Ezekiel 26:1–21

Ezekiel had been carried into captivity with king Jehoiachin — at least, he was one of those made captive at that time. He regularly dates his prophecies from that period. That is an important thing to notice, so that we may understand the revelations made to him. For himself there is no longer any question of dates or of kings, of Judah or of Israel. The people of God are in captivity among the Gentiles.

The date of the prophecy is the eleventh year of Jehoiachin's captivity, on the first of the month. The month itself is not given, if we have the true text here. What can we make of this eleventh year? Is it marked by not being yet the full twelve, which speaks of the visible government of God that is to come? In fact, all this judgment that Ezekiel speaks of falls short of the full end that prophecy mostly has in view. Yet here there is surely the shadow of it. The blow has fallen upon Jerusalem, and Tyre is quite ready to take advantage of it.

Ezekiel 25 to 32 deal with God's threatened judgments on the nations round about Israel. They are judged for their past conduct towards His people, and for their present spirit of hatred to them. They would rejoice at the destruction of Jerusalem and the setting aside of God's earthly sanctuary. He would let them know that though His earthly people had failed, He still was God. If judgment fell upon His own people because of their sin, His hand would also be upon those who hated the objects of His love.

Ezekiel 24 leads on to Ezekiel 25-32. These chapters take up the nations around the land, or inside it, which the Lord Jehovah deals with. But they no longer follow the time order used in the first half of the book... The arrangement is due to no disturbing cause, but to God's design above man's thought (or want of thought) and care.

In a certain sense Tyre stood on Israel's territory. But it has another character, and it is the subject of a separate prophecy (Ezekiel 26-28). It represents the world and its riches, in contrast with Israel as the people of God. And it rejoices, not like the others out of personal hatred. Its interests were the opposite of Israel's, and the destruction of what held back its career gave free course to its natural selfishness. It is worth noticing in these prophecies how God lays open all the thoughts of man about His people, and what they have been towards Him.

The lesson is all the more serious because Tyre does not appear to have been driven by plain hostility against Israel. It was commercial greed instead. Tyre saw a chance of gain in the disasters of the chosen people. This drew the city into an opposition to Israel which Jehovah resented. For His chastening of His people gives no licence to the selfish greed that would profit by their troubles or their downfall.

Tyre means "a rock." This island city stood on a rock. For its particular purposes it did not need land that produced goods. It needed a good gathering point, where the products of other regions could come and be exchanged. In the vastness of its resources, Tyre might indeed look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken... But God takes up its character in the result, and declares that it shall be a rock — a rock and nothing more. It shall be "a bare rock," or "cliff," as the word He uses means. And the word for "bare" really means "dry" — dried by the sun.

Tyre does not appear to have been driven by simple hostility against Israel. It was rather commercial greed, which saw a chance of advantage in the disasters of the chosen people. This drew the city into an opposition to Israel that Jehovah resented. God does chasten His people. But that is no licence for the selfish greed that would profit by their troubles or their fall.

Jerusalem has been judged. In many ways she was a centre of attraction for the peoples around — "the gate of the peoples," as Tyre calls her… Tyre is a merchant through and through. Even his stated aim is to serve. No doubt his first aim is to serve himself. He does not have the true spirit of service for God. He finds in people's need the opportunity for his own gain, and that is the cause of his judgment here… The habit of gathering riches out of other people's need hardens the heart — no one needs telling that. So it was with Tyre: and for this she is judged… Tyre means "a rock." This island city was built on a rock… With such vast resources, Tyre might indeed look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken. The greater the needs of others, the more the streams of supply from every quarter served it. But God takes up its character in the result, and declares it shall be a rock — a rock and nothing more — "a bare rock." The word for "bare" means dry, dried by the sun.

The blow has fallen on Jerusalem, and Tyre is quite ready to take advantage of it. She is proud of her position and counts on her many sources of strength. So she can sit apart, hoping to profit by what she does not fear. But, as God tells her, it is only an empty dream. She has watched many nations come to replenish her. Now those same nations have come up against her with the unstoppable force of the waves of the sea… She has so often profited by the spoil of the nations; in turn she herself will become a spoil for the nations.

When Jerusalem was destroyed, many may well have fled to Tyre for refuge. But hope of gain made Tyre forget the covenant of brotherhood, and she handed the fugitives over to the cruel Edomites. Tyre did not remember the covenant of brotherhood — that is the prophet's charge against her (Amos 1:9). David and Hiram, king of Tyre, made a covenant, and Solomon confirmed it; Hiram called him "my brother" (see 2 Sam. 5 and 1 Kings 5 — 9).

