23:1ff Isaiah’s prophecies against other nations began in the east with Babylon (chapter 13) and ended in the west with Tyre in Phoenicia. Tyre was one of the most famous cities of the ancient world. A major trading center with a large seaport, Tyre was very wealthy and very evil. Tyre was rebuked by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:22, 27; 47:4), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 26–28), Joel (Joel 3:4-8), Amos (Amos 1:9, 10), and Zechariah (Zechariah 9:3, 4). This is another warning against political alliances with unstable neighbors.
23:5 Why would Egypt be “sorely pained” when Tyre fell? Egypt depended on Tyre’s shipping expertise to promote and carry their products around the world. Egypt would lose an important trading partner with the fall of Tyre.
23:9 God would destroy Tyre because he hated its people’s pride. Pride separates people from God, and he will not tolerate it. As we examine our lives, we must remember that all true accomplishment comes as a result of our Creator’s help. We have no reason to take pride in ourselves.
23:13 Assyria invaded Tyre in 705 B.C. and again in 681-669 B.C. This message is astounding, however, because it prophesies that the Chaldeans (Babylonians), not yet a world power, would destroy Tyre. They did so in 572 B.C., a century after Isaiah made this prophecy.
23:15, 16 Some scholars believe this is a literal 70 years; some say it is symbolic of a long period of time. If it is literal, this may have occurred between 700 and 630 B.C. during the Assyrian captivity of Israel, or it may have been during the 70-year captivity of the Jews in Babylon (605–536 B.C.). During the 70 years, the Jews would forget about Tyre. But when they returned from captivity, they would once again trade with Tyre.