Clear morning from the mainland shore: the island city of Tyre low in the frame, tall stone houses behind its sea walls, ships at anchor in its harbors, the blue strait between, a pale empty sky above.

The nations judged

Ezekiel 26

Jerusalem has just fallen, and its rich neighbor sees a chance. Whose loss have you quietly counted as your gain?

21 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Visions of gloryBy the Kebar, about 593 BC: the throne, the scroll, the watchman
4–7Signs of the siegeA brick, a ration, a razor: the end has come
8–11The glory departsAbout 592 BC: the temple’s abominations, the mark, the glory goes east
12–15False hopesExile acted out, false prophets, a useless vine
16–19Parables and lamentsAn unfaithful bride, two eagles, the one who sins
20–24The sword drawnRebellion retold; the siege begins, about 588 BC
25–32The nations judgedAmmon to Egypt: the LORD is Judge of all the earthChapter 26
33–36A new heartThe city falls; the Good Shepherd; cleansed and made new
37–39Dry bones liveOne people raised up, and Gog of Magog defeated
40–48The LORD is thereAbout 573 BC: the new temple, the river, the land

A Prophecy against Tyre

God

In the eleventh month of the twelfth year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken; it has swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will be filled,’ therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, O Tyre, I am against you, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.

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God

Gray morning seen from the water: the island city's sea wall broken in long gaps, its stones tumbled into the sea, a stone tower thrown down, the harbor empty.

They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.

God

Evening on a low bare rock shelf in the sea: brown fishing nets spread out to dry, a small wooden boat drawn up, a few squared foundation stones half under the water.

She will become a place to spread nets in the sea, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.

God

She will become plunder for the nations, and the villages on her mainland will be slain by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

Question

Quick question

Look again at what Tyre said when Jerusalem fell.

Why did Tyre say “Aha!” over Jerusalem?

God

God

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops.

God

A packed-earth siege ramp against the stone wall of a mainland town, a timber battering ram at rest beside it with no one at it, tents beyond, the island city across the strait.

He will slaughter the villages of your mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp to your walls, and raise his shields against you. He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and tear down your towers with his axes. His multitude of horses will cover you in their dust. When he enters your gates as an army entering a breached city, your walls will shake from the noise of cavalry, wagons, and chariots.

God

The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets. He will slaughter your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.

God

God

They will plunder your wealth and pillage your merchandise. They will demolish your walls, tear down your beautiful homes, and throw your stones and timber and soil into the water.

God

I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread the fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.’

God

This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Will not the coastlands quake at the sound of your downfall, when the wounded groan at the slaughter in your midst?

God

Dusk on the stone quay of a harbor town: a few sea-traders sit on the ground in plain wool tunics, heads bowed, their embroidered purple robes laid aside on the stones; ships idle at anchor behind.

All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you.

God

Then they will lament for you, saying,

“How you have perished, O city of renown

inhabited by seafaring men—

she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people,

who imposed terror on all peoples!

Now the coastlands tremble

on the day of your downfall;

the islands in the sea

are dismayed by your demise.”’

God

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living.

God

A gray storm sea: long waves breaking white over a low bare reef, no city, no ship, a calm pale sky above.

I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

0:08

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Lord, You silence the songs of the proud and bring down what trusts in its wealth. Keep my heart from being glad at another’s ruin, and let my joy be in You. Amen.

Waves against Tyre

Whiteboard

One king first, then wave after wave.

You’ve experienced

Ezekiel 26

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A verse to carry with you

She will become a place to spread nets in the sea, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 26:5

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