Topical Bible: Tyre: Strongly Fortified

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Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city, is frequently mentioned in the Bible and is renowned for its strong fortifications and significant role in biblical history. Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Tyre was a major maritime and commercial hub, known for its wealth, trade, and skilled artisans. The city consisted of two parts: the mainland settlement and the island city, which was heavily fortified and considered nearly impregnable.

Biblical References and Historical Context

Tyre's prominence is evident in various biblical passages. In the Old Testament, Tyre is often associated with its king, Hiram, who played a crucial role in the construction of Solomon's Temple. 1 Kings 5:1-12 describes the alliance between King Solomon and King Hiram of Tyre, highlighting the exchange of materials and skilled labor for the temple's construction: "Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend of David" (1 Kings 5:1).

The prophets frequently spoke against Tyre, condemning its pride and idolatry. Ezekiel 26-28 contains a series of prophecies against Tyre, foretelling its downfall due to its arrogance and self-sufficiency. Ezekiel 26:3-4 states, "Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting 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" .

Isaiah also prophesied against Tyre, predicting its destruction and eventual restoration. Isaiah 23:1-18 describes the fall of Tyre and its future redemption, emphasizing the city's reliance on its wealth and trade: "The LORD of Hosts has purposed it, to defile the splendor of all its beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth" (Isaiah 23:9).

New Testament Mentions

In the New Testament, Tyre is mentioned in the context of Jesus' ministry. In Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30, Jesus travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where He encounters a Canaanite woman who seeks healing for her demon-possessed daughter. This interaction highlights the extension of Jesus' ministry beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles.

Additionally, Tyre is referenced in Acts 21:3-6, where Paul visits the city during his missionary journeys. The believers in Tyre, despite the city's pagan background, demonstrate the spread of Christianity and the establishment of a Christian community.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

Tyre's strong fortifications and wealth serve as a symbol of human pride and self-reliance. The biblical narrative often contrasts Tyre's material prosperity with its spiritual poverty, warning against the dangers of arrogance and idolatry. The prophecies against Tyre underscore the sovereignty of God over nations and His ability to humble the proud.

The eventual downfall of Tyre, as foretold by the prophets, serves as a testament to the fulfillment of God's word and His judgment against sin. Despite its formidable defenses, Tyre could not withstand the divine decree, illustrating the futility of trusting in human strength and riches.

In summary, Tyre's biblical portrayal as a strongly fortified city reflects its historical significance and serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of pride and the ultimate authority of God over all creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 19:29
And then the coast turns to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turns to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
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2 Samuel 24:7
And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
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Ezekiel 26:17
And they shall take up a lamentation for you, and say to you, How are you destroyed, that were inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which were strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!
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Zechariah 9:3
And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
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Library

Results of Transgression
... All these cities were strongly fortified. ... on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land
of Edom." Trained sailors from Tyre, "with the servants of Solomon," manned ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

Israel in Canaan.
... it, every hill was crowned by a strongly-walled and ... Many a fortified town was still
held by the ... These were called Tyre and Zidon, and their inhabitants were ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson v israel in canaan.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... he perceived in them a guarantee that Egyptian intrigues with Tyre and Jerusalem ...
He had just finished building a strongly fortified citadel on the site of ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

The Israelites
... power that had arisen in the Oriental world, while Hiram of Tyre was glad ... compact;
its capital was central, and was not only a strongly-fortified fortress, but ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... we find a list of the towns fortified by Rehoboam ... in vogue in the harems of Damascus,
Tyre, or Nineveh ... manner, came to prevail more and more strongly in Judaea. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... were not well enough equipped to undertake the siege of a strongly fortified place,
and ... Blulai, had not only rescued Sidon from the dominion of Tyre, but had ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Story of the Baptist, from his Last Testimony to Jesus to his ...
... and after that into the borders of Tyre and Sidon ... was done to make a place, exceedingly
strongly by nature ... hill, and surrounded it by walls, fortified by towers. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxviii the story of.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... of Judah and the submission of Tyre; the successes ... two light javelins, a bow with
a strongly pronounced curve ... and the Jebel-Makhlub into a regular fortified camp ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... face the open sea, were more strongly and scientifically ... without other help than
that of Tyre or Ethiopia ... that his cities, long since fortified, and protected ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Herodotus and Xenophon.
... He visited Tyre, and the cities of Phoenicia, on the ... the mass of mankind to take
sides strongly with one ... into a compact and solid body, fortified themselves as ...
/.../abbott/cyrus the great/chapter i herodotus and xenophon.htm