Isaías 23
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 23
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This condemnation of Phoenicia is paralleled in Ezekiel 26-28 and Amos 1:9-10. Tyre (capital of Phoenicia) was a powerful and wealthy maritime nation, which caused them to be prideful and self-reliant. Because it was such a widespread empire several nations and geographical areas mourned for the loss of trade. ship of Tarshish (i.e. western Mediterranean area), Isa. 23:1,6,14 coastlands, Isa. 23:2,6 merchants of Sidon (i.e. second largest Phoenician city), Isa. 23:2 Egypt, Isa. 23:3,5 Canaan, Isa. 23:11 Cyprus, Isa. 23:12 Notice the number of IMPERATIVES directed at Tyre/Phoenicia. wail, Isa. 23:1, BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Isa. 13:6; 14:31; 15:2,3; 16:7 (twice); 65:14 be silent (lit. "be still"), Isa. 23:2, BDB 198, KB 226, Qal IMPERATIVE be ashamed, Isa. 23:4, BDB 101, KB 116, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Isa. 1:29; 19:9; 20:5; 24:23; 26:11; 29:22; 30:5; 37:27; 41:11; 42:17; 44:9,11; 45:16,17,24; 49:23; 50:7; 54:4; 65:13; 66:5; Micah 3:7; 7:16 pass over, Isa. 23:6, BDB 716, KB 778, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Isa. 23:2 wail, Isa. 23:6, same as #1 overflow (lit. "pass over"), Isa. 23:10, same as #4 arise, Isa. 23:12, BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE pass over, Isa. 23:12, same as #4,6 wail, Isa. 23:14, same as #1,5 take your harp, Isa. 23:16, BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE walk about the city, Isa. 23:16, BDB 685, KB 738, Qal IMPERATIVE pluck the strings (lit. "play skillfully"), Isa. 23:16, BDB 405, KB 408, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. 1 Sam. 16:17; Ps. 33:3; Ezek. 33:32 sing many songs, v 16, BDB 915, KB 1176, Hiphil IMPERATIVE As always in trying to interpret the poems of Isaiah the historical setting would be very helpful in understanding the details and allusions, but these poems could fit several different invasions. The book of Isaiah is a collection of messages from throughout his life combined at some future date (an anthology by Isaiah's disciples). They are structured in non-chronological ways based on related words related geographical areas word plays themes and more Moderns do not know how, when, or by whom the OT books were finally compiled/edited.
Isaías 23:1-7
23:1 "oracle" See full lexical note at Isa. 13:1. ▣ "Tyre" See Contextual Insights, A. and B. ▣ "Wail, O ships of Tarshish" "Wail" (ילל, BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) denotes loud shrieking. It is used often in Isaiah (cf. Isa. 13:6; 14:31; 15:2,3; 16:7 [twice]; 23:1,6,14; 52:5; 65:14 and a related term [יללה] in Isa. 15:8 [twice]). See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. Note this same phrase appears in Isa. 23:14. Often a repeated phrase marks a literary unit, but here that does not fit well. The ships of Tarshish were large commercial grain carriers, usually from Egypt. They became an idiom (as did "Phoenicia" and "Canaanite") for merchants. Here they are personified for literary effect. ▣ "Tarshish" This place name (BDB 1077) could refer to a city in southern Spain on the Atlantic side, which was a Phoenician colony (i.e. Tartessus, possibly modern Sevilla) the island of Sardinia (cf. Gen. 10:4) a city on the north African coast (Carthage was a colony of Phoenicia) a metaphor for a far distant port a type of large sea-going commercial ship a rival maritime nation (cf. 1 Kgs. 10:22) SPECIAL TOPIC: TARSHISH (place) ▣ "without house or harbor" The city of Tyre had two inhabited areas. most of the houses and shops were located on the mainland coast (cf. Josh. 19:29; 2 Sam. 24:7) the palace, temple, and fortress were on an island (originally two small islands) just off the coast (cf. Ezek. 27:32) This made it almost invulnerable until Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. destroyed the coastal part and used the debris to build a causeway to the island fortress (cf. Ezek. 26:3-5). The ships from Tarshish had no where to offload their cargo, nor receive different cargo to transport. There is a textual issue with both "house" and "harbor." The word "house" in the MT (BDB 108) could also be "harbor" with only a revocalization. "without house" (REV) ‒ מבית "harbor" (NEB) ‒ מבית The word "harbor" is literally a Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 97, KB 112) meaning "to come in," which in this context, denotes coming into a place of anchorage or dock. Both #1 and #2 seem to refer to the Port of Tyre. ▣ "Cyprus" The MT has "Kittim" (BDB 508), possibly taken from the name of a Roman city on the island of Cyprus called "Citium," which was originally a Phoenician colony (cf. Isa. 23:7). Some identify the inhabitants with one of the sons of Javan, Elishah (cf. Gen. 10:4; Ezek. 27:7). 