The Tyrians were the inhabitants of the ancient city of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state located on the Mediterranean coast in what is now modern-day Lebanon. Tyre was known for its wealth, maritime prowess, and significant role in trade and commerce during biblical times. The city is frequently mentioned in the Bible, and its people, the Tyrians, played various roles in the biblical narrative.

Historical and Geographical Context

Tyre was originally an island city with a mainland settlement, known for its strategic location and strong fortifications. It became a major center for trade and commerce, particularly famous for its production of purple dye, which was highly valued in the ancient world. The city's wealth and influence were largely due to its extensive trade networks that spanned the Mediterranean region.

Biblical References

The Bible references Tyre and the Tyrians in several contexts, highlighting both their interactions with Israel and their eventual judgment by God.

1. Alliance with Israel: The Tyrians had a notable relationship with the Israelites, particularly during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Hiram, the king of Tyre, was a friend and ally of both kings. He provided materials and skilled labor for the construction of David's palace and Solomon's Temple. In 1 Kings 5:1-12, we read about the cooperation between Solomon and Hiram: "So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying: 'I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber.'"

2. Trade and Commerce: Tyre's role as a major trading hub is acknowledged in the Bible. Ezekiel 27 provides a detailed account of Tyre's extensive trade network, describing the city as a "merchant of the peoples to many coastlands" (Ezekiel 27:3). The chapter lists various goods traded by Tyre and the nations with which it conducted business.

3. Judgment and Prophecy: Despite its prosperity, Tyre is subject to prophetic judgments in the Bible. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all pronounce God's judgment against Tyre for its pride and idolatry. Ezekiel 26:3-5 prophesies the city's downfall: "Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers; I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.'"

4. New Testament Mentions: In the New Testament, Tyre is mentioned in the context of Jesus' ministry. Jesus visited the region of Tyre and Sidon, where He performed miracles and healed the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30). This account demonstrates the reach of Jesus' ministry beyond the borders of Israel and highlights the faith of Gentiles.

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Tyrians were known for their polytheistic religion, worshiping deities such as Baal and Astarte. This religious influence occasionally seeped into Israel, leading to periods of idolatry among the Israelites. The most infamous instance of this was during the reign of King Ahab and his marriage to Jezebel, a Phoenician princess from Sidon, who promoted the worship of Baal in Israel (1 Kings 16:31-33).

Legacy

The legacy of the Tyrians is seen in their contributions to maritime trade and the spread of the Phoenician alphabet, which influenced the development of writing systems in the ancient world. Despite their eventual downfall, the historical and biblical accounts of Tyre and its people provide insight into the complex interactions between the nations surrounding ancient Israel.6876. Tsori -- inhab. of Tyre
... Tsori. 6877 . inhab. of Tyre. Transliteration: Tsori Phonetic Spelling: (tso-ree')
Short Definition: Tyrians. Word Origin from Tsor Definition inhab. ...
/hebrew/6876.htm - 6k

2438. Chiram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians)
... Hiram, Huram. Or Chiyrowm {khee-rome'}; another form of Chuwram; Chiram or Chirom,
the name of two Tyrians -- Hiram, Huram. see HEBREW Chuwram. 2437, 2438. ...
/hebrew/2438.htm - 6k

Ecdippa. Achzib. Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31 Climax of the Tyrians.
... Climax of the Tyrians. ... When they came to the ladder of the Tyrians, Rabban Gamaliel
came down, and veils himself, and, sitting, resolved his vow. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 65 ecdippa achzib joshua.htm

Antiquity of the Temple.
... the building of the temple in Jud??a, which Solomon the king built 566 years after
the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, there is among the Tyrians a record how ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxii antiquity of the temple.htm

How Shalmaneser Took Samaria by Force and How He Transplanted the ...
... Accordingly, when the Tyrians would not submit to him, the king returned, and fell
upon them again, while the Phoenicians had furnished him with threescore ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 how shalmaneser took.htm

