Topical Bible: Tyre: Inhabitants of Proud and Haughty

◄ Tyre: Inhabitants of Proud and Haughty ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a significant maritime and commercial hub. Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Tyre was renowned for its wealth, trade, and skilled artisans. The city was divided into two parts: the mainland settlement and the island city, which was heavily fortified and known for its impressive harbors.

Biblical References and Historical Context

Tyre's prominence in biblical history is underscored by its interactions with Israel and its role in the broader geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East. The city's wealth and influence are highlighted in several biblical passages, often in the context of its pride and eventual downfall.

In the Old Testament, Tyre is noted for its relationship with King David and King Solomon. Hiram, the king of Tyre, provided materials and craftsmen for the construction of David's palace and Solomon's Temple. This alliance is recorded in 2 Samuel 5:11 and 1 Kings 5:1-12. The cooperation between Israel and Tyre during this period exemplifies a time of mutual benefit and respect.

However, Tyre's pride and self-sufficiency eventually led to its condemnation by the prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos all prophesied against Tyre, foretelling its destruction due to its arrogance and idolatry. Isaiah 23:9 states, "The LORD of Hosts has planned it, to defile all the glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth." This passage reflects the divine judgment against Tyre's haughtiness.

Ezekiel 26-28 provides a detailed prophecy against Tyre, describing its impending destruction and the reasons for its downfall. Ezekiel 28:2 declares, "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of a god in the heart of the sea.” Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god." This passage highlights the city's pride and the ruler's self-deification, which ultimately led to divine retribution.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

In biblical literature, Tyre often symbolizes human pride and the futility of relying on wealth and power apart from God. The city's eventual destruction serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of arrogance and self-reliance. The prophetic denunciations of Tyre emphasize the sovereignty of God over all nations and the inevitability of His judgment against those who exalt themselves above Him.

The New Testament also references Tyre, notably in the ministry of Jesus. In Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30, Jesus travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where He encounters a Syrophoenician woman whose faith He commends. This interaction underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel message and the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles.

Conclusion

Tyre's legacy in the Bible is one of both collaboration and conflict with the people of God. Its history serves as a reminder of the perils of pride and the ultimate authority of God over the affairs of nations. Through the lens of biblical prophecy and narrative, Tyre stands as a testament to the enduring truth that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 23:9
The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 28:2,17
Son of man, say to the prince of Tyrus, Thus said the Lord GOD; Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the middle of the seas; yet you are a man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... body of landowners, who were particularly proud of their ... numberless villages and
carrying the inhabitants away captive ... Sidon from the dominion of Tyre, but had ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... because they have committed sin by their proud haughtiness. ... have ye to do with Me,
O Tyre and Sidon ... enemies, and the dispersion of its inhabitants, are described ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

The Land and the People.
... of Carmel, the coast of Tyre and Sidon ... prophetic mien, Roman soldiers with proud
bearing, Herodian ... villages contained above fifteen thousand inhabitants (Bell. ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... The inhabitants of the coast were possessed of fully ... even the regular trading ships
of Tyre and Sidon ... such times, however, an ironical or haughty epistle from ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... were unknown to his ancestors, the inhabitants of which ... or Gallas: they had the same
haughty and imperious ... having refined features, with a proud and energetic ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... dismissed his subjects, who went away proud and happy ... towards the Mediterranean,
forcing the inhabitants of the ... The Phoenicians of Tyre and Sidon had too many ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... tender new-mown grass than will this city at this day be, to the inhabitants of
the ... Now the high ones, lofty ones, haughty ones, and the proud, shall see ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... to attract customers in the markets of Tyre, Sidon, Babylon ... very end, Egypt, at any
rate, always proud of her ... The inhabitants of the Delta, oppressed by the tax ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm