Isaiah 23:3-13

3 On great waters the seed of the Shichor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the market of nations.

4 Be ashamed, Tzidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins

5 When the report comes to Mitzrayim, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tzor.

6 Pass over to Tarshish; wail, you inhabitants of the coast.

7 Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?

8 Who has purposed this against Tzor, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the eretz?

9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the eretz.

10 Pass through your land as the Nile, daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint any more.

11 He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms: the LORD has given mitzvah concerning Kana`an, to destroy the strongholds of it.

12 He said, You shall no more rejoice, you oppressed virgin daughter of Tzidon: arise, pass over to Kittim; even there shall you have no rest.

13 Behold, the land of the Kasdim: this people was not; the Ashshur founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness; they set up their towers; they overthrew the palaces of it; they made it a ruin.

Isaiah 23:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

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.