How Ahab when He had Taken Jezebel to Wife Became More Wicked than ...
... made; and he contrived other absurd objects of worship besides those heifers: he
also took to wife the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Tyrians and Sidonians ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how ahab when.htm

A Description Op Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.
... of the territory belonging to Ptolemais, and by Carmel; which mountain had formerly
belonged to the Galileans, but now belonged to the Tyrians; to which ...
/.../chapter 3 a description op.htm

It May be Objected that the People of Tyre and Sidon Might, if ...
... A certain catholic disputant of no mean reputation so expounded this passage of
the gospel as to say, that the Lord foreknew that the Tyrians and Sidonians ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 x it may be.htm

What Predestination Is.
... But where are the rest left by the righteous divine judgment except in the
mass of ruin, where the Tyrians and the Sidonians were left? ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 35 what predestination is.htm

Herod Ejects Antigonus, the Son of Aristobulus Out of Judea, and ...
... Sending Him Much Money; On Which Account He Would Not Admit Of Those That Would
Have Accused Herod: And What It Was That Antony Wrote To The Tyrians In Behalf. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 12 herod ejects antigonus.htm

One Worker Preparing for Another
... him in the great work; strangers, foreigners, and aliens, who dwelt throughout Israel
and Judah; these all took their share, and even the Tyrians and Zidonians ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/one worker preparing for another.htm

It was not Now Long Before Vespasian came to Tyre...
... It was not now long before Vespasian came to Tyre, and king Agrippa with him; but
the Tyrians began to speak reproachfully of the king, and called him an enemy ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 74 it was not.htm

Tyrians (3 Occurrences)
...Tyrians (3 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 22:4 And cedar-trees even without number,
for the Zidonians and the Tyrians brought in cedar-trees in abundance to David. ...
/t/tyrians.htm - 7k

Galilee (73 Occurrences)
... the East by Hippene, Gadara, Gaulonitis and the borders of the kingdom of Agrippa,
while the northern frontier was marked by Tyre and the country of the Tyrians...
/g/galilee.htm - 67k

Tyre (59 Occurrences)
... In the time of David a friendly alliance was entered into between the Hebrews and
the Tyrians, who were long ruled over by their native kings (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 ...
/t/tyre.htm - 45k

Zer (1 Occurrence)
... zer (tser; in Septuagint the verse (Joshua 19:35) reads kai hai poleis teichereis
ton Turion, which implies a Hebrew text with ha-tsurim, "Tyrians"; this must ...
/z/zer.htm - 7k

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)
... Ezra 3:7 And they gave money to the masons and to the carpenters; and meat and drink
and oil to the Zidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar-trees from ...
/z/zidonians.htm - 10k

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)
... Originally Sidonian, the town passed to the Tyrians after the invasian of Shalmaneser
IV, 722 BC It fell to Sennacherib 701 BC The Wely, or shrine bearing the ...
/z/zarephath.htm - 11k

Kedesh (12 Occurrences)
... Josephus says that in his time it belonged to the Tyrians, lying between their land
and that of Galilee (Ant., XIII, v, 6; BJ, II, xviii, 1; IV, ii, 3, etc.). ...
/k/kedesh.htm - 14k

Kedar (11 Occurrences)
... 27:21) gives another hint of their pastoral nature where, in his detailed picture
of the wealth of Tyre, Kedar and Arabia provide the Tyrians with lambs, rams ...
/k/kedar.htm - 13k

Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)
... Here Jehoshaphat overthrew the confederated enemies of Israel (Psalm 83:6-8); and
in this valley also God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, etc. ...
/j/jehoshaphat.htm - 51k

Gained (66 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 12:20 And he was in bitter hostility with the Tyrians and Sidonians;
but they came to him with one accord, and, having gained Blastus the king's ...
/g/gained.htm - 25k

Why did Jesus mention Tyre and Sidon in Luke 10:14? | GotQuestions.org

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