Having dealt with the sins of the nations related to Israel, Ezekiel then set his face against Philistia (25:15–17) and Phoenicia, especially the Phoenician cities of Tyre (26:1—28:19) and Sidon (vv. 20–24). Once again, the themes of pride, hatred, and revenge come to the fore, sins that can motivate nations even today. It’s very easy for arrogance to masquerade as patriotism, hatred as national zeal, and revenge as justice.
Philistia (25:15–17). After the Israelites entered and occupied the land of Canaan, the neighboring Philistines became serious enemies. Among the judges, Shamgar (Judg. 3:31) and Samson (Judg. 13— 16) attacked them, and both Samuel and Saul had to contend with them. It was David who finally defeated the Philistines, and they were kept under control throughout the reign of Solomon (2 Sam. 5:17–25; 21:15–22; 23:9–17). When the Jewish nation divided, the Philistines asserted their independence and became successful merchants and traders along with the Phoenicians.
The Philistines cultivated a national hatred for the Jews and seized every opportunity to harass and attack them. Ezekiel wasn’t the only prophet who prophesied God’s judgment on the Philistines (see Jer. 47; Amos 1:6–8; Zeph. 2:4–7). The Philistines allied with Egypt in an attempt to withstand Nebuchadnezzar; Babylon was too much for them, and they were defeated and deported like the other vanquished nations (Jer. 25:15–32; 47).
Tyre (26:1–21). Ezekiel devoted four messages to the sins and the fate of the capital of Phoenicia (vv. 1–21; 27:1–36; 28:1–10, 11–19). During their reigns, both David and Solomon were friendly with Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1ff.), and King Ahab’s wife Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, a later king of Tyre (1 Kings 16:31). The message in this chapter contains four parts, each beginning with a statement about the word of the Lord (Ezek. 26:1–6, 7–14, 15–18, 19–21).
Destruction announced (26:1–6). The image used here is that of a storm producing great destructive waves (vv. 3, 19). The city of Tyre was situated partly on the Mediterranean coast and partly on an island about half a mile from the coast, so Ezekiel’s storm image was appropriate. God was angry at Tyre for rejoicing at Jerusalem’s destruction and seeing it as an opportunity for Tyre to prosper even more. But the Lord announced that the nations would come like successive waves of the sea and bring Tyre to ultimate ruin. The name “Tyre” means “rock,” so the statement “like the top of a rock” (vv. 4, 14) is significant. Tyre did become a bare rock and a place where fishermen dried their nets.
Tyre was able to survive the Assyrian conquest, but when Babylon came to power, Nebuchadnezzar besieged the coastal city for fifteen years (586–571 BC) and overcame it, but he did not conquer the island city. In 322 BC, Alexander the Great besieged Tyre for seven months, built a causeway to the island, and was able to conquer the city.
Destruction accomplished (26:7–14). He gives a description of the Babylonian siege of the part of Tyre that was on the shore of the Mediterranean. Nebuchadnezzar began his siege in 587 BC, after the siege of Jerusalem, and though the coastal city was a formidable fortress, he managed to persevere and conquer. The Babylonians threw the timbers and stones into the water and claimed the spoils for themselves. God didn’t think Nebuchadnezzar was “paid enough” for his efforts, so He gave him Egypt as an extra bonus (29:18–20).
Destruction lamented (26:15–18). Since Tyre was at the center of all merchandising along the Mediterranean coast and did business with every known country, her fall was devastating to the economy. There wasn’t a “ripple effect”; there was a tidal wave! Their partners in business—called “princes” (v. 16) and “kings” (27:35)—had lost everything and could only lament the great tragedy that had struck. In 26:17–18 we have a brief lamentation over the fall of the city. Keep in mind that in ancient days, the prophets sometimes used funeral lamentations in a satirical manner to poke fun at the enemies of God. We will have examples in chapters 27 and 32.
People along the coast trembled as they wondered what would happen to the economy now that the great mercantile network was destroyed. Our world today is united in a series of electronic networks that can transfer information, money, and orders for merchandise with such speed that it’s scarcely possible to register them. Imagine what would happen in the world’s economy if all these electronic business connections in New York City alone were dissolved. This reminds us that in the end times, when the Antichrist has organized his great world network called “Babylon,” the Lord will destroy the whole thing and leave the businesspeople desolate and in mourning (Rev. 18).
Destruction forever (26:19–21). The prophet gives us insight into the full extent of Tyre’s destruction by describing the victims’ descent into “the pit” (v. 20). The Hebrew word bor means “a well, a pit, a cistern,” but it also refers to the pit of death (Ps. 28:1; 88:4, 6) and sometimes is an equivalent of sheol, the realm of departed spirits. There were tragic consequences to the pride of Tyre and their evil attitude toward the Jewish people. “I will make thee a terror” (26: kjv) should read, “I shall bring terrors on you” (nasb). Note the statements the Lord makes about His actions toward the city of Tyre: He would make them desolate, cover them with water, bring them down into the pit, bring them terrors, and remove them from the earth. On the other hand, He promised Israel, their enemies, future glory and blessing!