23:2 "Be silent" This Qal IMPERATIVE is parallel to "wail" in Isa. 23:1 (BDB 198 I). There is speculation based on a Ugaritic root that it reflects a separate root (BDB 199 II) "lament" ("wail," TEV; "lament," REB). ▣ "Sidon" This was a coastal city (cf. Gen. 10:19) of Phoenicia about twenty-five miles north of Tyre. It was originally the main city (cf. Josh. 13:4,6). The name seems to have come from the eldest son of Canaan, son of Ham (cf. Gen. 10:15). Tyre and Sidon are often linked together in the NT in reference to the nation of Phoenicia (cf. Matt. 11:21,22; 15:21; Acts 12:20). NASB, NRSV, NJB "Your messengers crossed the sea" "Whom those who cross the sea have filled" "You sent agents across the sea" "whose goods traveled over the sea" "traders of Sidon" "the merchants of Zidon that passed over the sea" "the merchants of Phoenicia crossing the sea" The NASB follows the Isaiah scroll from the DSS. The MT has "passed over (BDB 716, KB 778, Qal PARTICIPLE) the sea (BDB 410) they replenish you." The term "your messengers," in its inflected form, is very similar in Hebrew to the VERB "fill." VERB, מלאוך ("fill," BDB 569, KB 583; Piel PERFECT, NKJV) NOUN, מלאכוך ("messenger," BDB 521, NASB) The UBS Text Project, p.51, gives option #2 a C rating (considerable doubt). 23:3 NASB, JB "the grain of the Nile" NKJV, NRSV, REB, JPSOA "the grain of Shihor" "the grain of the Canal " "the harvest of the river" "the harvest of the Nile" The MT has "grain of Shihor, harvest of the Nile." Shihor (BDB 1009) means "the pond of Horus" (KB 1477). It referred to an eastern branch of the Nile (BDB 1009) a canal of black (BDB 1007 I) water a lake in the eastern delta region It is spelled differently in Josh. 13:13; 1 Chr. 13:5, שׁיחור Jer. 2:18, שׁחור Isa. 23:3, שׁחר but all refer to the same area in Egypt. ▣ "she was the market of nations" See Ezek. 27:3-23. 23:4 "Be ashamed" The VERB (BDB 101, KB 116, Qal IMPERATIVE) is used of God's judgment on idols (cf. Jer. 50:2). Here it denotes the shame of a defeated nation (cf. Isa. 1:29; 19:9; 37:27; 41:11). These nations can experience forgiveness and restoration if they will turn to YHWH (cf. Isa. 49:23); this is also true of His own people (cf. Isa. 29:23; 45:17; 54:4). ▣ "Sidon" Sidon is personified. The NRSV footnote says "Ruined Sidon is barren like the sea without sailors (i.e. young men)." It is possible that the speaker is not personified Sidon but the Canaannite god, Yam ("sea"). If so, then the next phrase is a characterization of the Canaanite sea god, "Mighty One of the Sea" (J. Oswalt, Isaiah, pp. 430-431). 23:6 "Tarshish" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TARSHISH 23:7 This describes Tyre (cf. Isa. 23:5) jubilant city (i.e. prideful and self-satisfied, cf. Isa. 22:2; 24:8; 32:13) very old city (i.e. pride in their antiquity) colonizing nation (pride in their international influence)
Isaías 23:8-11
23:8-12 This strophe is united by the use of the VERB "planned" (lit. "advised" or "purposed," BDB 419, KB 421, Qal PERFECT, cf. Isa. 23:8,9; 14:24, 26, 27; 19:12,17). There is an intentionality behind history-YHWH! The kingdoms of this world make their plans (Isa. 23:8), but the God of creation also makes His (Isa. 23:9). 23:8 NASB, NRSv "the bestower of crowns" NKJV, Peshitta "the crowning city" "the imperial city" "who used to hand out crowns" "the city with crowns in its gifts" "crown-wearing" The VERB (BDB 742, KB 815, Hiphil PARTICIPLE) means "to crown." It could refer to crown bestower (NASB, NRSV, NJB, REB, JPSOA) crown wearer (TEV, NKJV, Peshitta) 23:10 The rival maritime empire of Tarshish (possibly Spain or Sardinia) is invited to expand and overflow because of the destruction of Phoenicia. An alternate understanding of the phrase is in the Septuagint, "Till your land; for no more ships come out of Carthage." This is followed by the REB, "Take to the tillage of your fields, you people of Tarshish; for your market is lost." Your trading days are over, just settle down and farm your own land. ▣ "no more restraint" "no more strength" "no one to protect you" "no one to drive you away" "your market is lost" "harbor no more" "no longer any marketplace" The MT is difficult. The question of line two is—should it read belt, waistband, BDB 561, מזח haven, JPSOA market, מחז, NEB, NET The UBS Text Project, p. 54, gives the MT, option #1, a B rating (some doubt). 23:11 "He has stretched His hand out over the sea" See note at Isa. 14:26. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "He has made the kingdoms tremble" The VERB (BDB 919, KB 1182, Hiphil PERFECT) is used of YHWH "shaking" several things. mountains, Isa. 5:25 heavens, Isa. 13:13 Sheol, Isa. 14:9 sea, Isa. 23:11 YHWH Himself, Isa. 28:21 those who feel secure, Isa. 32:10,11 nations, Isa. 64:2 and once of Judah as she opposes YHWH in Isa. Isa. 37:29. ▣ "Canaan" This could refer to Tyre as the only good fortress/harbor on the Canaanite coast or Canaan as a way of referring to the merchant kingdom of Phoenicia. ▣ "its strongholds" This PLURAL NOUN (BDB 731) is understood this way by most English translations. The Peshitta has "destroy its mighty men." The most creative translation is the NEB, REB, "its marts." her strongholds ‒ מעזניה her marts ‒ מעזניה The only difference is vocalization. The UBS Text Project, P 55 cannot decide on the original Hebrew text, but rejects the conjecture of the NEB, REB. The TEV tries to combine both options with "centers of commerce."
