BRINGING TYRE TO RUINS AND ITS RENEWAL Tyre represents great richness and wealth, through its universal commercial relationships, together with its corruption and fortification. The prophet portrays the utter desolation that would happen to it, to suffer the same chastisements, together with the sinful people of God, according to the words of the apostle Paul: “Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek” (Romans 2: 9) Yet this chastisement does not remain forever, but God offers salvation to all, and Tyre would enjoy renewal in Christ Jesus, Savior of the world. 1. Bringing Tyre to ruins 1-14. 2. Renewal of Tyre 15-18. 1. BRINGING TYRE TO RUINS We have previously referred to Tyre, in our interpretation of the book of Ezekiel (Ez. 26)1. The word ‘tsor’ (Tyre) means “rock,” probably because it was built on a rocky island. But St. Jerome believes that the word ‘Tyre’ in Hebrew means “tribulation2.” Thus he sees that its inhabitants represent those who have fallen under the tribulations and anguishes of the devil. Keith and Urquhart believe that what came in this chapter concerning Tyre has been literally realized3. Tyre fell under siege several times of which Shalmaneser sieged it, in vain, for five years and Nebuchadnezzar, likewise, for seven years. Alexander the Great and took it over, after seven years of siege, in the year 332 B.C. then destroyed it. It was also sieged by Antigonus, and several times during the Middle Ages by the Crusaders. Tyre is considered responsible for the eruption of the Second World War, during which about 40 million people were killed, that was triggered when Germany ventured to establish a railroad between Berlin and Baghdad, to develop commercial relationships with the Middle East4. What came here, does not concern a particular siege, but refers to what occurs to every human soul, that likens Tyre in its preoccupation with richness together with defilement. The prophet describes the siege of Tyre, saying, “The burden against Tyre: Wail you ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is laid waste, so that there is no house, no harbor, from the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them” (Is. 23: 1) Here he demonstrates the effect of the devastation that happened to Tyre, on the crews of the commercial fleet coming back from Tarshish. It seems that they were not aware of what happened to the city, and were shocked when they realized that there was no more entrance into it as the walls were destroyed, together with all houses. The serious news spread, being so serious to reach the island of Cyprus as a symbol showing that the incident was heard in all the countries of Europe. Some scholars believe that the armies of Alexander the Great that came from the island of 1 .180- للمؤلف: حزقیال، 1981 ، ص 176 2 PL. 25:24. 3 H. Bultema, p. 226. 4 Ibid, 227. Cyprus staged that siege. The prophet calls on the neighboring cities to wail over the destiny of Tyre, as it has been, through commerce, a source of prosperity to them. Now as it is laid waste, some of these cities have lost much of their wealth. The merchants of Sidon5, who used to wonder in its streets, were so shocked and saddened, that they did not utter a single word. As to the Egyptians, inhabitants of the Nile Valley, they were likewise saddened, as Tyre has been an important center for import of their crops, in exchange of products of Tyre. The prophet refers to the River Nile by the name Shihor, meaning “disturbance” (Is. 23: 3). Such was how Sidon reacted to the humility of its fallen daughter Tyre that has been like a bride in the Mediterranean, or as a crowned queen, that caused several cities in Africa and Europe to flourish. Now, it is turned into what is like a spinster maiden moaning for her loneliness, with no husband nor children. It has lost many cities, that were to it, like her own children (Is. 23: 4). Egypt was saddened, as it lost an important center for export of its crops; and probably also, because of fear of having a similar destiny, which actually happened in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, who confiscated the wealth of Pharaoh, after sieging Tyre (Ezekiel 29: 17-20). The prophet, then calls upon the small remnant remaining in Tyre to cross over to Tarshish, an ancient city in Spain, and one of the flourishing colonies of Tyre. They did leave as wailing refugees. Some believe that the prophet said that as a way of mocking the arrogant inhabitants of Tyre from old. How they travel in terror and fear to live as strangers and refugees. Now, the prophet challenges his listeners with a theological question: “Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?” (Is. 23: 8) In other words, who issued such verdict against that rich queen that flooded the countries that had relationships with her, with prosperity, dignity and pride? “The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.” (Is. 