We do not know the origins of the Phoenician people, but first find them settled along the northern coast of Palestine. In the Bible, their name is Canaan, meaning the ancient murex red-purple dye which was their primary stock and trade at first. Great early seafarers, they were known for their devotion to profit, more or less as a deity. It was they who first taught King Solomon about borrowing, investing and interest. It was their Princess Jezebel who raised idolatry to such great political power in the Northern Kingdom. The Phoenicians did not hesitate to carry on a brisk trade in Israeli slaves. Sidon was their home city in the region, and Tyre was their colony, eventually becoming the throne, not to mention primary sea port.
Isaiah pictures the ships coming from Tarshish (most likely Spain), stopping at the Phoenician colony of Cyprus on the way, and learning their destination of Tyre has been destroyed. All their freight will bring them no profit, because the port and harbor are destroyed. During Isaiah's time, Tyre was the primary market for Egyptian grain, carrying it all over the Mediterranean. The image shows merchants in deep depression over the loss of such a powerful market. Sidon cries out as a city with no population. Egypt won't be too happy with the loss of their number one trading partner.
The residents of Tyre and Sidon are warned to flee, to leave the cities and run to Tarshish with their tears. Looking at the future ruins, people will wonder if this had ever been such a mighty city as Tyre could become vacant rubble. This was the famous city built on a rock just off shore, a uniquely wealthy city of great beauty. Who would plan such a destruction? Jehovah, the one who granted them the power to make such wealth. It's the way God handles the arrogance of worldly authority.
Isaiah depicts the Phoenicians as fleeing in all directions like water bubbling up from a spring. Too late! The Lord has decided to shake the land, to destroy its prize fortresses. Even if they flee to their colony of Cyprus, they can't rest. It, too, will be taken over by their enemies. What enemies? The Chaldeans, Babylon. While it's true Nebuchadnezzar was unable to break into Tyre after a twelve-year siege, he did destroy everything else belonging to the Phoenicians, and forced Cyprus to pay tribute. These Chaldeans were nobodies, just rude desert rats when Assyria built them up, gave them civilization and made them great. Lacking in gratitude, they rose against their former masters and destroyed them. While Tyre was safe, the Phoenicians were nearly destroyed.
From the time of Nebuchadnezzar's failed siege, weakened Tyre would hardly be of any significance for the lifespan of most kings, seventy years. They became good friends with Babylon's conquerors, the Persians, but didn't rise to any prominence for quite some time. Tyre courting the Persians was like a pitiful aging harlot. No longer pretty enough to draw customers, she entertains best she can by exerting her few remaining talents. Ancient harlots were usually entertainers in the broader sense, and it was common to find the old ones singing in the streets, haunting their old customers for a tiny portion of their former wages. After seventy years of obscurity, the old harlot Tyre would again become famous, and find new clients. However, that would be about the time the Persians demand she contribute to the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem in the Restoration.
With this, Isaiah ends his burdens against neighboring nations, and returns to lashing his own people with the Word of God. Let the nations know these calamities come upon them as part of the collateral damage for punishing Israel.
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By Ed Hurst
06 November 2008
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