Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 26

Prophecies against Tyre. The siege of Tyre lasted thirteen years, beginning in 585 b.c., about three years after the capture of Jerusalem. While besieging Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar had driven Pharaoh Hophra back to the borders of Egypt. Tyre, thus relieved from a dangerous enemy, was exulting in her own deliverance and in her neighbor’s ruin when Ezekiel predicted the calamity about to befall her. The name Tyre means rock, and was given to the city because of its position.

This island-rock was the heart of Tyre, and the town on the continent—called “Old Tyre,” possibly as it was the temporary position of the first settlers—was the outgrowth of the island city. The scanty records of ancient history give no distinct evidence of the capture of insular Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, but the fact is very probable. Compare especially Ezekiel 26:7-12; Ezekiel 29:18. The present state of Tyre is one of utter desolation, though the end was long delayed . Tyre was great and wealthy under Persian, Greek, Roman, and even Muslim masters. The final ruin of Tyre was due to the sultan of Egypt (1291 a.d.).

In the first day of the month – The number of the month being omitted, many suppose “the month” to mean the month when Jerusalem was taken (the rebirth month), called “the month,” because it was so well known. The capture of the city is known to have taken place on “the ninth day of the fourth month” and its destruction on “the seventh day of the fifth month.” This prophecy therefore preceded the capture of the city by a few days. The condition of Jerusalem during the latter months of its siege was such that the Tyrians may well have exulted as though it had already fallen.

Gates – that is, one gate of two leaves.

The people – Or, "the peoples" , the plural expressing the fact that many peoples passed through Jerusalem, as the central place on the highway of commerce, for example, in the reign of Solomon.

This was viewed with jealousy by Tyre, who owed her greatness to the same cause, and in the true spirit of mercantile competition exulted that Jerusalem's trade would be diverted to her markets.

Render it: Aha! She is broken – the gate of the peoples! She is turned to me. I shall be filled. She is laid waste.

Her daughters ... - The subject is located on the mainland, on which she at this time relied for supplies.

The description of the siege is that of a town invested by land (Ezekiel 26:7).

Nebuchadrezzar (see note on Jeremiah 21:2) (Ezekiel 26:8).

Lift up the buckler – that is, set a wall of shields, under cover of which the walls could be approached (Ezekiel 26:9).

Engines of war – or, his battering ram. "Axes" (swords). They who would break down the towers rush on with their swords to slay the defenders (Ezekiel 26:11).

Garrisons – pillars, on which stood statues of some protecting god (compare 2 Kings 10:26) (Ezekiel 26:14).

The siege had been on land, but the victory was to be completed by the subjection of the island-citadel.

The effect of the fall of Tyre.

Clothe themselves with trembling (Ezekiel 26:16)—Mourners change their bright robes for sad garments.

Of seafaring men (Ezekiel 26:17)—literally, “from the seas,” that is, occupied by men who come from the seas. Tyre was an inhabited city rising from out of the sea.

In Ezekiel 26:20, compare Isaiah 14:9. The image used by Isaiah and Jeremiah of Babylon is applied by Ezekiel to Tyre, as if to show that Tyre and Babylon alike represent the world-power. So, in the Book of Revelation, Babylon is the kingdom of Antichrist.

The land of the living (Ezekiel 26:20)—The land of the true God, as opposed to the land of the dead, to which the glory of the world is gathered.

Here then, together with the utter ruin of Tyre, rises the vision of renewed glory to Jerusalem. The coming Messiah is thus prophetically pointed out. The overthrow of God’s enemies shall be accompanied by the establishment of His true kingdom.