ISAIAH 23-24

 

Isaiah 23

The city of Tyre was repeatedly captured during several campaigns against the coastal region by Assyria, Babylon and Greece, and even into the Middle Ages. But each time they recovered to resume trading with the other nations. The historical background here is uncertain. Combined oracles against Babylon and Tyre were used in Revelation 17-18.

Verse 1 Tarshish = Tarsus, in Turkey. Others confidently state that it was in Southern Spain, North Africa, Sardinia or Malta. Tyre's ships returning from Cyprus (their nearest colony) find they have no place to go.

Verse 3 Shihor was in Lower Egypt. Tyre's trading ranged as far as the English Channel and the Indian Ocean.

Verse 4 Even the sea, their home, disowns them.

Verses 8-9 Pride seems to be the root cause for their judgment.

Verse 11 Canaan is a geographical term for Tyre's territory.

Verse 13 Chaldeans = Babylonians who under Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre.

Verse 15 70 years is a symbolic period of tribulation in Jeremiah 25:11-12, Zechariah 1 and 7, and in Assyrian writings. The timing fits a period of decline of Assyria after they had severely harassed Tyre. Timing roughly fits the siege under Alexander in 332 BC and granting of autonomy to Tyre by Ptolemy II in 274 BC with subsequent renewed trade with Israel. The Greeks were the first to actually capture the island portion of Tyre by building a causeway from the mainland. The city was completely leveled, their leaders killed, and 30,000 of the residents sold into slavery.

Verses 15-17 Foreign trade and prostitution are equated. Tyre, as a typical seaport town, was noted for its brothels. It also refers to the seductivenesss of the pursuit of material wealth. This was used as the basis for Babylon the Harlot in Revelation 18 and 21.

Verse 18 In later years, Tyre actually became the seat of a Christian bishopric.

Isaiah 24

Chapters 24-27 have been labeled the Isaiah Apocalypse. Chapter 24 uses the word “earth” 15 times.

Verse 2 Hosea 4:9 says, “Like people, like priest.”

Verses 4-6 There is an interesting correlation between social morality and the physical environment. Blankinsopp notes that today we understand this passage much more than previous generations.

Verse 5 probably refers to the covenant with Noah after the flood, which was caused by bloodshed polluting the earth. Note that the flood also appears in verse 18.

Verse 10 The identity of the city is not mentioned. Possibly a composite of all cities mentioned up to this point. Some see Jerusalem as the city. The result of sin is chaos, a reversion of God's created order.

Verses 14-16a Change of mood in which the remnant of verse 13 praise God.

Verse 16b “I pine away” may also be translated “I have a secret.” Word for “secret” only appears elsewhere in Daniel, where it refers to a secret of God revealed only to those he chooses. The prophet has a vision which contradicts the euphoria. He suspects that the celebrants are insincere. Or, it is a return from the vision of the glorious future to the dismal present.

Verses 21-22 Also found in Jude 13, 2 Peter 2:4 and Revelation 9:2, 11. These verses may refer to some general rebellion of angels under Satan or to the angels before the flood who came down to earth (Genesis 6). Alternatively, it may refer to celestial forces that are aligned with hostile earthly rulers. Elsewhere, “hosts of heaven” refers to stars. See Ephesians 6:12 for “the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” In that case, no physical location is indicated since “in the heavenly places” is also said to be where Christ and his followers now reside.

Verse 23 This is identical to the vision in Revelation 21:22ff.