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Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Summary of Individual Chapters:
 
Heathen Destruction and Israelite Repentance

Chapter 21: Isaiah prophesies against Duma in the desert (21:1), against Elam, and Media (21:2). Isaiah is told to set a watchman who reports to him about the fall of Babylon and all her gods (22:8). Dumah then becomes equated with Seir which is usually taken as another name for Edom (22:12). Isaiah prophesies against Arabia and the Dodanim, Tema, and Kedar (21:13-17).

Chapter 22: Isaiah prophesies against Judah and Jerusalem (22:1-2). The People of Jerusalem are called upon to fast and repent but they are doing the opposite (22:12-14). This chapter (22) appears to be speaking of the situation in Judah at the time of King Hezekiah and the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem but it could also be intended as a prototype for future events.

Chapter 23: The End of Tyre and Exiled Israel in the Isles of Britain

Isaiah prophesies against Tyre the chief Phoenician city. [The terms "Tyre" and Phoenicia" to a large degree are interchangeable]. The Ships of Tarshish (Tartessos in Spain with outposts in Gaul and the British Isles) are called upon to mourn over Tyre whose fate is connected with the Land of Chittim meaning Cyprus or Italy (23:1). We suggested some kind of linkage between Troy (in South Western Turkey) and Tyre. The inhabitants of the Isle who were replenished by the Phoenician Merchants of Sidon (Zidon) the mother-city of Tyre are called upon to be still (23:2).  The Phoenicians were the chief traders on behalf of Egypt which is represented by the great waters of the Nile also called "Sihor" (23:3). Egyptian artifacts in the west (e.g. in Spain and Britain and rock-inscriptions in Scandinavia) are indications of a Phoenician (rather than Egyptian) presence. Egypt shall mourn over the fall of Tyre (23:5). The rulers of Tyre shall attempt to pass over to Tarshish (23:6). Tarshish will be overwhelmed with refugees from Phoenicia like the waters of a river overflowing its banks (23:10). Tyre is called a daughter of Zidon and will also attempt to re-establish herself in Chittim but will not succeed (23:12). The Land of the Chaldeans (Babylon) had been set up (or colonized anew after destruction) by the Assyrians to settle therein the dwellers of the wilderness. This too ended (or will end) in destruction (23:13). Tyre was the strength of Tarshish. It is brought low (23:14). Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years after which it will make a comeback like a lady  of fortune coming out of early retirement with a vengeance to whore with all the kingdoms of the earth (23:15-17). The riches of Tyre will be inherited by they who are chosen by God, for their sustenance and durable environment (23:18).

Chapter 24: A Great Calamity and Future Redemption

A great calamity will come upon the Land, overturning everything and striking everyone equally (24:1-4). This will happen because of an attempt to change the Laws and break the everlasting Covenant (24:5). The Land will be emptied (until the future times) when from the West the Exiles in the Isles of the Sea will cry out unto God and glorify HIM (24:14-15). As an acknowledgement of future redemption the Israelite Exiles in Britain are called upon to light fires on the hilltops as was their custom until recently (24:15). Isaiah returns to speak of the calamity one of whose causes was internal treachery (24:16). The angels above or the stars in the sky as well as the rulers upon the earth will suffer calamity. The Sages said that every nation has its own "guardian" angel (24:21). The sun and the moon will be affected possibly referring to both Europe and Islam (24:23).

Chapter 25: Isaiah praises the Almighty God for His wonders and the truth of His prophecies (25:1). The strong ("Land of the Brave"?) will bless God. God will save and bless His people and punish anti-Semites and the enemies of Israel (25:3-7). Death will be removed (25:8). The truth and awareness of God will prevail (25:9). Moab will be demolished (25:10).