23: 9) That was what the prophet Amos meant, by saying, “If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?” (Amos 3: 6) Abbot Theodore says, [When divine judgment addresses humans, it would be according to their language and human feelings. A physician cuts or burns sore body parts, for the sake of the well-being of his patient, while some who can’t bear pain consider that as acts of evil6.] The Lord has ordered it, yet the desolation has been caused by pride and vainglory. Sin corrupts man as it does to countries. But the verdict of the Almighty is a proclamation of what man brings upon himself by himself. The prophet likens Tyre who fled after its devastation to a woman who lost everything, sailing along the River Nile, without a girdle around her robe; or to the water of the Nile at its exit, where it pours into the sea with nothing to restrain it. Such was the situation of the inhabitants of Tyre as they helplessly escaped from their city, overflowing through their land like the river into the sea (Is. 23: 10), calling Tyre “the oppressed daughter of Sidon.” (Is. 23: 12) “The Lord stretched out His hand over the sea... has given (the kingdoms) a commandment against Canaan, to destroy its strongholds,” (Is. 23: 11) to destroy its 5 “Sidon” means ‘fishing,’ 22 miles north of Tyre, is considered as the mother city of Tyre, and came to wail over what happened to its daughter. 6 Cassian: Conf. 6:6. pride, to boast no more (Is. 23: 12); and instead of being a queen, to turn into an oppressed virgin, escaping to Cyprus, where it will have no rest. What does that mean? a. The Lord stretched His hand, calling for repentance. Yet when Tyre did not respond, His hand became stretched for judgment. Such was the case, when the Lord of glory stretched His hands on the cross with love. Whoever believes would find in the cross the power of God for salvation, and whoever denies would come under judgment. b. It was up to Tyre to escape to Cyprus. But there, it found no rest. Peace for man does not depend on the location where he is, but on the depths of his inner soul. His rest is not in changing his location, his work, or social circumstances, but in his return to God, his Savior, who calls: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) And as St. John Saba says, [Blessed is he who calls You in himself all the time; from Him, life would flow to him to enjoy.] As God knew that Tyre would not respond to His call He asked it to take a lesson from what happened to the Chaldeans on the hands of the king of Assyria, who turned their palaces into heaps of dust. 2. THE RENEWAL OF TYRE God in His love for mankind does not forsake man in his corruption, but offers him every chance for salvation. That is why, after the prophet portrayed the extent of devastation that would happen to Tyre, he started to speak about its renewal through God, the Savior. It would be oppressed by Babylon for 70 years, equal to the 70 years prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Babylonian captivity of Israel (Jeremiah 29: 10). It is as though the nations would share that humiliation with Israel, “For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” (Romans 11: 32) Jerusalem was accused of being a harlot (Is. 1: 21); and here Tyre is accused of being the same (Is. 23: 16). The duration between the first year of the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar and that of king Cyrus was exactly 70 years, during which the nations were oppressed by Babylon. The prophet describes Tyre as a harlot singing in public places to attract men. Such was what Tyre did with its commerce that was related to corruption. Then, as it fell under the Babylonian suppression for 70 years, it stopped practicing its activities, and exporting its corruption to neighboring countries, and became forgotten. The world forgot it, but God would not. He turned its humility into glory. After its commerce has been related to corruption it turns to become related to a holy life in the Lord. Its traders turn into witnesses to the gospel of salvation, as it enters together with the Gentiles into faith, to practice and preach evangelical life. After being in a condition of hunger and nakedness, not because of Babylonian captivity, but through servitude of sin, it, in the presence of the Lord, turned to feed on the bread of life, not to hunger any more, and to enjoy the garment of Baptism, not to be naked any more, according to the words of the apostle. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3: 27) This is what the prophet meant by saying, “Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the Lord. It will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will before those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently and for fine clothing.” (Is. 23: 18)
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