Ezekiel is prophesying to the foreign nations, as an update to Judah's captives. Tyre gets three chapters.
I haven't read the chapters yet, but before we begin, I have to wonder why Tyre received three chapters when near-relatives of Israel, such as Edom, only received a few paragraphs. In other books of the prophets God had to say to other nations. However, Tyre has been a prominent figure in Israel's story.
- They are gentiles, but they have partnered with Israel many times.
- They are, geographically, directly north of Israel. The strong city of Tyre was to be the boundary of the northern most tribe in dividing up the Promise Land.
- Located on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, it was a Phoenician maritime capital known for its immense wealth, seafaring skill, and the famous purple dye.
- During the reigns of David and Solomon, Tyre was Israel's closest commercial partner, providing cedar logs for David's palace, as well as resources and expertise for building the Temple.
- They also partnered in a joint merchant fleet that traveled as far as Ophir to bring back exotic goods like gold, silver, and ivory.
- King Ahab married the princess from Sidon/Tyre, leading to ongoing clashed between Jezebel and the ba'al priests and God's prophet, Elijah.
- Ironically, when Elijah had to go into hiding, one of the long stops was in Tyre. The widow is starving in a drought in the land of ba'al, who was supposed to be able to bring rain and fertility. God brought the widow blessing and saved the widow and her son, even raising the son from the dead. SO God loved the people of Tyre, even when their princess and priest were corrupt.
They are often referenced positively as symbols of wealth and success, as well as having a brotherly covenant with Israel, but also negatively as corrupt. It's not as cut and as the symbolism as Egypt.
I'll be curious to see why God had so much more to say to them via Ezekiel.
Chapter 26
In Ezekiel's 11th year in Babylon he gets a prophesy for Tyre.
Tyre is celebrating the fall of Jerusalem because it means all of the wealth and trade that had been going to Judah, will now come to Tyre. In judgment of this attitude, the Ezekiel prophesies that the Lord will rise up many nations against them AND the waves.
- The invaders and waves will break Tyre's walls and towers.
- Then the Lord will scrape away the debris and leave bare rock where was a mighty city.
- She will become the spoils of war for the nations.
- Tyre's daughters will be slain by sword.
- Nebuchadnezzar's army will descend with all of its resources to break down Tyre's defenses.
- Then he will breach the city, slay the people, and tear down the city from the inside.
- He makes a point to say that the enemies will carry off all of the wealth they were so proud of.
- And what isn't hauled away will be tossed in the sea, including their famous cedars.
So I will silence the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps will be heard no more. I will make you a bare rock; you will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be built no more, for I the Lord have spoken,” declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 26:13-14
It's worth pointing out that the Lord doesn't appreciate schadenfreude. We have to fight the temptation to celebrate the downfall of others, including those we feel like really deserve it.
Starting in verse 15 we learn that neighboring nations will shake and groan when they see the powerhouse of Tyre fall. One way God brings people to Him is by showing them a powerhouse can fall. Bullies always fall. It can be a shock to see a big, power thing fall–even if you didn't care for them, seeing the fall reminds us that no one has enough money, power, and resources that the Lord cannot end them. There's even a small lament for Tyre by these coastland neighbors.
Verse 19 even says the great waters of the sea (Mediterranean) will cover Tyre. The Ryrie Study Bible has a footnote that after the city was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great besieged the island city for 6 months and then build a causeway out to the island using the debris from the remains of the mainland destruction. Sounds like what I read here.
Chapter 27
Next, Ezekiel is commanded by God to take up a lamentation over Tyre. He notes that Tyre dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the people to many coastlines. This seems like a big clue as to why they received so much more messaging than some of the other prophets. Tyre is an international city that has a tremendous impact on many nations. From the out land of Babylon, international issues probably mean more than just inter-tribal disputes near Jerusalem.
Tyre is described as a beautiful, well-crafted and beautifully decorated ship. The various parts of the ship came from different places, indicating their broad trade history. The crew and people associated with the ship were also neighbors and trade partners. Other nations protected her with their armies.
Tyre also had extensive trade partners who brought in luxury items, making her beautiful. He lists several nations that traded with Tyre, including Judah. The merchandise varies widely from types of food and cloth, building materials, and military resources.
The lament picks up again in the second half of verse 25.
- Her ship was filled and glorious.
- Rowers brought her to great waters.
- The enemies from the east broke you. (eastern winds as a common symbol of destruction)
- All of the various people associated with the ship (trading partners and crew) will also fall into the sea.
- These nations will mourn and weep in sorrow for her.
- the nations will lament
- they will recognize her former greatness
- she brought satisfaction around the world through trade
- because of her abundance, kings were enriched around the world
- The mourning will turn to fear and disgust when Tyre falls. All those who admired her will fear and hiss and be appalled.
In the end, they will be no more.
Chapter 28: Satan's Fall and the Lament for Him
Then came a third prophesy to Ezekiel from the Lord for Tyre. This time directly for the leader at the time, Ittobaal II. Here's the Lord's indictment of Ittobaal II:
- prideful
- claimed to be a god
- you're a man who thinks, in his heart, the he has the heart of God (Yikes, capital G)
- smarter than Daniel
- acquired riches thru being smart
- which has made you proud
Now ruthless strangers (Babylonians) are coming with a sword against you wisdom and beauty. They will bring this king down to a pit. Will you still claim being a god among this judgement. Then the king will die.