Isaías 23:12
23:12 In this chapter Phoenicia (NIV) is called by the name of its old capital, "Sidon," and also its new current capital, "Tyre." ▣ "Arise, pass over to Cyprus; even there you will find no rest" Some see this as referring specifically to the king of Sidon, "Lulli," fleeing from the Assyrian army to Cyprus in 701 B.C., where he was killed (JB footnote, p. 1177). This is surely possible, but not certain. Hebrew poetry is ambiguous.
Isaías 23:13-18
23:13 "the land of the Chaldeans" This seems to refer to the destruction of old Babylon (not Neo-Babylon) by Assyria (cf. chapters 13-14). There are two "Babylons" mentioned in the Prophets. small semi-autonomous region close to the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that rebelled against Assyria and was invaded and their capital "Babylon" destroyed by Sargon II (722-705 B.C.), who took the Babylonian throne name "King of Babylon." Then it would refer to the Babylonian kings Merodach-baladan, reigned 721-710 and again 703-702 B.C. (He sent messengers to Hezekiah in 712 B.C., cf. 2 Kgs. 20:12-21; Isaiah 39) Shamash-shum-ukim, son of Esarhaddon, 681-669 B.C. and rival brother to Ashurbanipal [669-633 B.C.] who was made king of Assyria a Neo (i.e. "new") Babylon appeared on the scene in 626 B.C. with the rise of Nabopolassor (626-605 B.C.), the father of Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 B.C.). Nabopolassor was instrumental in the fall of Asshur (one Assyrian capital) in 614 B.C. and Nineveh (the main Assyrian capital) in 612 B.C.. (see of "Brief Historical Survey of the Powers of Mesopotamia" in Appendix Three). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF BABYLON ▣ "it" Does this refer to the Chaldean capital Babylon or Sidon/Tyre? In context it refers to the city of Babylon destroyed by Sargon II in 710 or Sennacherib in 689 B.C. Tyre would look like Babylon. Assyria, Neo-Babylon, and Alexander the Great are coming!!! ▣ "for desert creatures" This term (BDB 850 II) denotes wild desert animals of some kind. It has the added connotation of being inhabited by the demonic (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 79, and NEB, REB translations). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEMONIC IN THE OT 23:15 "for seventy years" The time designation appears here and in Isa. 23:17. It seems to allude to a complete time (from 7 x 10, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SEVENTY YEARS). Notice some of its usages in Scripture. revenge, Gen. 4:24 age of Terah when Abram was born, Gen. 11:26 seventy in Jacob's family moved to Egypt, Exod. 1:5 seventy elders during the Wilderness Wandering Period, Exod. 24:1,9; Num. 11:16,24,25 (also Ezek. 8:11) number of Abimelech's brothers who were killed, Jdg. 9:56 expected life span, Ps. 90:10 (double is a special blessing from God, Job 42:16) the plague of YHWH killed 70,000, 2 Sam. 24:15; 1 Chr. 21:14 Ahab's seventy sons, 2 Kgs. 10:1,6,7 seventy year judgment Judah in Babylon, Jer. 25:11; Dan. 9:2; Zech. 7:5 Tyre, Isa. 23:15 Jesus sent out seventy, Luke 10:1,17 forgiveness 70 times 7, Matt. 18:22 ▣ "like the days of one king" This phrase designates the expected reign of a monarch. Seventy years was the time span for a normal life, but here it refers to a very long reign, which probably shows the symbolic nature of the round number. 23:17-18 The riches of Phoenicia will flow to God's restored people (note also Isa. 18:7 and 45:14, which denote similar actions). Phoenicia will not respond to the witness of Israel, but will remain pagan (i.e. Ba'al worship). The Jewish Study Bible, p. 828, thinks vv. 15-18 are theologically parallel to Isa. 19:18-25, which describes Egypt and Assyria coming to YHWH. However, the use of "harlot" in vv. 15,17,18 surely points in a different direction.