Why was the little bitty island of Tyre such an important part of this judgment series? The nations to the east of Israel get small paragraphs that basically say that they will be judged for their mockery of Israel. But Tyre? They get a whole 3 chapters.
So what was Tyre? Tyre was for the most part an island off the Phoenician coast. They did have a land counterpart that was also called Tyre (see map- thanks Hebrew nation).
The significant of Tyre was that they basically owned the Mediterranean. They were the dominant people of the boat and were significant in trade deals. They also had the infamous and gorgeous cedar trees that produced such beautiful and fragrant construction material that Lebanon still has it on their flag:
Previously David had been gifted the fine cedar many years earlier by the King of Tyre. It was highly sought after.
In addition to this they also had the key to the purple dye. It too was a rarity and came from a specific shell found in the area. It was said that the purple dye was at times worth more than gold. And that’s why even today it is still often the color of royalty.
So with their brilliant seamanship and two commodities that were highly sought after, they may have been small but they were of mighty influence in the surrounding nations. But they too would face judgment.
The LORD says he was going to bring judgment against them by Nebuchadnezzar. And that is exactly what happened. After Nebuchadnezzar’s victory over the Egyptians at Carchemish as well as forcing Jerusalem and Judah to become a vassal state, Nebuchadnezzar sought to take on Tyre.
It would be a 13 year battle that ended inconclusively. King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the mainland part of Tyre and through the rubble into the sea to try to create a causeway to Tyre. They were sort of successful. They were able to win enough to make Tyre a vassal state through their surrender, but not conclusive enough to militarize it and truly make it their own. Some say Babylon won. Others say the Tyreans won. But the truth was neither truly won.
So what was the sin of Tyre that the LORD said he was going to bring judgment against it? Well we know that there was Baal worship as the kings were often named after Baal. But here’s the thing, Tyre also celebrated the fall of Jerusalem:
2 “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ 3 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.
The LORD wasn’t joking when he said he would come against the nations that came against Israel. But there was more to it. We will see in the next chapter more of her arrogance and more of her sin.