That godless city… represents the world with its riches and lusts. It hated God and God's people. It was glad when Israel fell, because that left her freer to indulge her own selfishness. God checks her triumph: "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre" (Ezek. 26:3). "I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt" (Ezek. 26:14). "Though you be sought for, you will never be found again" (Ezek. 26:21). Alexander the Great was the means of carrying this out (B.C. 332).

The opposition that Tyre showed has carried on into modern times. The commerce so famous in that city has spread its wings over the cities of our own day. They follow in Tyre's steps, and with the same unrighteousness they await the same doom… The worship of money rules the age. Under its influence the truth is twisted, and becomes the profession of greedy men who suppose that gain is godliness.

Did Tyre say that Jerusalem was broken, "I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste"? The Lord Jehovah replies, "I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you." Her doom is pronounced. Her very dust will be scraped from her. Her daughters in the field — probably the colonies she planted — will be killed by the sword. So they would know that it was Jehovah.

In Tyre we find no direct enmity to Israel. Tyre is a merchant through and through; his stated aim is even to serve. No doubt his first aim is to serve himself. He has not the true spirit of service for God. Instead he finds in the need of man the opportunity for his own gain. This is what we find as the cause of his judgment here... The habit of gaining riches from the need of others hardens the heart, there is little need to say.

She is proud of her position. Counting on her many sources of strength, she can sit apart, hoping to profit from what she does not fear. But, as God tells her, it is only a vain dream. She has seen many nations coming again and again to replenish her. Now those same nations come up against her with the unstoppable force of the waves of the sea. They rise over her defences, destroy her walls, and break down her towers. She who has so often profited by the spoil of the nations shall in turn be a spoil for the nations.

Tyre means "a rock." This island city was built on a rock. For its particular purposes it did not need productive land where it stood. It needed a good meeting point where the goods of other places could come and be exchanged. Given the immensity of its resources, Tyre might well look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken. The greater the needs of others, the more the streams of supply from all quarters served it. But God takes up its character in the result, and declares that it shall be a rock — a rock and nothing more — "a bare rock."

God did not carry out this great judgment all at once. Nebuchadnezzar came against her first, as verses 7-11 predict. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and took the city after thirteen years. But the part of Tyre built on the island in the sea escaped, because Tyre's fleet protected it. Then came seventy years for her when she was forgotten, as Isaiah predicted (23:15). After these years passed, Tyre saw a startling revival. The island city became more powerful and more wicked than before.

The opposition that Tyre showed has carried on into modern times. The commerce so famous in that city has spread its wings over the cities of our day. They follow in Tyre's steps with the same unrighteousness, and they await the same doom... The spirit of Mammon rules the age. Under its influence men twist the truth. It becomes the profession of greedy men, who suppose that gain is godliness.

Tyre means "a rock." This island city was built upon a rock… With its huge resources, Tyre could well look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken. The greater the needs of others, the more the streams of supply from every quarter served it. But God takes up its character in the end, and declares that it shall be a rock — a rock and nothing more — "a bare rock," or "cliff," as the word He uses means. The word for "bare" really means "dry" — dried by the sun.

Tyre is a merchant at heart; even his stated aim is to serve. No doubt his first aim is to serve himself. He does not have the true spirit of service for God. Instead he finds in the need of other people the chance for his own gain. This is the cause of his judgment here… She says against Jerusalem: "Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste." How common such rejoicing is among merchants at all times! It hardly needs saying: making a habit of getting rich from other people's needs hardens the heart.

Proud of her position and counting on her many sources of strength, she can sit apart, hoping to profit from what she does not fear. But, as God tells her, it is only an empty dream. The many nations she has seen coming again and again to replenish her have now come up against her with the unstoppable force of the waves of the sea. They come to overtop her defences, destroy her walls, and break down her towers. She who has so often profited by the spoil of the nations shall in turn be a spoil for the nations. Her doom is to declare the name of the Lord — the name she has despised.

This great judgment was not carried out all at once. Nebuchadnezzar came against her first, as predicted in verses 7-11. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and took the city after thirteen years. The part of Tyre built on the island in the sea escaped, protected by the Tyrian fleet. Then came seventy years in which she was forgotten, as Isaiah predicted (23:15). After those years had passed Tyre saw a startling revival. The island city became more powerful and more wicked than before… The mainland Tyre, however, remained in ruins.

Alexander the Great came against the city built on the island. He took the city after seven months by building a causeway, which let his forces enter. In building this causeway, Alexander used the ruins of the old city. He laid the stones, the timber, and the very dust of the destroyed city into the sea to build the causeway that brought the utter ruin of the wealthy city.

