Her Pride Will Be Profaned

In view of Tyre's antiquity and wealth, the next question is fitting: "Who is it that has given this counsel against Tyre, the bestower of  crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose tradesmen were the honorable ones of the earth?"  (Isaiah 23:8) Who dares to speak against the city that has appointed powerful individuals to  positions of high authority in her colonies and elsewhere-thus becoming "the bestower  of crowns"?  Who dares to speak against the metropolis whose merchants are princes and whose tradesmen are honorable ones?  Said Maurice Chehab, former director of antiquities at the National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon:  "From the ninth to the sixth century B.C., Tyre retained the position of importance  known to London at the beginning of the twentieth century."  So who dares to speak against this city?

The inspired reply will cause consternation in Tyre.  Isaiah says: "Jehovah of armies himself has given this counsel, to profane the pride of all beauty, to treat with contempt all the honorable ones of the earth."  (Isaiah 23:9) Why does Jehovah pronounce judgment against this wealthy ancient city?  Is it because  its inhabitants are worshipers of the false god Baal?  Is it because of Tyre's relationship  with Jezebel-the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon, including Tyre-who married King Ahab of Israel and massacred the prophets of Jehovah?  (1 Kings 16:29, 31; 18:4, 13, 19)   The answer to  both questions is no.  Tyre is condemned  because of her arrogant pride-she has grown fat a the expense of other peoples, including the Israelites.  In the ninth century  B.C.E., through the prophet Joel, Jehovah said to Tyre and other cities:  "The sons of Judah and the sons of Jerusalem you have sold to the sons of the Greeks, for the purpose of removing them far from their own territory."  (Joel 3:6)  Can God overlook Tyre's treating his covenant people as mere trading commodities? 

 The passing of  a hundred years will not change Tyre.  When the army of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroys Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., Tyre will exult:  "Aha!  She [Jerusalem] has been broken, the doors of the peoples! The trend will certainly be to me.  I shall be filled-she has been devastated."  (Ezekiel 26:2) Tyre will rejoice, expecting  to benefit from the destruction of Jerusalem.  With the Judean capital no longer a competitor, she will expect more trade for herself.  Jehovah will treat with contempt self-proclaimed  "honorable ones," who pridefully stand with the enemies of his people.

Next time: Conclusion of Her Pride Will Be Profaned

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000