holiness to the Lord, if we look to his glory. Christians should carry on business as God's servants, and use riches as his stewards.

Footnotes

• [a]. As en los M.M.M.; en el T.M., que pasando el mar, te abastecan

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 23

This chapter gives an account both of the desolation and restoration of Tyre, an ancient city of Phoenicia. Its desolation is described as so complete, that a house was not left in it, Isa 23:1 and by the fewness and stillness of the inhabitants of it, with which it had been replenished, it having been a mart of nations, Isa 23:2,3 and by the shame and pain Zidon, a neighbouring city, was put into, on account of it, Isa 23:4,5 and by the removal of its inhabitants to other places, Isa 23:6,7,12 all which is attributed to the counsel, purpose, and commandment of God, to destroy it; whose view was to stain their pride, and bring them into contempt, Isa 23:8-11 the means and instruments made use of to this purpose were the Assyrians or Chaldeans, Isa 23:13 and its desolation is further aggravated by the loss of its trade; hence the merchants of other countries are called to mourning, Isa 23:1,14 the date and duration of this desolation were seventy years, Isa 23:15 after which it should be restored, and its merchandise and commerce with all the nations of the earth be revived again, Isa 23:15-18.