Its present inhabitants are only a few poor wretches sheltering in the vaults and living mostly by fishing. Divine providence seems to keep them there, as a visible argument of how God has fulfilled His word about Tyre: that it should be "a bare rock… a place for the spreading of nets." To this hour everything has happened according to the word of the Lord God.

Ezekiel 26:2 shows that Tyre, the merchant city of the world, was the rival of Jerusalem, the city of God. So Babylon is the rival of the new Jerusalem. God was known in the palaces of Jerusalem; in Tyre, the god of this world. There the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in possessions could be satisfied.

Jerusalem has been judged — Jerusalem, in many ways a centre of attraction for the people around, "the gate of the peoples," as Tyre calls her. Tyre says against Jerusalem: "Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste." How easily we understand it! How common such rejoicing is among merchants, in every age! Making a habit of getting rich from the need of others hardens the heart; that hardly needs saying. So it is with Tyre here: and for this she is judged.

Her doom is pronounced. Her very dust will be scraped from her. She herself will be like the top of a rock where nets are spread, out in the middle of the sea. Her daughters in the field — I take these to be the colonies she planted — will be killed by the sword. So they should know that it was Jehovah.

Nebuchadnezzar came first against her as predicted in verses 7-11. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and took the city after thirteen years. But the part of Tyre built on the island in the sea escaped, protected by Tyre's fleet.

She has watched many nations come to her again and again to supply her. Now those same nations come up against her with the unstoppable force of the sea waves. They rise over her defences, destroy her walls, and break down her towers. She who has so often profited by the spoil of the nations shall in turn be a spoil for the nations.

The siege by Nebuchadnezzar was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Greek king Alexander. This broke her strength for good. A remnant of the city lasted a long time, wasting and drying up more and more, until the end came. Today, as we can see, nothing is left but a bare rock, used only for spreading nets.

So this knowledge of Jehovah comes by the judgment itself. It is not a spiritual knowledge of Him that follows from it. For when all the earth rejoices, Edom will be left desolate. It is through judgment that all the nations will know that Jehovah is God.

That godless city, mentioned by the Lord Jesus in the Gospels, represents the world with its riches and lusts. It hated God and God's people, and was glad of Israel's fall, because it left her freer to indulge her own selfishness.

Tyre is essentially the merchant; his stated aim is even to serve. No doubt his first aim is to serve himself. He does not have the true spirit of service for God. Instead he finds in man's need the opportunity for his own gain. This is what we find as the cause of his judgment here. The habit of gaining riches from the need of others hardens the heart, as hardly needs saying. So it is with Tyre here, and for this she is judged.

First of all, the prophecy names the instrument of Tyre's destruction: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. But we must not confuse this with the full end that Jehovah Himself makes of her, as in the fourteenth verse. The siege by Nebuchadnezzar was the beginning of the end... Nebuchadnezzar is here, however, as all through this part of Ezekiel, the special instrument of the divine judgment.

Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was a direct gift from God. As Daniel said, "You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory." No one could say this of any of the three kingdoms that followed. They come on the scene in a providential way, as God permits, for the government of the earth and according to His ordering. But their heads were in no sense the direct holders of power, as Nebuchadnezzar was. He was nearest God in this outward sense. His responsibility was therefore all the greater.

It was no longer Zedekiah, My servant, but Nebuchadnezzar, My servant. The children of Israel and of Judah were about to lose their special place as His nation too. It was now a question, not of being His servant as a special honour, but merely in providence. Nebuchadnezzar, the idolatrous Gentile, could be His servant in this way as much as anyone else.

This great judgment was not carried out all at once. Nebuchadnezzar came against her first, as predicted in verses 7-11. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and after thirteen years took the city. The part of Tyre built on the island in the sea escaped, protected by the fleet of Tyre. Then came seventy years for her, when she was forgotten, as Isaiah predicted (23:15). After these years had passed, Tyre saw a startling revival. The island city became more powerful and wicked than before. The mainland Tyre, however, remained in ruins.

Nebuchadnezzar is seen as carrying out the judgment of God on Jerusalem, and he is His servant for that purpose... At the same time God sets His land free by these very judgments from all the nations that wrongfully held it... These judgments came on rebellious Jerusalem and on the nations. Their result would at the same time be the re-establishment of Israel, according to promise and by the power of God in grace.

The opposition that Tyre showed has carried on into modern times. The commerce that was so famous in that city has spread its wing over the cities of our day. They follow in the steps of Tyre, and with the same unrighteousness they await the same doom.

God pronounces her doom. He will scrape her very dust from her and make her like the top of a rock, a place for spreading nets in the middle of the sea. Her daughters on the mainland — that is, I suppose, the colonies she planted — will be killed by the sword. So they would know that it was Jehovah.

