What is the meaning of Ezekiel 26:2? Son of man, • God addresses Ezekiel personally, just as in Ezekiel 2:1 and 3:17, underlining that the prophet speaks on behalf of the LORD, not himself. • The title reminds readers that the message is rooted in historical reality—Ezekiel, a real man, delivers a direct word from the living God (cf. Numbers 23:19). because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, • Tyre, a thriving Phoenician port, watches Jerusalem’s fall (2 Kings 25:8-10). • The statement reveals Tyre’s heart; like Edom in Ezekiel 35:10 and the Ammonites in Ezekiel 25:3, the city relishes Judah’s calamity. • Psalm 137:7 records a similar gloating spirit among Jerusalem’s enemies, confirming Scripture’s unified witness that God notices such hostility. ‘Aha! • This exclamation of triumph mirrors the scorn in Psalm 40:15 and 70:3. • God condemns gloating over a covenant people’s judgment (Proverbs 24:17-18). • The simple “Aha!” exposes a deeper spiritual arrogance—rejoicing in another’s downfall rather than fearing the same righteous Judge (Romans 11:20-22). The gate to the nations is broken; • Jerusalem had been the crossroads of trade routes (Ezekiel 5:5). With her defenses shattered, Tyre anticipates unrestricted access for its mercantile ambitions. • Zechariah 8:22 later shows Jerusalem restored as a spiritual gateway for the nations, underscoring the temporary nature of this judgment. • God’s sovereignty over nations and trade is also highlighted in Isaiah 23, where Tyre itself becomes subject to divine control. it has swung open to me; • Tyre sees opportunity: no more tolls, rivalry, or moral check from Jerusalem’s temple witness (Micah 4:2). • The phrase exposes greed dressed up as business savvy (James 4:13-16). • While men see an open door for profit, God is the One truly opening and shutting gates (Revelation 3:7). now that she lies in ruins I will be filled, • Tyre expects to “be filled” with plunder and expanded trade, echoing Habakkuk 2:5’s image of an insatiable nation. • Edom voiced the same ambition in Ezekiel 36:2, and both would face judgment for it (Obadiah 15). • Jeremiah 50:10 shows Babylon temporarily “filled” at others’ expense, yet Babylon too falls, proving that self-seeking triumph is short-lived under God’s watch. summary Ezekiel 26:2 unveils Tyre’s proud, opportunistic heart: rejoicing at Jerusalem’s fall, lusting for gain, and presuming upon God’s judgment as a chance to enrich itself. The LORD, who sees every motive, condemns such gloating and greed. He alone controls the rise and fall of cities and commerce, and He will vindicate His people in His time. |
    |