The word "oracle" or "burden" (Isa 13:1; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1;
21:1; 22:1; 23:1) is from the Heb "to lift up", in foreboding or expectation; it
implies something that God has planned for another. More often than not, it
speaks of a coming punishment; but at times it simply means an important event
involving a particular people. The distinction must be determined by the
context. Often, the "burden" begins with warnings of judgments to come, and then
proceeds with prophecies of something beneficial arising out of the dark times.
Zec 12 illustrates this: it begins with a "burden... for Israel... in the
siege", but then quickly speaks of a time of blessing succeeding the time of
affliction: Jerusalem inhabited again in her own place (Zec 12:6,7). The burdens
of Isaiah generally follow this same pattern, with special ref to the LD of
Gentile times and the establishment of "Israel in their own land" (Isa 14:1) and
Christ as the "ruler of the land... upon the mount of the daughter of Zion" (Isa
16:1). Also the roles of various Gentile powers, esp in relation to Israel and
God's plans for the LD, are outlined. What might first appear to be a dry and
unrewarding study becomes in reality a promise of God's deliverance for His
people (in typical prophecies) and a glorious assurance (in initial
fulfillments) that God's purpose stands firm (Isa 14:26,27).
Vv 1-5: "A dramatic picture of Phoenician ships of their way
home from a long voyage, learning with dismay when they touch at Cyprus that
their home harbor is now in enemy hands" (WIsa 253).
TYRE: An ancient Phoenician city-state on the
Mediterranean between Acre and Sidon. In control of only the plain of Tyre (c 15
miles long and two miles wide) in the early days, the city eventually
established leadership over all the cities of the Phoenician coast, but did not
unify them into a national state. Origins of Tyre date to very early times, prob
the 3rd millennium BC. During the Amarna age (1400-1360 BC) Sidon successfully
besieged the town and maintained an ascendancy over it thereafter. The temple of
Asherah in Tyre was well known to the people of ancient Ugarit. When sea raiders
left Sidon largely in ruins about 1200 BC, many of her people migrated to Tyre,
contributing to this ascendancy. Thus it could be said that Tyre was the
"daughter of Sidon" (Isa 23:12).
SHIPS OF TARSHISH: "Trading ships" (NIV of Isa 60:9).
The use of "Tarshish" prob expresses type of ship, not origin (MNIV 97,98) See
Lesson, Tarshish.
Isa 23:4
SIDON: An ancient Phoenician city located about 20
miles north of Tyre and a like distance south of Beirut. Backed by the Lebanon
Mountains, Sidon faces the Mediterranean and controlled the Plain of Sidon, a
strip of coastal plain about 20 mi long and two mi wide. Apparently the oldest
of Phoenician cities, Sidon was founded by the son of Canaan (Gen 10:15).
Gradually it assumed domination of the Phoenician coast and maintained it for
several centuries, finally losing it to Tyre. So great was this ascendancy that
"Sidonian" and "Phoenician" largely became interchangeable terms. This was true
for the early period when Sidon was predominant in Phoenicia (Deu 3:9; Jos
13:4,6), as well as long after Tyre attained the headship. Thus Ethbaal, king of
Tyre, is called king of the Sidonians in 1Ki 16:31.
THE SEA HAS SPOKEN...: The sea laments the loss of her
"children", ie Tyre and Sidon, the great seafaring peoples of the ANE.
Isa 23:5
Egypt and Tyre were trading partners: Tyre handling the
shipping of Egypt's huge grain crops (v 3).
Isa 23:6
TARSHISH (Psa 48:7) was a son of Javan (Gen 10:4); it is a
name which came to ref to the Phoenicians, a sea-faring and trading people
(hence such refs as Jon 1:3; Eze 27:12; 1Ki 9:26; 10:22; 2Ch 9:21). That
Tarshish represents a latter-day power is evident both here and in Eze 38:13
(where it appears as an ally of Sheba and Dedan). In Isa 23 -- a prophecy
concerning Tyre, there is plainly a strong link with "the daughter of Tarshish"
and "the ships of Tarshish" (vv 1,6,10,14) -- this leads to the reasonable
conclusion that Tarshish is another name for Tyre. (The proposed identification
of Tarshish with England merely on the basis that the latter is -- or rather was
-- a significant sea power is extremely tenuous at best.)
CROSS OVER TO TARSHISH: "Archaeological evidence
suggests that although Sennacherib overran Phoenicia and subjugated Sidon, he
did not entirely capture Tyre. Doubtless the mainland city became his. Psa 83:7
points to this, and no doubt the Tyrians sought Assyrian favour by contributing
fighting men and naval aid down the coast for the furthering of Sennacherib's
campaign against Judah. But until the time of Alexander the Great, island-Tyre
was inviolate" (WIsa 253).
So this v suggests that refugees fled from mainland Tyre at
the attack of Sennacherib, and made their way to the island city, where they
were safe.
Isa 23:7
FAR-OFF LANDS: Deportation of Tyrians by
Sennacherib.
Isa 23:8
TRADERS: Lit, "Canaanites". Zidon was a son of Canaan
(Gen 10:15). Later the traders of Tyre became the best-known of all the
Canaanites (cp Zec 14:21).
Isa 23:9
TO BRING LOW THE PRIDE OF ALL GLORY: Lit, "to
profane..." The Tyrian worship of Melkart was modeled on that of Yahweh, as a
consequence of the close friendship between Solomon and Hiram. {Friendly
relations had once existed between the Hebrews and Tyrians. Hiram provided
carpenters, masons, and wood for the construction of David's palace (2Sa
5:11-12; 1Ch 14:1-2), and he provided men and materials for the construction of
Solomon's palace and the temple (2Ch 2; 1Ki 5:1-12).]
Isa 23:13
"And if you depart [being led away captive: v 7] to the land
of the Chaldeans [ie, to Babylon], this also is laid waste by the Assyrians, for
their wall is fallen" (LXX). That is, 'Wherever you may go, you cannot escape
the depredations of the Assyrians!'
Isa 23:15
Vv 15-18: A very difficult passage. Poss interpretation: For
70 years, Tyre had abandoned her previously close association with Jerusalem.
But now, driven by the defeat by Assyria, Tyre seeks once again "fellowship"
with Judah (cp Psa 87:4; 45:12; 2Ch 32:23). Thus the "wages of a harlot" (ie,
her mercantile profits) are, in some measure, given to the LORD. "It is
remarkable that whereas certain of the Arab powers seem to be marked out for
hard discipline or even utter destruction in the time of the end (eg Isa 34;
Oba), there is to be a willingness on the part of others to acknowledge God's
King in Jerusalem. Is it relevant that there are more (nominal) Christians among
the Arabs of Lebanon than in any other part of the Arab world? Then, although
there has been no friendship in Lebanon for the new state of Israel, perhaps
this 70-year estrangement is due to be replaced with a new spirit of amity and
service" (WIsa 255).