Ezekiel Chapter 26
Ezekiel 26
Greedy Tyre is No More
Ezekiel 26 begins a three-chapter section against Tyre. After Jerusalem’s fall, Tyre rejoiced because Judah’s ruin meant commercial advantage. Tyre was a powerful Phoenician seaport, wealthy, secure, and proud of her position on the Mediterranean. Yet her greed blinded her to spiritual reality. She looked at the fall of Jerusalem and thought only of increased trade, saying in effect that Jerusalem’s broken gates meant Tyre would be filled. The LORD therefore declares Himself against Tyre. Many nations would come against her like waves of the sea. Nebuchadnezzar would begin the judgment, and later invaders would continue it until Tyre was scraped bare like the top of a rock. The uploaded notes emphasize Tyre’s greedy rejoicing over Jerusalem’s fall, the successive waves of judgment against her, the distinction between Nebuchadnezzar’s attack and later invaders, and Tyre’s final descent into the pit of judgment.
A. Certain judgment against Tyre.
1. Ezekiel 26:1-2, Announcing the fall of Tyre.
Ezekiel 26:1, And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 26:2, Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:
In the eleventh year, in the first day of the month gives another historical marker. Ezekiel does not name the month here, but the prophecy belongs to the period surrounding the fall of Jerusalem. The previous major time marker was Ezekiel 24:1, the day the siege began. Now Ezekiel turns to Tyre, a nation that rejoiced over Jerusalem’s fall.
The word of the LORD came unto me shows that the judgment against Tyre is not national bitterness from Ezekiel. It is the word of the LORD. God rules over Tyre as surely as He rules over Jerusalem.
Because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha reveals Tyre’s sin. Tyre mocked and rejoiced over Jerusalem’s collapse. The word Aha expresses malicious delight. Tyre saw no tragedy in the profaning of the sanctuary, the desolation of the land, or the captivity of Judah. She saw opportunity.
This same spirit had already been condemned in Ammon.
Ezekiel 25:3, And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;
Scripture warns against rejoicing over another’s calamity.
Proverbs 17:5, Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
She is broken that was the gates of the people means Tyre viewed Jerusalem as a commercial or regional gateway now shattered. Jerusalem had stood as a significant inland center, but with her fall, Tyre believed trade and influence would turn more fully toward herself.
She is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste exposes Tyre’s greed. Tyre’s heart was materialistic. She calculated the destruction of God’s city in terms of profit. If Jerusalem’s fall helped business, Tyre rejoiced.
This was not always the relationship between Tyre and Jerusalem. Hiram king of Tyre had once been friendly toward David and Solomon, helping with building supplies and skilled craftsmen.
2 Samuel 5:11, And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
1 Kings 5:1, And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
1 Kings 5:6, Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
1 Kings 5:7, And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
1 Kings 5:8, And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
1 Kings 5:9, My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
1 Kings 5:10, So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
1 Kings 5:11, And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
1 Kings 5:12, And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
But later Tyre’s heart turned against Judah. The prophets condemn Tyre for trafficking God’s people and breaking brotherly covenant.
Joel 3:4, Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
Joel 3:5, Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
Joel 3:6, The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
Joel 3:7, Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
Joel 3:8, And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Amos 1:9, Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
Amos 1:10, But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
Tyre’s sin was therefore not simple happiness over a rival’s misfortune. It was covenant treachery, greed, and contempt for the people and purposes of God.
2. Ezekiel 26:3-6, The destruction to come to Tyre.
Ezekiel 26:3, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.
Ezekiel 26:4, And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
Ezekiel 26:5, It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
Ezekiel 26:6, And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus is the dreadful sentence. Tyre may have been rich, defended, famous, and secure at sea, but none of that mattered once the LORD declared Himself against her. No commercial strength, naval security, or political alliance can save a nation when God stands against it.
This also reflects God’s faithfulness to His covenant promise to Abraham. Nations that curse or mistreat Abraham’s seed bring judgment upon themselves.
Genesis 12:1, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father‘s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 12:2, And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Genesis 12:3, And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up fits Tyre perfectly because she was a maritime power. The waves of the sea were familiar to Tyre, but now the nations would come against her like wave after wave. Judgment would not come in one moment only, but through successive waves of conquest.
Historically, Tyre faced repeated waves of subjugation and destruction, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar’s long siege, followed by later powers such as the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, Rome, and later conquerors. Ezekiel’s prophecy emphasizes not only one invader, but many nations.
They shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers means her defenses would fall. Tyre trusted in her strength, especially the security of her island fortress, but her walls and towers would not finally protect her.
I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock is vivid and precise. Tyre means rock, and God says she will be scraped bare like a rock. Her buildings, soil, dust, and glory would be stripped away.
It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea pictures a city reduced from commercial greatness to a bare place where fishermen dry their nets. The mighty trading power would become a fishing place.
For I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD gives certainty. Tyre’s judgment does not rest on military probability. It rests on the word of the LORD.
It shall become a spoil to the nations means the wealth Tyre accumulated would be plundered by others. The city that hoped to profit from Jerusalem’s ruin would itself become profit for conquering nations.
Her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword refers to Tyre’s dependent towns and mainland settlements. Tyre was not only the island city but also had mainland villages and allied places. These would also come under judgment.
They shall know that I am the LORD gives the purpose. Tyre would know the God she had ignored and insulted. She would know Him through judgment.
3. Ezekiel 26:7-11, The destruction to come from Nebuchadnezzar’s army.
Ezekiel 26:7, For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
Ezekiel 26:8, He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.
Ezekiel 26:9, And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.
Ezekiel 26:10, By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.
Ezekiel 26:11, With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.
I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon identifies the first great instrument of judgment. The same king who came against Jerusalem would come against Tyre. Ezekiel names him here directly as the LORD’s chosen instrument against Tyre.
A king of kings, from the north describes Nebuchadnezzar’s imperial power. Babylon ruled over many subordinate kings and territories. He came from the north in the usual invasion route into the land.
With horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people describes the massive military force coming against Tyre. Her wealth and defenses would face the full machinery of Babylonian siege warfare.
He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field means Nebuchadnezzar would first devastate the mainland settlements and dependent towns connected to Tyre.
He shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee describes siege tactics. Babylon would build siege works, raise mounds, and bring shielded forces against the city.
He shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers means the attack would be systematic and destructive. Babylon’s siege machines and tools would strike Tyre’s defenses.
By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee pictures an army so large that its movement creates a cloud of dust. The power that approached Tyre would be overwhelming.
Thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots describes the terror and force of Babylon’s arrival. The sound of war would shake the city.
When he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach means Tyre’s defenses would be breached. The city would not remain untouched.
With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets pictures Babylonian forces entering and trampling the city.
He shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground means Tyre’s military strength would fall. The garrisons, pillars, and symbols of power would be brought down.
The LORD later notes that Nebuchadnezzar’s long campaign against Tyre was laborious and yielded little immediate spoil, which helps explain the historical picture. Nebuchadnezzar subdued Tyre, especially the mainland portion, but later waves would complete what he began.
Ezekiel 29:18, Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:
4. Ezekiel 26:12-14, The destruction to come from succeeding waves of invaders.
Ezekiel 26:12, And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.
Ezekiel 26:13, And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.
Ezekiel 26:14, And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
They shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise marks an important shift. In verses 7-11, the prophecy uses he for Nebuchadnezzar. Here it changes to they, pointing back to the many nations of verse 3. Nebuchadnezzar began the judgment, but later invaders would continue it.
They shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses means Tyre’s beauty, comfort, and wealth would be stripped away. The city that trusted in prosperity would see prosperity plundered.
They shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water was fulfilled in a remarkable way when Alexander the Great built a causeway to reach the island city of Tyre, using the rubble of the mainland city. The stones, timber, and soil of old Tyre were literally cast into the sea to build the road of conquest.
I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard means Tyre’s music, celebration, luxury, and commercial joy would end. The city that rejoiced over Jerusalem’s fall would lose its own songs.
I will make thee like the top of a rock repeats the wordplay and image from verse 4. Tyre the rock would become bare rock.
Thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon repeats the picture of humiliation. Instead of being the center of Mediterranean commerce, she would become a bare place for fishermen’s nets.
Thou shalt be built no more means ancient Tyre would never be restored to her former greatness and identity. A later settlement exists in the region, but the ancient commercial capital never regained the grandeur and role it had before.
For I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD again seals the prophecy. The waves of history are governed by the word of the LORD.
There is also mercy seen in the delay and unfolding of Tyre’s judgment. Though Tyre was judged as a city-power, the New Testament shows that the Lord Jesus ministered in the region of Tyre and Sidon, and believers later existed there.
Matthew 15:21, Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:22, And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mark 7:24, And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
Mark 7:25, For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
Mark 7:26, The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Paul also met disciples at Tyre.