Prophecy and Prototypes for the Future

We have pointed out several times that the way of Prophecy was to describe events taking place at the time the Prophecy was given or that were about to take place relatively shortly afterwards and then to flit to and fro in description to events in the distant future, in the End Times, using the described contemporary descriptions as prototypes for the future.
See
Prophecy

Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Isaiah 21 to 25

Isaiah - Chapter Chapter 21
This chapter deals with Babylon identified with Rome, the Arabs (perhaps Iraq), and Edom also identified with Rome but more specifically with Germany or Europe led by Germany. Descendants of Edomites are also present (as a minority factor) in Russia and Japan and amongst the Israelite nations.
This chapter has been interpreted differently by every commentator who applied himself to it. There is agreement on some points but on others opinions are wideley divergent. We must remember that Isaiah spoke primarily for the future while dressing his message in events pertinenet to his own time or just afterwards. All prophecy is like this.
[Isaiah 21:1] THE BURDEN OF THE DESERT OF THE SEA. AS WHIRLWINDS IN THE SOUTH PASS THROUGH; SO IT  COMETH FROM THE DESERT, FROM A TERRIBLE LAND.  "THE DESERT OF THE SEA": To get to Babylon the deser had to be crossed. Babylon was at the head of a portion of Mesopotamia known as the Sea-Lands north of the Persian Gulf.

 [Isaiah 21:2] A GRIEVOUS VISION IS DECLARED UNTO ME; THE TREACHEROUS DEALER DEALETH TREACHEROUSLY, AND THE SPOILER SPOILETH. GO UP, O ELAM: BESIEGE, O MEDIA; ALL THE SIGHING THEREOF HAVE I MADE  TO CEASE.                  
Babylon was eventually overcome by the Persian Empire that included Media.
GO UP, O ELAM: BESIEGE, O MEDIA "Elam" was in effect Persia. The Persian elite spoke an Indo-European dialect but the rank and file were descended from Elamites.  The Baltic languages (Lithuanian, Latvian) are said to be very similar to that of Ancient Media. Craig White and others identify some of the Slavic peoples (such as the Serbs) are descended from Elam.

 [Isaiah 21:3] THEREFORE ARE MY LOINS FILLED WITH PAIN: PANGS HAVE TAKEN HOLD UPON ME, AS THE PANGS OF A WOMAN THAT TRAVAILETH: I WAS BOWED DOWN AT THE HEARING OF IT; I WAS DISMAYED AT THE SEEING OF IT.                     

 [Isaiah 21:4] MY HEART PANTED, FEARFULNESS AFFRIGHTED ME: THE NIGHT OF MY PLEASURE HATH HE TURNED INTO FEAR UNTO ME.                     

 [Isaiah 21:5] PREPARE THE TABLE, WATCH IN THE WATCHTOWER, EAT, DRINK: ARISE, YE PRINCES, AND ANOINT THE SHIELD.                     

 [Isaiah 21:6] FOR THUS HATH THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, GO, SET A WATCHMAN, LET HIM DECLARE WHAT HE SEETH.                     

 [Isaiah 21:7] AND HE SAW A CHARIOT WITH A COUPLE OF HORSEMEN, A CHARIOT OF ASSES, AND A CHARIOT OF CAMELS; AND HE HEARKENED DILIGENTLY WITH MUCH HEED:                     

 [Isaiah 21:8] AND HE CRIED, A LION: MY LORD, I STAND CONTINUALLY UPON THE WATCHTOWER IN THE DAYTIME, AND I AM SET IN MY WARD WHOLE NIGHTS:              

 [Isaiah 21:9] AND, BEHOLD, HERE COMETH A CHARIOT OF MEN, WITH A COUPLE OF HORSEMEN. AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID, BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN; AND ALL THE GRAVEN IMAGES OF HER GODS HE HATH  BROKEN UNTO THE GROUND.                 

 [Isaiah 21:10] O MY THRESHING, AND THE CORN OF MY FLOOR: THAT WHICH I HAVE HEARD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, HAVE I DECLARED UNTO YOU.   

 [Isaiah 21:11] THE BURDEN OF DUMAH. HE CALLETH TO ME OUT OF SEIR, WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT" WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT"                  
"DUMAH" was in northern Arabia. Seir means Edom. Amos Chacham suggested that refugees from Dumah go to Edom and there send inquiries to the Prophet.

 [Isaiah 21:12] THE WATCHMAN SAID, THE MORNING COMETH, AND ALSO THE NIGHT: IF YE WILL ENQUIRE, ENQUIRE YE: RETURN, COME.                   
Isaiah in these passages uses difficult Hebrew interspersed with expressions more common in Aramaic. The readers in Isaiah"s time would have felt an added touch of autheniticity through his choice of languages that echoed that associated with the n\eighborhood of the areas he spoke of.
IF YE WILL ENQUIRE, ENQUIRE YE: RETURN, COME: a general message to all of us. If we to repent and  find God  Let us seek HIM out while we can, while we have time. Seek and you will find.

