The first verses of Ezekiel 26 feature a brief oracle against the Phoenician city, Tyre. A much longer oracle concerning Tyre and Sidon will appear in the upcoming chapters.
Here are some interesting historical facts about Tyre and its relationship to other nations that surrounded it.
The city derives its name from the rock on which the city was built. In ancient times, the rock formed an island about 600 yards off the coast of Phoenicia.
History buffs may be interested to know that in 332 B.C., Alexander the Great conquered Tyre by constructing a massive connection from the island to the mainland.
The people of Tyre and Sidon were remnants of the Canaanites. The people of Tyre welcomed Babylon’s defeat of Judah, seeing it as an opportunity to expand their commercial interests.
Following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., the Babylonians besieged Tyre, a campaign that lasted 13 years.
The oracle against Tyre began about a month after Ezekiel received news of Jerusalem’s fall, likely in February 585 B.C. This oracle coincided with Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Tyre.
In the twelfth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem,
“Aha, broken is the gateway of the peoples;
it has swung open to me;
I shall be replenished,
now that it is wasted,” (Ezekiel 26.1-2)
Jerusalem, a formidable fortress, stood as an obstacle between Egypt and other Mediterranean countries. Its conquest was essential for unimpeded travel and trade.
Once captured, Jerusalem became a gateway, facilitating commerce and generating significant profits for her competitors, especially Tyre. Consequently, the people of Tyre rejoiced at the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem.
Opposing God
Tyre might have thought they were merely dealing with the forces of Babylon against Judah, failing to recognize that they were also contending with God and His chosen people. As a result, Tyre faced God’s judgment.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God:
See, I am against you, O Tyre!
I will hurl many nations against you,
as the sea hurls its waves.
They shall destroy the walls of Tyre
and break down its towers.
I will scrape its soil from it
and make it a bare rock.
It shall become, in the midst of the sea,
a place for spreading nets.
I have spoken, says the Lord God.
It shall become plunder for the nations,
And its daughter towns inland
shall be killed by the sword.
Then they shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 26.3-6)
Hannah Arendt famously observed that a nation is merely “a business with a gun.” This assertion rings true when we consider the countless instances of nations exploiting each other for territorial or economic gain.
Nations like ancient Tyre and modern states may overlook a crucial factor: God’s perspective. God has a profound interest in human affairs, and nations that disregard His moral principles risk facing His judgment.
In later chapters, we will explore the immense wealth of Tyre. Like many nations today, they had the conviction that economic might is the ultimate determinant of global power.
As we read about Tyre’s vast wealth and pride, it is hard not to see the United States as the foremost representative of this in the world today.
God’s judgment on the nation should cause us to pause and reflect. Those who read my blog, much like me its author, have very limited power to influence the policies of our country.
We can play our part by aligning our lives with God’s will and praying fervently for our nation and the nations around the world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, Rus Wismer, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It’s on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 