He besieged Tyre on the mainland, and after thirteen years he took the city. But the part of Tyre standing on the island in the sea escaped, protected by the fleet of Tyre.

The great imperial power of the world would put an end to the offshoots of Tyre. It would surround that marketplace of the nations with every device of siege, and break down its walls and towers with axes and engines of war. His success is certain, and so is the slaughter of the Tyrians and the plunder of their wealth and merchandise.

When you read these prophecies, it is important to notice how Nebuchadnezzar is regarded. He is the servant of God, carrying out His judgment both on Jerusalem and on the nations around, and so clearing the land of Israel of them.

She has not the true spirit of service for God. She finds in people's need the opportunity for her own gain, and this is what we find as the cause of her judgment here... She says against Jerusalem: "Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste."... Making a habit of gathering riches out of other people's need hardens the heart — that hardly needs saying. So it was with Tyre: and for this she is judged.

The siege by Nebuchadnezzar was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Greek king Alexander. This brought down her strength for good. A remnant of the city remained a long time, wasting and drying up more and more until the end came. Today, as we see, nothing is left but a bare rock, used only for spreading nets.

The town is "surrounded by rocks, on the ledges of which are scattered the fragments of ancient columns"... Its inhabitants now are only a few poor people sheltering in the vaults and living mostly by fishing. They seem to be kept there by divine Providence, as a visible argument that God has fulfilled His word about Tyre: that she should be "a bare rock" and "a place for the spreading of nets."

Machines for discharging missiles. Engines of war were battering rams.

Another city in the west has an exceptional importance: the renowned city of Tyre. It drew down on itself Jehovah's displeasure and judgment. The lesson is all the more serious because Tyre does not appear to have been driven by simple hostility against Israel. Instead it was commercial greed, which saw a chance for advantage in the disasters of the chosen people. This lured the city into opposition to Israel, and Jehovah resented it. For His chastening of His people is no licence for the selfish covetousness that would profit by their troubles or downfall.

The blow has fallen on Jerusalem, and Tyre is quite ready to take advantage of it. She is proud of her position and counts on her many sources of strength. So she can sit apart, hoping to profit by what she does not fear. But, as God declares to her, it is only an empty dream. She has seen many nations coming again and again to replenish her. Now those same nations have come up against her with the unstoppable force of the waves of the sea. They rise above her defences, destroy her walls, and break down her towers. She who has so often profited from the plunder of the nations shall in turn be plunder for the nations.

First comes the instrument of Tyre's destruction: Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon. But we must not confuse this with the full end which Jehovah Himself makes of her, as in the fourteenth verse. The siege by Nebuchadrezzar was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Greek king Alexander. This broke her strength, although the remnant of a city remained for a long time. It wasted and dried up more and more until the end came. Today nothing is left but a bare rock, used only for spreading nets.

Meanwhile no resistance could succeed. It only made the destruction of those who opposed more complete. As the prophet speaks here, their sins had already made the breach in Tyre for him.

In constructing this causeway, Alexander made use of the ruins of the old city. He laid the stones, the timber and the very dust of the destroyed city into the sea. That causeway accomplished the utter ruin of the wealthy city. And so Ezekiel's prophecy was fulfilled.

The opposition that Tyre showed has carried on into modern times. The commerce so famous in that city has spread its wings over the cities of our day. They follow in the steps of Tyre. With the same unrighteousness, they await the same doom. The present age may not show the same arrogance as the prince of Tyre and the king of Babylon. But the world's commerce in the hands of Satan leads to it.

Man may be forced to accept the sentence of condemnation on himself. He must also accept the passing away of all the false glory which he would like to make real, but cannot. The sentence of God is on it; but, as He says here, that He may set true glory in the land of the living.

First of all, the instrument of Tyre's destruction is named: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. But we must not confuse this with the full end that Jehovah Himself makes of her, as in verse 14. His siege was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Greek king Alexander.

The great imperial power of the world would put an end to the offshoots of Tyre. He would surround that market of the nations with all the equipment of siege works, and break down its walls and towers with his axes and engines of war. He is sure to succeed, sure to slaughter the Tyrians, and sure to plunder their wealth and merchandise.

This great judgment was not all carried out at once. Nebuchadnezzar came against her first, as predicted in verses 7-11. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and took the city after thirteen years. The part of Tyre built on the island in the sea escaped, because Tyre's fleet protected it.

No effective resistance was possible. It only made the destruction of those who resisted more complete. As the prophet speaks here, their sins had already made the breach in Tyre for him.

