Ezekiel Chapter 26

Excerpts for this study come primarily from Brother Frank Shallieu’s studies on the Book of Ezekiel, and from other related Bible Student resources as well as my own personal studies.

As with many prophecies, this prophecy has a dual application, not only referring to the destruction of literal Tyre, but of greater importance to us, the destruction of symbolic Tyre as well. Tyre symbolically represents ‘Babylon’ typing the kingdom of Satan. Tyre is likewise used as a symbol of evil and the empire of Satan in Isaiah’s prophecy found in Isaiah Chapter 23 as well as in Joel 3:4.

“Tyre and Sidon were literally sister cities 20 miles apart, just North of Israel on the Mediterranean Sea. They were the two main cities of Phoenicia; Tyre was about 30 miles north of Nazareth. In Matt 15:21 were told that Jesus visited both Tyre and Sidon.

The people of both cities were Canaanites. They worshiped the same idol God, BAAL, and the Goddess of fertility Ashtoreth. Together it resulted in depraved worship which influenced Israel and the nations around them.” “Tyre consisted of two distinct parts, a rocky fortress on the mainland, called “Old Tyre,” and the city, built on a small, rocky island about half-a-mile distant from the shore.”

This chapter is a prophecy against Tyre (In Latin: Tyrus meaning “rock”), a significant maritime city back then which was situated north of Israel on the Mediterranean Sea where Lebanon is today. The prophecy was fulfilled in a remarkable way by Alexander the Great and also earlier when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Tyrus on the mainland. In other words, Tyre was destroyed twice: (1) Nebuchadnezzar executed judgment to the city on the mainland. (2) Alexander the Great later destroyed the reconstructed Tyre out on a small island. He cleverly captured the city by scraping or bulldozing, as it were, masonry and rubble from the ruins of the first Tyre to use as fill to build a causeway out to the island for his army. Protected by water and boats, the inhabitants of Tyre had been very confident of their secure position.

VERSE 1 “And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying.”

The time setting is the 11th year, first day of the month, of Jehoiachin’s captivity—that is, 606 B.C., the same year that Zedekiah was dethroned and Jerusalem was destroyed. (The account does not state which month, but it was most likely the first.) The siege had been in progress around Jerusalem since the ninth year (almost 1 1/2 years). Although Tyre would not be destroyed for some time, the destruction was described as a past event. Alexander the Great’s destruction of Tyre would occur long after Ezekiel’s decease.

VERSE 2 “Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken who was the gateway of the peoples; now she is turned over to me; I shall be filled; she is laid waste.”

The word “Aha” is a phrase like saying ‘Aha! That will work’ or ‘Ha! How the mighty have fallen’. It can be used as an exclamation of ridicule or joyful surprise or as an exultation over a fallen rival. (See Psa 35:21, 25; 40:15; 70:3; Isa 44:16; Job 39:25).

The “gates of the people” were the gates of Solomon’s Temple. As the religious center of the nation, Jerusalem was a symbol of Israel. Hence the destruction of Jerusalem was the destruction of the nation. Moreover, Tyre was replenished with the destruction of Jerusalem in that it got additional revenue. Jerusalem was inland, off the trade route, and protected by terrain, whereas Tyre, a trading city and the center of sea trade routes, was known for its harbor. In other words, Tyre became a maritime city because of its location.

In this type, Jerusalem pictures the true Church and Tyre the false Church. (Rome, the capital of Papacy; Tyrus; and Babylon all represent Papacy.) In its early history Papacy tried to get rid of the Jews—to wean them from Jerusalem to Rome. Likewise, true Christians were bitterly persecuted by Papacy. Just as Tyrus said “Aha” and gloated over the destruction of Jerusalem, so Papacy rejoiced over the persecution and death of true Christians, particularly during the Holy (?) Inquisition.

Recall the time setting, its 606 B.C. and Jerusalem one of Tyre’s chief trade rivals has just been eliminated.

The NIV states it thus, “… ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper.”

The Contemporary English Version states it, “…Jerusalem has fallen! It used to be powerful, a center of trade. Now the city is shattered, and we will take its place.”

“I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste; or, “I shall be filled“; with inhabitants, riches, and wealth, with merchants and merchandise, Jerusalem her rival being destroyed; this was what gave her joy; and is a common thing for persons to rejoice at the fall or death of those of the same trade with them; hoping for an increase of theirs by means of it, which yet is sinful.” (Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible)

VERSE 3 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up.”

Tyre, in fulfillment of verse 3, was sacked and restored numerous times by many nations as one after another like waves eroding the sea shore they came until its final destruction in 1291 by the Saracens.

VERSE 4 “And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.”

In fulfillment of this prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar did capture the mainland city. Then, over 200 hundred years later after it had been rebuilt again, Alexander the Great demolished the old mainland city once again, and with the debris he built a causeway 200 feet wide out to the island city of Tyre. To complete the causeway, Alexander’s army literally scraped the soil off the old city down to bare rock to smooth out the causeway surface. Finally, he erected towers and war engines and conquered the island fortress of Tyre—a remarkable fulfillment of verses 4 and 12 of Ezekiel.

VERSE 5 “It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ says the Lord God; ‘it shall become plunder for the nations.”

Verse 5 describes the menial lot of the former great city following its destruction: The debris of the city having been cast into the water, the soil of Tyre scraped down to the bare rock and thrown into the sea. Fishermen would then use the site of the former great city to spread their nets.

VERSE 6 “Also her daughter villages which are in the fields shall be slain by the sword. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Verse 6, which was not fulfilled in the type, emphasizes the destruction of the Protestant denominations. “And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.” A completely prophetic verse, the symbolism’s are as follows. The “field” is the nominal Christian world (Luke 17:31, 36). The “sword” is the sword of truth and enlightenment. The people will see that Protestantism (represented by Tyre’s sister city, Sidon) is similar to Papacy (symbolized by Tyre) and it will be destroyed likewise. This part of the prophecy will be elaborated upon further as we precede in this study.