Ezekiel 26

CHAPTER 26

A Prophecy Against Tyre (26:1–21)

1–6 This prophecy against Tyre⁶⁰ was given in the year Jerusalem fell (verse 1). Tyre was an important city located on an island just off the coast of presentday Lebanon. In Old Testament times, it was one of the most prosperous trading centers in the entire Mediterranean world. The people of Tyre saw the chance to profit from Jerusalem’s fall; they gloated over its destruction (see Proverbs 17:5). Jerusalem was considered to be a gate to the nations because of its geographical location (verse 2) and so the merchants of Tyre planned to use the ruined city to increase their trading opportunities.

Because of Tyre’s desire for wealth and riches at Judah’s expense, God determined to destroy the city—to make it a bare rock (verse 4). Then Tyre too would know that He was the Lord (verse 6).

7–14 The agent of Tyre’s destruction would be Nebuchadnezzar (verse 7). Tyre would be utterly destroyed and never be rebuilt⁶¹ (verse 14).

15–18 Many small nations and islands along the Mediterranean coast looked to Tyre for protection. After Tyre’s fall, the princes of the coast would be clothed with terror (verse 16); their protector was now destroyed.

19–21 The Lord says He will bring Tyre down to the pit—down to the grave, the place of the dead (verse 20). It will never again be found (verse 21).