In Tyre we find no direct enmity to Israel... Tyre is a merchant at heart; his stated aim is even to serve. No doubt his aim is first of all to serve himself. He does not have the true spirit of service for God, but finds in the need of man the opportunity for his own gain, and this is what we find as the cause of his judgment here... There is little need to say that a habit of gathering riches out of other people's need hardens the heart. So it was with Tyre: and for this she is judged.

The blow has fallen on Jerusalem, and Tyre is quite ready to take advantage of it. Proud of her position and counting on her many sources of strength, she can sit apart, hoping to profit from what she does not fear. But, as God declares to her, it is only an empty dream. The many nations she has seen constantly coming to replenish her have now come up against her with the unstoppable force of the waves of the sea. They come to overtop her defences, destroy her walls, and break down her towers. She who has so often profited from the spoil of the nations will in turn be a spoil for the nations.

Tyre means "a rock." This island city was built upon a rock... Its resources were so vast that Tyre might well look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken. The greater the needs of others, the more the streams of supply from every quarter served it. But God takes up its character in the result, and declares that it will be a rock — a rock and nothing more — "a bare rock."

Its present inhabitants are only a few poor people sheltering in the vaults and living mostly by fishing. They seem to be kept there by divine Providence, as visible proof that God has fulfilled His word about Tyre: that He would make her "a bare rock," and "a place for the spreading of nets."

In Tyre we find no direct hostility to Israel… Tyre is above all the merchant. His stated aim is even to serve. No doubt his first aim is to serve himself. He does not have the true spirit of service for God. He finds in the need of man the opportunity for his own gain, and this is the cause of his judgment here… The habit of gathering riches from the need of others hardens the heart, there is little need to say. So it is with Tyre here: and for this she is judged.

As we read these prophecies, it is important to notice that they treat Nebuchadnezzar as the servant of God. He carries out God's judgment both on Jerusalem and on the nations round about, and so frees the land of Israel from them.

First, the prophecy names Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, as the instrument of Tyre's destruction. But we must not confuse this with the full end which Jehovah Himself makes of her, as in the 14th verse. The siege by Nebuchadrezzar was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Greek king Alexander. This brought her strength down for good…

Tyre means "a rock." This island city stood on a rock. For its own purposes it did not need land that produced things. It needed a good meeting point where goods from other places could come and change hands. With such vast resources, Tyre might indeed look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken… But God takes its character to its end, and declares that it shall be a rock — a rock and nothing more — "a bare rock," or "cliff," as the word He uses means. The word for "bare" really means "dry" — dried by the sun.

This great judgment was not all carried out at once. Nebuchadnezzar came first against her as predicted in verses 7–11. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and took the city after thirteen years. The part of Tyre that stood on an island in the sea escaped, because Tyre's fleet protected it. Then came for her seventy years when she was forgotten… After these years had passed Tyre saw a startling revival. The island city became more powerful and wicked than before… The mainland Tyre, however, remained in ruins.

Travellers have described the town as surrounded by rocks, with the fragments of ancient columns scattered on their ledges… Another traveller says he found it a mere jumble of broken walls, pillars and vaults, with not so much as one entire house left! The people living there now are only a few poor souls sheltering in the vaults, who live mostly by fishing. Divine providence seems to keep them in the place, as visible proof that God has fulfilled His word about Tyre.

This city is the picture of the world's commercial glory: wealthy, corrupt and self-confident. Nebuchadnezzar took it after a long siege, though he did not destroy it… Tyre and the Tyrians formed the centre of the trade of the ancient world… Its fall was bound to bring pain to people everywhere on earth… So Tyre and Sidon remained the best-known and most striking warning of divine judgment, as we may gather from our Lord's reference to them.

Tyre is essentially the merchantman; his professed object even is to serve. No doubt his aim is first of all to serve himself. He has not the true spirit of service for God. Instead, he finds in the need of man the opportunity for his own gain, and this is the cause of his judgment here... It hardly needs saying that the habit of gaining riches from the need of others hardens the heart. So it was with Tyre: and for this she is judged.

She who has so often profited by the spoil of the nations will in turn be a spoil for the nations. God's judgment carries man's judgment further, as her history has fully shown, and it declares itself in what has been fully accomplished.

The prophecy first names Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, as the instrument of Tyre's destruction. But we must not confuse this with the full end which Jehovah Himself makes of her, in the 14th verse. The siege by Nebuchadrezzar was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Grecian king Alexander. This broke her strength for good, although the remnant of a city remained for a long time. It wasted and dried up more and more until the end came. Today, as we see, nothing is left but a bare rock, used only for the spreading of nets.

About 240 years later this prophecy came true to the letter... To build this mole, Alexander used the ruins of the old city. He laid the stones, timber and the very dust of the destroyed city into the sea. That causeway brought the utter ruin of the wealthy city. And so Ezekiel's prophecy was fulfilled.

