Tyre's Trade Network Laments Its Fall

Tarshish ships hear that Tyre's harbor is gone

The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

Sidon's merchants, Egypt's grain, and far ships form a commercial web. When Tyre is laid waste, the network howls. Ancient Tyre is not a living people to punish, not a colonial prize, and not a coded modern bank or state.

The sea's proud city loses its beauty, and the LORD's purpose stains the pride of all glory

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste. Harbor, beauty, and imperial reach fail together. The purpose is to stain commercial pride, not to authorize domination of coastal peoples.