Next the Lord commands Ezekiel to lament the king of Tyre. However, as you will soon see, the man being described is super human. Already, he has been described as smarter than Daniel! The Ryrie Bible indicates that this is describing Satan and his fall. That would explain why we're on our third chapter and the leader (who sounds like a bad guy) gets his own chapter and his own lament.
“You had the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets,
Was in you.
On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 “You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created
Until unrighteousness was found in you. Ezekiel 28:12b–15
- perfect in wisdom and beauty
- in Eden and covered in precious stones
- craftsmanship was in him from Creation.
Worth noting that satan was a creature of creation. Some cults claim satan and Jesus are bothers, this dispels that heresy.
But satan had beauty, wisdom, and craftsmanship. He had all of that from the time he was created. Sometimes wealth brings with it a corruption and misunderstanding of the source of it all. It was not within him of his own.
That's one of my biggest points of rebellion. I desperately want some value to come from myself, instead of submitting to my Creator. There's a character in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, the main character's brother if I remember correctly, who was a sniveling trust fund baby and he has an altercation with his sister about wanting to be loved, not for anything he did, but just for who he was. It stuck with me because I have felt like that and I've heard others want that. We have inherent value because we are made in God's image and satan had value because God is lamenting his fall; but that value is solely attributable to the Creator. Never the creature.
Also noteworthy in verses 13–14 is that all of those stones come from the ground. An anointed cherub who covers the holy mountain. He was guarding God's place. Ryrie even narrow it to guarding God's throne. I bet those images of fat little Valentine's cherubs drives him crazy. Except that I guess it makes it easier to deceive people into how dangerous and even deadly the cherubs can be.
God sealed him as perfect and covered him with the best the ground has to offer. And his job was to use that covering to honor God. What a waste.
Verse 15 says that he was blameless until unrighteousness was found in him. Where did it come from? Hell was created for him and his minions...but where did the unrighteousness come from? Pride was his downfall, but how?
Partially, the answer to my question is addressed in verse 16:
“By the abundance of your trade
You were internally filled with violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:16
This sin came from within him. And it had something to do with his trade- guarding? the violence of his trade twisted his insides? I have questions; but no doubt that there are answers and none of those answers impugn God.
Verse 17 is also a partial answer. He was so beautiful that his heart became prideful and overrode all of his wisdom.
In verse 16 and 17 God emphasizes that satan is thrown to the ground and punished. God destroys him. And burns his reputation in front of all who see him. Everyone is appalled by him. God made satan terrified and promised satan that he would be no more.
That's the end of the satan prophesy and lament in the context of the king of Tyre.
Very interesting prophesy amid a very interesting deep dive onto tyre, which we don't normally see.
Now there is a focus on Tyre's neighbor, Sidon, who is so close that they are often mentioned together, Tyre/Sidon. They are directly north of Tyre and also on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sidon
Now Ezekiel turns his face to Sidon as he proclaims their prophesy.
and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God,
22 “Behold, I am against you, O Sidon,
And I will be glorified in your midst.
Then they will know that I am the Lord when I execute judgments in her,
And I will manifest My holiness in her.
23 “For I will send pestilence to her
And blood to her streets,
And the wounded will fall in her midst
By the sword upon her on every side;
Then they will know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 28:22–23
Look at the contrast between verses 22 and 23. In verse 22 the Lord will:
- be glorified
- be on their midst
- manifest His holiness
These are very good things. These are promises He makes to His followers. But wait. In this case, when he is against someone, He still accomplishes His glory and holiness, but with:
- pestilence
- blood in the streets
- wounded falling
- a sword on every side
Then they will know that I am the Lord God.
The outcome is the same—the glory and will of God. You get to decide how He works through you. (Seems like it the same theme as satan in the description above. He had it all and used it for evil; ending in his own suffering.
I didn't know about the satan story and lament in this chapter or I would have broken up the Tyre chapters. This definitely turned into a long one. But very interesting. Tyre is interesting by itself. It was given such a place of prominence in the ancient world, but also in God's story. And to have satan interconnected is even more interesting. Definitely a place of mixed symbolism—riches, success, and worldly corruption. Being covered in riches and influence is going to be a blessing or a curse. These prophets were all blessed with direct attention and gifting from the Lord, but paid in suffering. Maybe that's why. The cherub satan got that attention without the suffering and something turned bad inside of him.
It's worth meditating on blessings. Those can be when we draw away from the Lord because we have what we think we want. When He is what we need.
Verse 24 assures us that painful briars, such as Sidon, will no longer be around to hurt or scorn us.
Verses 25–26 go even further:
Thus says the Lord God, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob.
They will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”’”
Take hope, friend. Friday is good because Sunday is coming. The fallen world can be a dangerous and enticing place, beautiful serpents offering delicious fruit. But a time is coming when the Lord's glory and holiness will be manifested by true peace and abundance, security and provision.
Then they (and we) will know that He is the lord God.
Amen.