Today: [Isaiah 23] The Burden of Tyre. In this chapter Isaiah prophesies the burden of a city that was comparable in ancient times to New York city in our day. Tyre was a great ally of Israel from the time of David. They provided shipping and materiel necessary for the building of the temple itself. Their commerce and trade literally built great nations such as Ethiopia and Egypt. Yet the people of Tyre were steeped in idolatry and not only provided Israel with trade goods but also contributed to her history leaders such as Jezebel who brought such wickedness to the northern kingdom. In Isaiah’s day Hezekiah maintained trade relations with Tyre out of necessity. The people of Jerusalem tolerated the idolatry of Tyre because they needed access to her ports. In time Tyre is destroyed, ironically about the same time as the city of Jerusalem is ultimately sacked by the Babylonians.
