John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 23:12

"And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon: arise, pass over to Kittim; even there shalt thou have no rest." — Isaiah 23:12 (ASV)

And he said, Thou shalt not add any more to rejoice. All this belongs to one and the same object; for, since a plain description would not have had sufficient weight, the Prophet confirms his prediction with many words. It was incredible that a city so celebrated and powerful, so well defended and fortified, and associated with many allies and confederates, should be destroyed and overturned. When he says, Thou shalt not add, he does not intend to exclude the hope of restoration which he will give soon afterwards; for this threat ought to be limited to the time of Tyre's ruin: “You shall not live wantonly, as you were formerly accustomed to do.”

O virgin. Metaphorically he calls her a virgin, because, before that time, the riches of Tyre were untouched, and had suffered no injury. This is not praise of chastity, but a witty manner of saying that the treasures which had been laid up in faithful custody will be violated. “Formerly you skipped lightly, like heifers in the bloom of youth; but when you have suffered violence, there will be an end of your mirth;” just as if one should say that the city of Venice has not lost her virginity because it has not been taken by force since it was built.

Daughter of Sidon. He continues to speak of Tyre, but gives it this name because it was built by the Sidonians, though the daughter excelled the mother, as frequently happens in human affairs. The convenience and situation of the place gave a superiority to the inhabitants of Tyre, and Sidon became but an appendage. From the book of Kings it is clear enough (1 Kings 5:1) that the monarchy of Tyre had a high reputation, but here the Prophet looked at its origin.

Pass over to Chittim. When he tells them to pass over to Chittim, he banishes them not only to Cilicia but also to countries still more distant; for under this name, he includes Greece, Italy, and other countries, as if he had said, “When you shall change your residence on account of banishment, you shall have no settled habitation in neighboring countries; but you must wander through the whole world, shall be dragged into unknown countries, and even there you shall find no rest.” Lastly, he means that the ruin will be so lamentable that they will not have a place of rest among their neighbors, and, after crossing the sea, they will not have one among foreigners.