| Isaiah 23:1
| The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of the sea, for the house is destroyed, from whence they were wont to come: from the land of Cethim it is revealed to them.
| Tyre was destroyed, in part, by Nabuchodonosor. Cyrus permitted all the captives of this, as well as of other countries, to return. --- Cethim; Cyrus, or rather Macedonia. Merchants come thence no longer.
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| Isaiah 23:2
| Be silent, you that dwell in the island: the merchants of Sidon passing over the sea, have filled thee.
| Island. Tyre was originally surrounded with water. A communication with the land was made afterwards, Josue 19:29. (Calmet) (Ezechiel xxvii.) (Worthington)
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| Isaiah 23:3
| The seed of the Nile, in many waters, the harvest of the river, is her revenue: and she is become the mart of the nations.
| Nile. Hebrew Shichor, or "muddy water," designates that river, Josue 13:3. --- River. The overflowing of the Nile gave fertility to Egypt, insomuch that Tyre and other nations were supplied by it with corn.
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| Isaiah 23:4
| Be thou ashamed, O Sidon: for the sea speaketh, even the strength of the sea, saying: I have not been in labour, nor have I brought forth, nor have I nourished up young men, nor brought up virgins.
| Strength: people who sail. Septuagint, "but the strength....replied: I," etc. Sidon will not be concerned for the fall of her rival. She alleges that she has nothing to do with Tyre. That city would not allow that it was a colony of Sidon, ver. 12. (Calmet)
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| Isaiah 23:5
| When it shall be heard in Egypt, they will be sorry when they shall hear of Tyre:
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| Isaiah 23:6
| Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island.
| Seas. The rich Tyrians did so. (St. Jerome) --- Septuagint, "to Carthage." Hebrew Tharsis, in Cilicia. (Calmet) --- Hence Nabuchodonosor did not find a sufficient reward, Ezechiel 29:18.
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| Isaiah 23:7
| Is not this your city, which gloried from of old in her antiquity? her feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
| Sojourn. Many fled, others were made captives.
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| Isaiah 23:8
| Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, that was formerly crowned, whose merchants were princes, and her traders the nobles of the earth?
| Earth. The merchants were as rich as kings, or the latter sent their merchandise to Tyre, Ezechiel 27:33.
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| Isaiah 23:9
| The Lord of hosts hath designed it to pull down the pride of all glory, and bring to disgrace all the glorious ones of the earth.
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| Isaiah 23:10
| Pass thy land as a river, O daughter of the sea, thou hast a girdle no more.
| Girdle, fortress; or rather, thou art naked, like a slave, Isaias 20:4.
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| Isaiah 23:11
| He stretched out his hand over the sea: he troubled kingdoms: the Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan, to destroy the strong ones thereof,
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| Isaiah 23:12
| And he said: Thou shalt glory no more, O virgin, daughter of Sidon, who art oppressed: arise and sail over to Cethim, there also thou shalt have no rest.
| Daughter; colony. (Calmet) --- Oppressed. Literally, "calumniated." (Haydock)
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| Isaiah 23:13
| Behold the land of the Chaldeans, there was not such a people, the Assyrian founded it: they have led away the strong ones thereof into captivity; they have destroyed the houses thereof; they have brought it to ruin.
| It. Hebrew adds, "for fishermen." It was formerly covered with water. (Eusebius, praep. ix.) --- Ruin. The fall of Babylon has been denounced, Isaias 13.
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| Isaiah 23:14
| Howl, O ye ships of the sea, for your strength is laid waste.
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| Isaiah 23:15
| And it shall come to pass in that day, that thou, O Tyre, shalt be forgotten, seventy years, according to the days of one king: but after seventy years, there shall be unto Tyre as the song of a harlot.
| King Nabuchodonosor, whose two sons reigned but a short time. The captivity of the people of God began also the year of the world 3398, and ended the year of the world 3468, the first of Cyrus. --- Harlot. She shall be re-established, (Calmet) and shall invite people to her markets. (Sanchez) --- Before Cyrus, she had kings, but they were of small power. The city was become very rich, and well fortified, when Alexander [the Great] was stopped by it for seven months. See Ezechiel 26:14. (Calmet) --- Tyre had rejoiced at the misfortunes of the Hebrews, and was punished by the like captivity. (Worthington)
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| Isaiah 23:16
| Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot, that hast been forgotten: sing well, sing many a song, that thou mayst be remembered.
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| Isaiah 23:17
| And it shall come to pass after seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and will bring her back again to her traffic: and she shall commit fornication again with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
| Commit. Septuagint, "be the emporium for all." Great injustice prevailed formerly among merchants, so that it is represented as a dishonest calling. (Haydock)
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| Isaiah 23:18
| And her merchandise and her hire shall be sanctified to the Lord: they shall not be kept in store, nor laid up: for her merchandise shall be for them that shall dwell before the Lord, that they may eat unto fulness, and be clothed for a continuance.
| Sanctified to the Lord. This alludes to the conversion of the Gentiles. (Challoner) --- Before, the Tyrians were great enemies to the Jews, 2 Esdras 13:16., and 1 Machabees 5:15. Our Saviour wrought a miracle in favour of one of this country, Matthew 5:22., and Zacharias 8:20. (Calmet) --- Continuance. Literally, "old age." Aquila, "with changes of dress." (Haydock)
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