As the prophet speaks here, the breach in Tyre had already been made for him by their sins. Her stones, her timber and her dust were now to be laid in the middle of the waters. The noise of her songs was to cease, and all her pomp and glory were to perish together. As already said, however, the complete end would wait for many generations.

Its present inhabitants are only a few poor people sheltering in the vaults, and living mainly by fishing; who seem to be kept in the place by divine Providence, as a visible argument of how God has fulfilled His word about Tyre, namely, that it should be "like the top of a rock; you shall be a place to spread nets upon."

That godless city, mentioned by the Lord Jesus in the Gospels, represents the world with its riches and lusts. It hated God and God's people, and was glad of Israel's fall, since that gave freer course to the satisfying of her own selfishness.

The sentence of God is upon it; but, as He says here, so that He may set true glory in the land of the living... Blessed be God, all this must indeed pass away. What can be shaken is to be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

The merchant does not have the true spirit of service for God, but finds in man's need the opportunity for his own gain, and this is what we find as the cause of his judgment here. Jerusalem has been judged… She says against Jerusalem: "Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste." How naturally we understand it! How common such rejoicing is among merchants at all times! Making a habit of gaining riches from the need of others hardens the heart, there is little need to say.

As the prophet speaks here, the breach in Tyre had already been made for him by their sins. Her stones, her timber and her dust were now to be thrown into the middle of the sea. The noise of her songs was to cease. All her pomp and glory were to perish together.

It may be that "they" in verse 12 goes beyond Nebuchadnezzar and takes in Alexander the Great. His vengeance was still more complete. He threw the stones and timber and dust of Tyre into the middle of the water. There was no recovery after that.

The siege by Nebuchadrezzar was the beginning of the end. There was a revival after this, however, and another siege by the Grecian king Alexander. This truly broke her strength. Even so, the remnant of a city stayed for a long time, wasting and drying up more and more until the end came. As we see today, nothing is left but a bare rock, used only for spreading nets.

Ezekiel 27 describes Tyre's grandeur and her trading links with all the world. It then announces that in "the day of your ruin" all her former friends "will hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever." Such is the world and its end, as changeable as the waters that carried Tyre's ships. Tyre represents the commercial glory of the world, which passes away.

When God's judgment is poured out on Babylon the great, every department of man's world will be remembered. The world of music that began with Jubal is not forgotten, for "the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more." God was pleased to have the music of David in connection with the temple worship, and He will have music from Israel on earth again. But the music of man's world is used to charm man's heart away from God. That music is marked out for judgment.

The lessons of God's school are too humbling for man to welcome. He may be forced to accept the sentence of condemnation on himself. He must also accept the passing away of all the false glory he would love to make true, but cannot. God's sentence is on it. But, as He says here, this is so that He may set true glory in the land of the living… All this has indeed to pass away. What can be shaken is to be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Our kingdom is in what cannot be shaken.

Part of the city of Tyre (which means rock) stood on an island off the mainland in the Mediterranean Sea. It was an ancient Phoenician city... It had a wonderful commerce... It was home to seafaring men. The prophet Isaiah describes this wealthy and influential city as "the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honourable of the earth" (Isa. 23:8). We read in the next chapter how Syria, Persia, Egypt, Spain, Greece and every part of the ancient world laid their finest and most precious things at the feet of Tyre. She sat enthroned on ivory, covered with blue and purple, from the isles of Elishah.

Further, the moral effect was immense among the nations... The trading powers would especially feel the utter ruin of a city so renowned and strong in the sea. The prophet accordingly names the isles as troubled at Tyre's departure. For many of the wealthy fled, as the rest remained to be destroyed.

Where shall any find a security that Tyre has not found?

Tyre is above all the merchant. His declared aim is even to serve. No doubt his aim is first of all to serve himself. He has not the true spirit of service for God. He finds in the need of man the opportunity for his own gain, and this is what we find as the cause of his judgment here... She says against Jerusalem: "Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste." How naturally we understand it! How common is such rejoicing on the part of merchants at all times! The habitual gaining of riches from the need of others hardens the heart.

The literal fulfilment of this prophecy came about 240 years later. Alexander the Great came against the city built on the island. After seven months he took the city by means of a causeway, which let his forces enter. In building this causeway, Alexander made use of the ruins of the old city. He laid the stones, timber and the very dust of the destroyed city into the sea to build the causeway, and that causeway brought the utter ruin of the wealthy city.

The lessons of such a fall need hardly be dwelt on. Everyone standing in the presence of such a fall feels them. But they are unwelcome, so people dismiss them as quickly as possible. The lessons of God's school are too humbling for man to welcome... The sentence of God is on it; but, as He says here, that He may set true glory in the land of the living... All this has indeed to pass away. What can be shaken must be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Our kingdom is in what cannot be shaken.

