Topical Encyclopedia IntroductionTyre, an ancient Phoenician city located on the Mediterranean coast, played a significant role in the biblical narrative, particularly during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Known for its wealth, maritime prowess, and skilled artisans, Tyre was a key ally to the Israelites during this period. The alliances formed with Tyre were instrumental in the construction of significant structures, including the Temple in Jerusalem. Historical and Geographical Context Tyre was a prominent city-state in Phoenicia, situated in what is now modern-day Lebanon. It was renowned for its strategic location, which facilitated trade and commerce across the Mediterranean. The city was divided into two parts: a mainland settlement and an island fortress. Tyre's influence extended through its colonies and trade networks, making it a powerful entity in the ancient Near East. Alliance with King David The relationship between Tyre and Israel began during the reign of King David. Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent envoys to David, recognizing his growing power and influence. This diplomatic gesture marked the beginning of a fruitful alliance. In 2 Samuel 5:11 , it is recorded: "Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David." This alliance was mutually beneficial, as it provided David with the resources and skilled labor necessary to establish his royal palace, while Tyre gained a powerful ally in the region. Alliance with King Solomon The alliance between Tyre and Israel reached its zenith during the reign of Solomon, David's son. Solomon's ambitious building projects, particularly the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, required resources and expertise that Tyre could provide. In 1 Kings 5:1-12 , the collaboration between Solomon and Hiram is detailed. Solomon requested cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon, and in return, he provided Hiram with wheat and olive oil. The passage states: "So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty thousand baths of pure olive oil. Solomon did this for Hiram year after year" (1 Kings 5:10-11). Hiram also sent skilled craftsmen, including Huram-Abi, a master craftsman, to assist in the construction of the Temple. This collaboration underscored the strong diplomatic and economic ties between the two kingdoms. Cultural and Religious Significance The alliance with Tyre had significant cultural and religious implications for Israel. The materials and craftsmanship provided by Tyre contributed to the grandeur and splendor of the Temple, which became the center of Israelite worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. The use of Tyrian resources and expertise in the Temple's construction demonstrated the interconnectedness of the ancient Near Eastern cultures and the importance of international alliances in achieving monumental projects. Prophetic References and Later Developments Despite the positive relations during the reigns of David and Solomon, Tyre's future interactions with Israel were not always favorable. The prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, later pronounced judgments against Tyre for its pride and opposition to Israel. Ezekiel 26-28 contains a detailed prophecy against Tyre, foretelling its eventual downfall. In summary, the alliances formed between Tyre and the Israelite kings David and Solomon were pivotal in the development of Israel's infrastructure and religious heritage. These alliances highlight the importance of diplomatic relationships in the biblical narrative and the broader historical context of the ancient Near East. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Kings 5:1And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Chronicles 2:3 Library The Greater Prophets. Sennacherib (705-681 BC ) The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... Egypt Of Civil Government. The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Iranian Conquest Resources How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God, and not the Apocrypha, the Qur'an, the Book of Mormon, etc.? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is so much of the world still unevangelized? | GotQuestions.org What are the names of Satan? | GotQuestions.org Tyre: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Tyre: Called: The Crowning City Tyre: Called: The Daughter of Tarshish Tyre: Called: The Daughter of Zidon Tyre: Called: The Renowned City Tyre: Celebrated For: Its Beauty Tyre: Celebrated For: Its Commerce Tyre: Celebrated For: Its Wealth Tyre: Celebrated For: Strength and Beauty of Its Ships Tyre: Christ was Followed by Many From Tyre: Christ: Alluded to the Depravity of Tyre: Christ: Depended for Provision Upon Galilee Tyre: Christ: Paul Found Disciples At Tyre: Christ: Visited the Coasts of Tyre: City of Besieged by Nebuchadnezzar Tyre: City of Heals the Daughter of the Non-Jewish, Syrophenician Woman Near Tyre: City of Jesus Goes to the Coasts of Tyre: City of Multitudes From, Come to Hear Jesus, and to be Healed of Their Diseases Tyre: City of On the Northern Boundary of the Tribe of Asher Tyre: City of Pleasant Site of Tyre: City of Prophecies Relating To Tyre: City of The Hostility of Herod Agrippa I Toward Tyre: City of To be Judged According to Its Opportunity and Privileges Tyre: David and Solomon Formed Alliances With Tyre: Inhabitants of Mercantile Men Tyre: Inhabitants of Proud and Haughty Tyre: Inhabitants of Sea-Faring Men Tyre: Inhabitants of Self-Conceited Tyre: Inhabitants of Superstitious Tyre: Kingdom of Hiram, King of Tyre: Kingdom of Sends Material to David for his Palace Tyre: Often Confederated Against the Jews and Rejoiced in Their Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: All Nations to be Terrified at Its Destruction Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Envy Against the Jews a Cause of Its Destruction Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Inhabitants of, to Emigrated to Other Countries Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Its Inhabitants to be Sold As Slaves, As a Recompence For Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Its Restoration to Commercial Greatness After Seventy Years Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Its Second Destruction by the Macedonians Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Never to Recover Its Greatness Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Pride a Cause of Its Destruction Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: The King of Babylon to be Rewarded With the Spoil of Egypt Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: The Ruins of the First City to be Employed in Making A Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: To be Destroyed by the King of Babylon Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: To be Scraped As the Top of a Rock, and to be a Place For Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: To Lie Waste and be Forgotten for Seventy Years Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: To Participated in the Blessings of the Gospel Tyre: Propitiated the Favour of Herod Tyre: Soldiers of, Supplied by Persia Tyre: Supplied: A Master-Builder for the Temple Tyre: Supplied: Seamen for Solomon's Navy Tyre: Supplied: Stones and Timber for Building the Temple Tyre: Supplied: Timber for Rebuilding the Temple and City Tyre: The Jews Condemned for Purchasing from the People of, on The Related Terms Nebuchadrez'zar (31 Occurrences) Misrephothmaim (2 Occurrences) |