Acts 21:3, Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
Acts 21:4, And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
The judgment of Tyre as a proud city-power did not mean God had no mercy for individuals from that region who would receive the truth.
B. Down to the pit.
1. Ezekiel 26:15-18, The nations lament over Tyre.
Ezekiel 26:15, Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?
Ezekiel 26:16, Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
Ezekiel 26:17, And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!
Ezekiel 26:18, Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.
Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall means Tyre’s collapse would shock the coastal lands and island powers connected to Mediterranean trade. Tyre’s fall would not be local news only. It would send fear through the maritime world.
When the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee pictures the violence of the city’s fall. The commercial capital would become a place of wounded cries and slaughter.
All the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones means rulers and officials of maritime cities would humble themselves in fear. Tyre’s downfall would make them realize their own vulnerability.
Lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments shows that their symbols of status would be removed. Their luxury would give way to mourning.
They shall clothe themselves with trembling is a striking phrase. Fear will become their garment. They will be covered not with wealth, but with dread.
They shall sit upon the ground is the posture of mourning, humiliation, and shock.
And shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee means Tyre’s fall would seem almost unbelievable. If such a strong maritime city could fall, no coastal power was safe.
They shall take up a lamentation for thee introduces a funeral song for Tyre. The prophets sometimes used lamentations over proud nations to show that their greatness was already doomed in God’s sight.
How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men mourns the fall of a city known for ships, sailors, merchants, and maritime strength.
The renowned city, which wast strong in the sea emphasizes Tyre’s fame and security. Tyre was strong at sea, but not strong against God.
She and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it means Tyre once intimidated others. Her power and reputation inspired fear. Now she herself is the object of astonishment and fear.
Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall repeats the impact on surrounding maritime peoples. Tyre’s downfall becomes a warning to them.
The isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure means Tyre’s removal from the stage of history would disturb the entire network of coastal and island powers.
2. Ezekiel 26:19-21, Tyre brought down to the pit.
Ezekiel 26:19, For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
Ezekiel 26:20, When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;
Ezekiel 26:21, I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.
When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited means Tyre would be stripped of population, commerce, celebration, and power. Desolation would replace wealth.
When I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee fits Tyre’s maritime identity and judgment. The sea that contributed to Tyre’s strength would become part of the imagery of her burial. The deep would cover her.
I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit moves beyond the visible destruction of the city to the realm of death and judgment. Tyre would descend like the dead into the pit.
The pit can refer to a grave, dungeon, or the realm of the dead.
Psalm 28:1, Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Psalm 88:4, I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
Psalm 88:5, Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
Psalm 88:6, Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
With the people of old time means Tyre would join the dead of former ages, the ancient peoples who had already passed into judgment.
And shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old speaks of descent into death, not merely geography. Tyre’s proud height would be brought down into the lowest place.
The LORD rules even there. No realm is outside His sovereignty.
Psalm 139:8, If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
With them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited means Tyre’s judgment would be final as a proud ancient city-power. She would not return to her former historical greatness.
And I shall set glory in the land of the living contrasts Tyre’s descent with God’s continuing purpose. Tyre goes down to the pit, but God will establish glory in the land of the living. The fall of proud cities does not frustrate God’s plan. It displays His glory and advances His purposes.
I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more means Tyre’s judgment would become a fearful warning. Those who hear of it would be terrified.
Though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again means ancient Tyre, as the powerful city-state it had been, would vanish from history. People might search for its former greatness, but they would not find it.
This is a striking contrast with the promise of mercy to Israel and Judah after judgment. The sins of Judah would one day be sought and not found because God would forgive and restore.
Jeremiah 50:20, In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
Tyre would be sought and not found in judgment. Israel’s sins would be sought and not found in mercy. The difference is covenant grace.
Saith the Lord GOD closes the chapter with divine finality. Tyre’s wealth, sea power, walls, towers, songs, harps, merchants, and princes could not withstand the word of the LORD.
Ezekiel 26 teaches that God judges greedy opportunism, national pride, and malicious joy over the calamity of His people. Tyre looked at Jerusalem’s fall and thought only of profit. The LORD answered by bringing many nations against Tyre like waves of the sea. Nebuchadnezzar would begin the siege, later conquerors would complete the devastation, and Tyre would be scraped bare like the top of a rock. Her songs would cease, her maritime allies would tremble, and she would be brought down to the pit. Yet God would establish glory in the land of the living. The proud trading city would fall, but the LORD’s purpose would stand.