The trading powers would especially feel the utter ruin of a city so renowned and strong in the sea. The prophecy names the coastlands too as troubled at Tyre's departure. For many of the wealthy fled, while the rest remained to be destroyed.

Tyre means "a rock." This island city stood on a rock. For its own purposes it did not need the power to produce goods where it stood. It needed a good gathering point where traders could bring the products of other regions and exchange them. With such vast resources, Tyre might well look on itself as a rock that could not be shaken... But God takes up its character in its final result, and declares that it shall be a rock — a rock and nothing more — "a bare rock," or "cliff," as the word He uses means.

The lesson is all the more serious because Tyre does not appear to have been driven by plain hostility against Israel. Her motive was commercial greed. She saw a chance for profit in the disasters of God's chosen people. This drew the city into an opposition to Israel that the Lord resented. When God chastens His people, that is no licence for the selfish greed that would profit from their troubles or their downfall.

Tyre is the merchant through and through; his professed aim is even to serve. No doubt his aim is first of all to serve himself. He does not have the true spirit of service for God. Instead he finds in the need of others the opportunity for his own gain. That is what we find here as the cause of his judgment... The habitual gathering of riches out of other people's need hardens the heart; there is hardly need to say it.

Ezekiel 26:2 shows that Tyre, the merchant city of the world, was the rival of Jerusalem, the city of God: "I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste." So Babylon (compare Ezekiel 27 with Revelation 18) is the rival of the new Jerusalem. God was known in the palaces of Jerusalem. In Tyre it was the god of this world. There a person could satisfy the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

The description of her great commerce reminds us of that coming world-system described in the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Babylon the Great will be both a religious and a commercial world centre. Her commerce is just like the commerce of Tyre.

The lessons of such a fall hardly need to be spelled out. Everyone who stands in front of them feels them at once. But the lessons are unwelcome, so people dismiss them as fast as they can. The lessons of God's school are too humbling for man to welcome... What can be shaken is to be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain, and our kingdom is in what cannot be shaken.

The city of Tyrus (which means rock) was partly built on an island off the mainland in the Mediterranean Sea. Scripture first mentions this ancient Phoenician city in Joshua 19:29, where it calls it "the strong city." It had a wonderful trade, and chapter twenty-seven describes that trade in its variety. Seafaring men lived there, and the prophet Isaiah describes this wealthy and influential city as "the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honored of the earth."

The trading powers would feel most keenly the utter ruin of a city so famous and so strong at sea. So the prophecy names the isles as troubled at Tyre's departure. Many of the wealthy fled, while the rest stayed behind to be destroyed.

This city is the picture of the world's commercial glory: wealthy, corrupt, and self-confident. Nebuchadnezzar took it after a long siege, though he did not destroy it… Tyre and the Tyrians were the centre of the trade of the ancient world. They were the storehouse of all the goods and luxuries of that day, and the link through "the ships of Tarshish" between the west and the east. So its fall was bound to be felt painfully by people everywhere.

Tyre is a merchant at heart, and he even claims that his object is to serve. No doubt his aim is first of all to serve himself. He has not the true spirit of service for God. Instead he finds in the need of man the opportunity for his own gain, and this is the cause of his judgment here… She says against Jerusalem: "Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste." How easily we understand it! How common such rejoicing among merchants has always been! The habit of gaining riches from the need of others hardens the heart, as hardly needs saying.

That godless city… represents the world with its riches and lusts. It hated God and God's people, and was glad at Israel's fall, because that left her freer to indulge her own selfishness… Alexander the Great was the one who carried this prediction out (332 B.C.).

They have said they are sure that the waves of the sea now roll where the vast and magnificent palaces of Tyrian wealth and luxury once stood. The monuments of commercial enterprise and prosperity have been overwhelmed by the storm of God's anger, and are as if they had never been… Its people now are only a few poor souls sheltering in the vaults and living mainly by fishing. God's Providence seems to keep them in the place as a visible argument of how God has fulfilled His word concerning Tyre.

The lessons of such a fall hardly need to be dwelt on. Everyone who stands in front of them feels them at once, and then dismisses them as fast as possible, because they are unwelcome. The lessons of God's school are too humbling for man to welcome… God's sentence is on that false glory; but it falls, as He says here, so that He may set true glory in the land of the living… What can be shaken is to be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Our kingdom is in what cannot be shaken.

A comparison with Revelation 18 will bring out the striking correspondence. When finally Babylon the Great falls — that coming religious-commercial world-system, with Rome as a centre — her fall and desolation will surely be greater than the fall of Tyrus.

