Isaiah 23

1 This is the burden [message from God, prophecy] against Tyre [a major Phoenician city]: Wail [to howl, express strong emotions], O ships [fleet, vessels] of Tarshish [a place on the Mediterranean], for Tyre is laid waste [destroyed, ruined], without house [dwelling place] or harbor [place of entry]. Word has reached them from the land [territory, region] of Cyprus [the island of Cyprus, or its inhabitants, Chittim]. word study 2 Be silent [still, mourn], O dwellers [inhabitants, those who sit] of the coastland [isle, island], you merchants [traders, sailors] of Sidon [a major city, a hub of trade], whose traders [sailors, those who pass over] have crossed [passed over, traveled] the sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water]. word study 3 On the great [abundant, many] waters came the grain [seed, produce] of Shihor [Nile, a river in Egypt]; the harvest [crop, revenue] of the Nile [a river] was the revenue [income, produce] of Tyre; she was the merchant [trader, marketplace] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people]. word study 4 Be ashamed [feel the shame, be humiliated], O Sidon [an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast], the stronghold [fortress, place of security] of the sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water], for the sea [the west, a sea in general] has spoken: “I have not been in labor [travailed, experienced pain] or given birth [beget, brought forth children]. I have not raised [nourished, brought up] young men [youth, chosen individuals] or brought up [exalted, lifted up] young women [virgins, brides].” word study 5 When the report [news, announcement, rumor] reaches Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], they will writhe [twist, whirl, be in agony] in agony [sorely pained, deeply distressed] over the news [report, fame, sound] of Tyre [a major Phoenician city, a strategic port]. word study 6 Cross over [pass, sail] to Tarshish [a Mediterranean port, a merchant vessel]; wail [howl, lament], O inhabitants [dwellers, residents] of the coastland [isle, island, sea-land]! word study 7 Is this [your joyous, triumphant] your jubilant city, whose origin [from ancient days, of old] is from antiquity [from the distant past, from times long past], whose feet [her own, that carried her] have taken her to settle [to sojourn, to colonize] far away [into far-off countries, to distant places]? word study 8 Who [the one responsible] planned [purposed, counselled] this against Tyre [the crowning city], the bestower [giver, crowner] of crowns, whose traders [merchants, businessmen] are princes [rulers, leaders], whose merchants [traders, traffickers] are renowned [honored, noble] on the earth [the land, the world]? word study 9 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] planned [to advise, counsel, or purpose] it, to defile [to profane, stain, or bring to shame] all its glorious [excellent, majestic, or beautiful] beauty [splendor], to disgrace [to bring into contempt, make light of, or humble] all the renowned [honorable, weighty, or glorious] of the earth [land, country, or territory]. word study 10 Cultivate [work with diligence, like a farmer] your land [the soil, a country, or territory] like the Nile, O Daughter [a female child or a woman, a term of endearment] of Tarshish [a place of commerce and trade]; there is no longer [nothing remains, not any more] a harbor [a safe place, a refuge]. word study 11 The LORD [Yehovah, the national name for God] has stretched out His hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] over the sea [the Mediterranean Sea, a large body of water]; He has made kingdoms [rulers’ powers or territories] tremble [to shake with fear or excitement]. He has given a command [to appoint or order] that the strongholds [fortified places or rocks, providing safety] of Canaan [the country where the Canaanites lived, now modern-day Israel] be destroyed [to annihilate or desolate, bringing devastation]. word study 12 He said, “You shall rejoice [no more celebrate, not exult] no more, O oppressed [crushed, mistreated] Virgin Daughter [a private and untouched state, a bride] of Sidon [an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast]. Get up [rise, stand] and cross over [pass, transition] to Cyprus [the island or its inhabitants]— even there [in that place, at that time] you will find no rest [no settling down, no peace].” word study 13 Look [behold, take notice] at the land [region, territory] of the Chaldeans [Babylonians, a people known for wisdom and astrology] — a people [nation, community] now of no account [without significance, nonexistent]. The Assyrians [Asshur, the ancestor of the Assyrians] destined [founded, established] it for the desert creatures [wild beasts, nomads]; they set up their siege towers [watchtowers, fortifications] and stripped [demolished, made bare] its palaces [citadels, strongholds]. They brought it to ruin [destruction, a state of decay]. word study 14 Wail [howl, mournfully cry out], O ships [fleet, vessels] of Tarshish [a merchant vessel, a place on the Mediterranean], for your harbor [stronghold, security, fortified place] has been destroyed [ruined, laid waste, devastated]! word study 15 At that time [in the future, during a specific period] Tyre [a major Phoenician city, a center of trade] will be forgotten [left out of mind, neglected] for seventy years [a lifetime, a span of human life]—the span of a king’s [ruler’s, monarch’s] life [existence, reign]. But at the end [conclusion, termination] of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre [occur, come to pass] as in the song [musical expression, poetic utterance] of the harlot [prostitute, one who forsakes loyalty]: word study 16 “Take up your harp [lyre, a musical instrument], stroll through the city [a place with a wall or a watchman], O forgotten [completely overlooked, no longer remembered] harlot [one who has committed adultery or been unfaithful, often referring to idolatry]. Make sweet melody [pleasant and joyful music], sing many a song [numerous musical expressions of praise], so you will be remembered [recalled and marked, not forgotten].” word study 17 And at the end [after the completion, following] of seventy [a period of seven times ten] years, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] will restore [revive, bring back to a state of prosperity] Tyre [a major Phoenician city, a center of commerce and trade]. Then she will return [turn back, come again] to hire [wages, payment for her services] as a prostitute [one who commits fornication, idolatrous practices] and sell [give herself, offer her services] herself to all [every, the whole of] the kingdoms [nations, territories] on the face [surface, presence] of the earth [land, world]. word study 18 Yet her profits [gain from trade, merchandise] and wages [reward, earnings] will be set apart [consecrated, holy] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]; they will not be stored [treasured, laid up] or saved [hoarded, kept back], for her profit [business earnings, income] will go to those who live [dwell, sit] before the LORD [in His presence, face to face], for abundant [sufficient, plentiful] food [nourishment, sustenance] and fine [durable, lasting] clothing [garments, attire]. word study