Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 23:1-14

"The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them. Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast, thou whom the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations. Be thou ashamed, O Sidon; for the sea hath spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins. When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Pass ye over to Tarshish; wail, ye inhabitants of the coast. Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn? Who hath purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth? Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint any more. He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof. 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. Behold, the land of the Chaldeans: this people was not; the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness; they set up their towers; they overthrew the palaces thereof; they made it a ruin. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for your stronghold is laid waste." — Isaiah 23:1-14 (ASV)

Tyre was the trading center of the nations. She was known for her joy and entertainment; and this made her reluctant to consider the warnings God gave through His servants. Her merchants were princes and lived like princes.

When Tyre is destroyed and laid waste, the merchants will abandon her. Flee to provide for your own safety; but those who are restless in one place will be so in another, for when God's judgments pursue sinners, they will overtake them.

From where will all this trouble come? It is a destruction from the Almighty. God designed to convince people of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory.

Let the ruin of Tyre warn all places and persons to beware of pride; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. God will do it, who has all power in His hand; but the Chaldeans will be the instruments.