The destruction of Tyre was to be complete. Whatever the importance of its position — and its past success seemed to invite the rebuilding of such a commercial centre — all hope on man's part would be vain, for the Lord says, "I will make you terrors, and you shall be no more. Though you are sought for, you shall never be found again, says the Lord Jehovah."

About 240 years later, this prophecy came literally true. Alexander the Great came against the city built on the island. After seven months he took it by building a causeway, which let his forces enter. To build it, Alexander used the ruins of the old city. He laid the stones, timber and the very dust of the destroyed city into the sea.

Jerusalem has been judged — Jerusalem, in many ways a centre of attraction for the people around, "the gate of the peoples," as Tyre calls her. The rejoicing at her fall is Canaanite enough. She says against Jerusalem: "Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste." How naturally we understand it! How common such rejoicing is among merchants at all times! Habitually getting rich out of the need of others hardens the heart. So it was with Tyre, and for this she is judged.

Scripture is vague about Sheol. Sight stops at the grave, and all is dark and silent beyond… Some uses of "lower parts of the earth" belong to Sheol, and some to the earth itself: Psalm 63:9; 139:15; Isaiah 44:23. The phrase is most common in Ezekiel (Ezek. 26:20; 31:14, 16, 18; 32:18, 24).

Here judgment sweeps them off the earth after long patience and sends the boastful down to the pit. There lie the fairest, without a token of relationship to God, "with the uncircumcised." There lie Assyria, Elam, Meshech and Tubal, Edom, Sidon and other nations north of Palestine. They lie in helpless weakness and humiliation, ashamed of the might they were once so proud of.

The last sentence of verse 20, "And I shall set glory in the land of the living," means the coming glory of the earthly Zion, the glory in store for Israel.

The sentence of God is upon it; but, as He says here, so that He may set true glory in the land of the living. The earth today is little like this. It is more like a graveyard of the dead… All this has to pass away. Everything that can be shaken must go, so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Our kingdom is in what cannot be shaken.

Ezekiel 26:2 shows that Tyre, the merchant city of the world, was the rival of Jerusalem, the city of God. So Babylon (compare Ezek. 27 with Rev. 18) is the rival of the new Jerusalem. God was known in the palaces of Jerusalem — the god of this world in Tyre. There a man could satisfy the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

The destruction of Tyre was to be complete. Its position was important, and its past success seemed to invite the rebuilding of such a commercial centre. Even so, all hope on man's part would be vain, for the Lord says, "I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more. Though you be sought for, you will never be found again, declares the Lord GOD." … Such would be the doom of those who meddle with Israel even in their desolation, for their own lust of gain.

Jerusalem has been judged — Jerusalem, in many ways a centre of attraction for the people around, "the gate of the peoples," as Tyre calls her. Tyre says against Jerusalem: "Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me. I shall be replenished now that she is laid waste." There is little need to say that the habit of gaining riches from other people's need hardens the heart. So it was with Tyre here, and for this she is judged.

This great judgment was not carried out all at once. Nebuchadnezzar came against her first. He besieged Tyre on the mainland and took the city after thirteen years. Tyre's fleet protected the part of the city built on the island in the sea, and that part escaped… Centuries passed, and it seemed as if Ezekiel's prophecy about Tyre's complete overthrow would stay unfulfilled. About 240 years later the literal fulfilment came. Alexander the Great came against the city built on the island. After seven months the city was taken by means of a causeway, which let Alexander's forces enter. In building this causeway Alexander used the ruins of the old city. The stones, timber and the very dust of the destroyed city were laid into the sea… The work was done so completely that no one will ever be able to identify its exact site.

They are convinced that the waves of the sea now roll where the vast and magnificent palaces of Tyrian wealth and luxury once stood. The monuments of commercial enterprise and prosperity have been overwhelmed by the storm of divine indignation, and are as if they had never been… Its present inhabitants are only a few poor people sheltering in the vaults and living mainly by fishing. Divine Providence seems to keep them there as a visible argument of how God has fulfilled His word about Tyre — that it should be "like the top of a rock; you shall be a place to spread nets upon."

The lessons of God's school are too humbling for man to welcome. He may have to accept the sentence of condemnation on himself, and the passing away of all the false glory he would like to make true, but cannot. The sentence of God is on that glory. But, as He says here, it falls so that He may set true glory in the land of the living… All this has indeed to pass away. What can be shaken is to be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain, and our kingdom is in what cannot be shaken.

The description of her great commerce reminds us of a coming world-system. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, describes it. Babylon the Great will be a world centre for both religion and trade. Her commerce is just like the commerce of Tyre (Rev. 18:12-13).