Source: Marvin A. Sweeney, Reading Ezekiel: A Literary and Theological Commentary, Reading the Old Testament Series (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Incorporated, 2013), 131–142.
Ezekiel’s Oracles concerning Tyre and Sidon.wav
This podcast on Ezekiel focuses on divine judgment against the powerful city-states of Tyre and Sidon. These prophecies, delivered around the time of Jerusalem's destruction, condemn Tyre for rejoicing in Jerusalem's downfall and highlight the city's commercial arrogance as a primary reason for its impending destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. The text uses vivid metaphors, like portraying Tyre as a sinking ship and its rulers as arrogant individuals brought low, to illustrate the certainty of divine punishment and its role in revealing God's power and ultimately leading to the restoration of Israel.
The Oracles Concerning Tyre and Sidon as a Major Unit in Ezekiel: Ezekiel chapters 26–28 constitute a significant section within the book of Ezekiel. This unit is specifically dedicated to delivering divine pronouncements, or oracles, directed against the prominent Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. The beginning of this unit is clearly marked by specific textual formulas, including a chronological reference and a phrase indicating the transmission of a prophetic word. This structuring highlights the importance and focus of these chapters on the judgment and implications for Tyre and Sidon.
Chronological Setting and Historical Context: The oracle unit begins with a specific date given as the eleventh year, on the first of the month. This date is somewhat ambiguous as the month is not explicitly stated in the Hebrew text, though some ancient versions attempt to clarify it. However, linking the eleventh year to the reign of Jehoiachin's exile corresponds to the period between spring 587 BCE and spring 586 BCE. This timeframe aligns with the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, which occurred in the summer of 586 BCE. The timing of the oracle, therefore, places it before Jerusalem's final fall, coinciding with Tyre's apparent rejoicing over the city's impending or actual downfall. It also precedes the Babylonian siege of Tyre, which commenced around 585 BCE, positioning the oracle as a prophecy of Tyre's future judgment.
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre: The sources indicate that Nebuchadnezzar initiated a siege against Tyre shortly after conquering Jerusalem. This siege was reportedly lengthy, lasting for approximately thirteen years. Nebuchadnezzar's interest in Tyre stemmed from its alliance with Egypt, which made it a crucial strategic target in his broader military campaigns aimed at dominating Egypt and securing control over vital trade routes and resources across the eastern Mediterranean. While Babylonian records regarding this extensive siege are limited, historical accounts from the first-century CE historian Flavius Josephus provide the primary evidence for its thirteen-year duration. Although the precise course and outcome of the siege remain somewhat uncertain, historical records suggest a change in leadership in Tyre around 572 BCE, shortly after the siege's conclusion, and potentially the deportation of a previous king to Babylon.
Structure of Ezekiel 26-28: Five Oracular Accounts: The unit focusing on Tyre and Sidon is organized into a sequence of five distinct oracular accounts. Each account is introduced by a prophetic word formula and addresses a different aspect of the condemnation or the consequences related to Tyre and Sidon. The first two accounts (Ezekiel 26:1-21 and 27:1-36) primarily concern the city of Tyre itself. The third (Ezekiel 28:1-10) is directed against the prince of Tyre, while the fourth (Ezekiel 28:11-19) is a lament or dirge over the king of Tyre. The fifth and final account (Ezekiel 28:20-26) shifts focus to Sidon and also incorporates a concluding oracle concerning the restoration of Israel. This structural division allows for a multi-faceted examination of the divine judgment against these Phoenician powers.
Theological Significance: Revelation of YHWH and Restoration of Israel: A central theological theme threading through these oracles is the identification of Nebuchadnezzar's conquests, including that of Tyre and Sidon (as well as other neighboring nations mentioned elsewhere in Ezekiel), as actions orchestrated by YHWH. These events are interpreted as a means by which YHWH is revealed, not only to Israel but also to other nations. Within the larger narrative framework of the book of Ezekiel, YHWH's use of the Babylonian conqueror is seen as facilitating the purification of Jerusalem and Judah, which had been profaned. The destruction is portrayed not merely as punishment but as a preparatory step towards the future restoration of the nation and the establishment of a new temple, as envisioned in later chapters of Ezekiel. The downfall of Tyre and Sidon is presented as directly enabling Israel's restoration and recognition of YHWH's power.
The First Oracle (Ezekiel 26:1-21): Judgment for Rejoicing Over Jerusalem's Fall: The initial oracle against Tyre begins by stating the reason for the impending judgment: Tyre's gloating over the destruction or downfall of Jerusalem. Tyre's elation is understood to stem from a perceived rivalry for control of eastern Mediterranean trade routes; with Jerusalem defeated, Tyre might have anticipated gaining an advantage. However, the oracle immediately announces punishment. It describes YHWH bringing "nations" against Tyre, specifically referencing Nebuchadnezzar and his multinational army. The oracle employs powerful imagery related to Tyre's identity: portraying the sea, normally its source of strength, as attacking it with waves and depicting the city being battered into "bare rock," which plays on the meaning of Tyre's name (Hebrew tsor means "rock"). This imagery contrasts Tyre's former power with its prophesied fate as merely a place for fishermen to dry their nets. The oracle also includes the despoiling of Tyre's allied coastal towns. While some descriptions, like a land-based siege with horses and chariots, may not perfectly fit an island city like Tyre, they convey the intensity of the anticipated assault and downfall, which ultimately may have involved capitulation rather than full invasion.
The Second Oracle (Ezekiel 27:1-36): Tyre as a Ship and Its Downfall: This oracle is presented as a dirge, a type of mourning hymn, to be chanted over Tyre. It employs an extended metaphor, portraying the city of Tyre as a magnificent and expertly crafted ship engaged in vast international trade. The dirge details the ship's construction from high-quality materials sourced from various regions (cypress from Senir, cedars from Lebanon, oaks from Bashan, boxwood from Greek islands, linen from Egypt, purple/blue dye from Elishah/Cyprus). It also describes its diverse crew drawn from various Phoenician cities and even mercenary warriors from places like Persia, Lydia, and Libya. This detailed portrayal emphasizes Tyre's impressive wealth, global reach, and reputation as a seafaring power. However, the metaphor culminates in the ship's destruction by an "east wind," which is presented as an agent of YHWH's judgment. The subsequent sections of the dirge depict the shipwreck and the profound mourning it causes among Tyre's numerous trading partners and client nations, highlighting the widespread impact of Tyre's demise.
The Third Oracle (Ezekiel 28:1-10): Condemnation of the Prince of Tyre's Arrogance: This oracle specifically targets the "prince" of Tyre (using the Hebrew term nagid, which can be synonymous with "king"). The core accusation is the prince's audacious claim to be divine, considering himself a god seated in the heart of the sea. YHWH directly challenges this claim, asserting that the prince is merely a human being, despite his perceived intelligence and wisdom. The oracle contrasts the prince's commercial expertise with the wisdom of the Canaanite sage Dan-El (distinct from the biblical Daniel), who was known for knowledge of divine matters, underscoring the prince's limited, earthly understanding compared to true divinity. As a consequence of his arrogance and blasphemous claim, the oracle announces judgment: YHWH will bring foreign nations (specifically the Babylonians, implicitly identified as "the uncircumcised" who will carry out the sentence) against the prince. He will be struck down and sent to the underworld, the "pit," thereby proving his mortality and exposing the falsehood of his claim to be a god.
The Fourth Oracle (Ezekiel 28:11-19): Dirge for the King of Tyre and His Fall from Ideal Status: Following the oracle against the prince, a second dirge is pronounced, this time specifically for the "king" of Tyre. This lament portrays the king using highly idealized language, referring to him as the "seal of perfection." This imagery draws on ancient Near Eastern concepts of the ideal human king, often associated with divine attributes or a privileged status in the divine realm. The dirge further enhances this idealization by describing the king adorned with various precious stones, nine of which correspond to stones on the breastpiece of the Israelite high priest. This connection, along with his portrayal as a cherub (a divine guardian figure often associated with sacred spaces like the Jerusalem Temple), suggests a past status or role, perhaps even involving guardianship or close association with divine things or places, possibly linking back to historical ties between Tyre (King Hiram) and Israel (King Solomon) in building the Temple. However, the dirge then describes the king's fall from this elevated, perhaps Eden-like, state. His downfall is attributed, at least in part, to his extensive commerce with foreign nations, which is seen as leading to violence and sin, causing him to be cast out and ultimately consumed by fire, provoking shock and dismay among those who witness his ruin.
The Fifth Oracle (Ezekiel 28:20-26): Judgment on Sidon and Hope for Israel's Restoration: The final oracle in this unit addresses Sidon, presented as a close ally of Tyre. Since Sidon was located on the mainland, it was likely conquered more easily by the Babylonians than the island fortress of Tyre. The oracle announces judgment against Sidon, describing typical consequences of a siege and conquest, such as pestilence, bloodshed, and the slain in the streets. The downfall of Sidon, like that of Tyre, is explicitly stated as an event intended to reveal YHWH's glory and sovereignty. Crucially, this oracle links the judgment on Tyre and Sidon to the future well-being of Israel. It declares that the house of Israel will no longer suffer affliction from surrounding hostile powers, symbolized by "briars and thorns," once Sidon is defeated. The unit concludes with a message of hope focused on Israel's restoration: the prophecy of Israel being gathered from exile back into their ancestral land, given to Jacob. This emphasizes that the judgment on Israel's enemies, like Tyre and Sidon, is part of YHWH's larger plan to restore Israel and ultimately manifest his power to the entire world.