The Fall of Tyre ( 26-28) Jeff Randolph October 2011

Tyre in the The city of Tyre is first mentioned in the Bible by name during the days of Joshua (Jos. 19:29). Tyre was located in modern day Lebanon, just north of and west of Syria, on the coast of the . The city was situated on both the mainland and an island just off the coast, making it one of the best harbors and trading hubs in the ancient world. As such, it was known for its skilled workers, vast resources, and great wealth (1 Kings 7:13-14; 1 Chr. 14:1; 22:3-5).

The people of Tyre, during the reigns of and Solomon, were very friendly and cooperative with the people of Israel. Hiram the King of Tyre greatly assisted David in building his house, and later Solomon in building the temple (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1, 6; 9:11-12). It is recorded that Hiram loved David, respected Solomon, and seems he felt likewise toward God Himself (2 Sam. 5:11; 2 Chr. 2:11-12). This relationship later took a turn for the worse, as exhibited in the behavior of Jezebel, daughter of a Sidonian king (“mother” city of Tyre, cf. Isa. 23:12), who married King Ahab of Israel, influencing him to do more evil than all the other kings (1 Kings 16:31; 21:25).

In Ezekiel 26-28, we read of the fall of Tyre (and Sidon), who looked at the demise of and never thought for a moment that the same could happen to them. Rather than learn a lesson from Jerusalem’s circumstances and reflect on their own behavior, and perhaps repent (Ezek. 5:15), Tyre gloated over Jerusalem, and saw its fall as an opportunity for profit (Ezek. 26:2). Like Jerusalem, they had acknowledged God for their wealth and blessings in the past, but were now trusting in themselves (cf. Ezek. 16:15ff.).

The Prophecy In the 11th year of captivity (the same as the fall of Jerusalem, Jer. 39:2), Ezekiel prophesies of the fall of Tyre. While other had made mention of Tyre’s ruin (Isa. 23; Jer. 25:14-29; :4; Amos 1:9-10; Zech. 9:2- 3), Ezekiel provides the most detail. In fact, so precise are the details that one must admit that Ezekiel was indeed directed by God, or contend that the information was written after the fact. The latter cannot be true since the book was compiled before these events fully played out. Therefore, the historical record verifies that Ezekiel was giving a message from God.

The following table is adapted from an article by Trevor Major (referenced below): Verse(s) Prediction Fulfillment Ezek. 26:7-8 Nebuchadnezzar will come Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Tyre beginning in 586 against Tyre BC. The siege lasted for 13 years, in which most of the inhabitants moved to the island part of the city, which the Babylonians were unable to destroy (Ezek. 29:18). Ezek. 26:3 Many nations involved in fall After , Tyre was subjected to Persia, of Tyre Greece, , Syria, Rome, and Muslims, until finally destroyed in 1291 AD. Ezek. 26:4 Scraped like a rock Alexander the great, in 332 BC, scraped up the materials from the mainland city to build a bridge to the island, in which he was able to conquer the city.

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Ezek. 26:5, 14 Place for spreading nets Tyre went from major trade center to just a fishing spot Ezek. 26:12, 19 Covered by the sea Alexander literally threw the materials of the mainland into the sea Ezek. 26:14, 20-21 City would not be rebuilt Though there is a Tyre in existence today, it is not the same Tyre. It covers some of the same area, but one can still see the ruins of the ancient city. Additionally, it is not the prominent city we read about in the Bible and ancient history.

Lamentation Chapter 27 is a divine lamentation over Tyre, describing how great the city then was, and thereby emphasizing how great would be its fall. This section describes Tyre as “perfect in beauty” (27:3-11) and a major trade center with many luxury items (27:12-26). Because of its importance, many would lament over its ruin (27:27- 36), serving as one of several examples, both to them and us today, of magnificent cities that were destroyed despite their high position in the world. God’s justice is higher than our own (Isa. 55:9).

It is noteworthy to mention that so significant was the fall of Tyre that it provides the backdrop for describing the fall of “Babylon the Great” in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 18). Certainly this would serve as a reminder to early Christians to consider the fate of Tyre, and emphasize that even the greatest of cities or nations will not go unpunished, because the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men (Dan. 4:17).

Against the King of Tyre Chapter 28 is directed toward the king of Tyre, whose pride had brought him to the point of self-deification (28:2). The message is clear: “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Pr. 16:18). God would show this “god” that he was just a man (28:2, 9). He would “die the death of the uncircumcised,” indicating that no mercy would be shown (cf. 1 Sam. 31:4).

Interestingly, it appears that the king was at one time in God’s favor. He is described as at one time being “in Eden” (28:13), on the “holy mountain of God”, and walking in the “midst of the fiery stones” (28:14; cf. Ezek. 1). This certainly would have been the case when he was a child, but seems to be the case in his early adulthood as well, until “by the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned” (28:16). When we recognize that sin requires being cast out from God’s presence (28:16; cf. Isa. 59:2), it should cause us to do all we can to avoid it.

References Butt, Kyle A. (2006), Tyre in Prophecy, Apologetics Press, URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=1790

Major, Trevor (2001), The Fall of Tyre, Apologetics Press, URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=848

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