 [Isaiah 21:13] THE BURDEN UPON ARABIA. IN THE FOREST IN ARABIA SHALL YE LODGE, O YE TRAVELLING COMPANIES OF DEDANIM.
Dedanim: mixed ancestry Arabs, partly Semitic, partly Hamitic.

[Isaiah 21:14] THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND OF TEMA BROUGHT WATER TO HIM THAT WAS THIRSTY, THEY  PREVENTED WITH THEIR BREAD HIM THAT FLED.               

 [Isaiah 21:15] FOR THEY FLED FROM THE SWORDS, FROM THE DRAWN SWORD, AND FROM THE BENT BOW, AND FROM THE GRIEVOUSNESS OF WAR.                     

 [Isaiah 21:16] FOR THUS HATH THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, WITHIN A YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE YEARS OF AN  HIRELING, AND ALL THE GLORY OF KEDAR SHALL FAIL:            

 [Isaiah 21:17] AND THE RESIDUE OF THE NUMBER OF ARCHERS, THE MIGHTY MEN OF THE CHILDREN OF KEDAR,  SHALL BE DIMINISHED: FOR THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL HATH SPOKEN IT.
KEDAR- may well refer to North America. See the book "Ephraim".
Isaiah-Chapter 22
[Isaiah 22:12] AND IN THAT DAY DID THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS CALL TO WEEPING, AND TO MOURNING, AND TO BALDNESS, AND TO GIRDING WITH SACKCLOTH:         
Isaiah is in Jerusalem at the time of King Hezekiah. Sennacherib is destined to besiege Jerusalem but at the last minute his army will be smitten by an angel and 185,000 of his soldiers will be slain. Sennacherib will return to Assyria and there be assasinated by two of his sons. Before all this happens Sennacherib will come up against Jerusalem at least once but discontinue hissiege for one reason or other but later return to it. Isiah is now speaking at one of the intermediate stages where Sennacherib has apparently began to come against Jerusalem but been temporarily diverted. God is the director of history He sends calamities and warnings of calamities in order to induce us to repent of our sins and do good.

 [Isaiah 22:13] AND BEHOLD JOY AND GLADNESS, SLAYING OXEN, AND KILLING SHEEP, EATING FLESH, AND  DRINKING WINE: LET US EAT AND DRINK;  FOR TOMORROW WE SHALL DIE.
Instead of repenting the people are living it up. They feel that an inevitable doom is coming upon them. In the meantime they have meat and wine available so why not enjoy them while they can" Why not party in the company of friends and revellers while the going is good" There have been case studies of people who feel doomed sometimes losing all moral restraint.

 [Isaiah 22:14] AND IT WAS REVEALED IN MINE EARS BY THE LORD OF HOSTS, SURELY THIS INIQUITY SHALL NOT BE PURGED FROM YOU TILL YE DIE, SAITH THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS.                   
No express commandment exists against drinking and partying  but God does not necessarily approve of it especially when we should be repenting.
Another point is that complete despair is forbidden. We must always trust in God"s mercy and hope for His salvation.

 [Isaiah 22:15] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS, GO, GET THEE UNTO THIS TREASURER, EVEN UNTO SHEBNA, WHICH IS OVER THE HOUSE, AND SAY,
Shebna  was an official who apparently should have been responsible for fortifying the city. He apparently had been lapse in this duty. He was also  responsible for the atmosphere of impending doom and having a good time.  He had prepared himself a grave and Isaiah met him at the graveside and upbraided him. An inscription has been found in Jerusalem by the Siloah Spring.  Parts of the inscription are missing but it seems to pertain to Shebna.

 [Isaiah 22:16] WHAT HAST THOU HERE" AND WHOM HAST THOU HERE, THAT THOU HAST HEWED THEE OUT A SEPULCHRE HERE, AS HE THAT HEWETH HIM OUT A SEPULCHRE ON HIGH, AND THAT GRAVETH AN HABITATION FOR  HIMSELF IN A ROCK"
The land of Israel is rocky. All over Israel on hillsides and rocky areas can be found ancient graves carved into the rock. 

 [Isaiah 22:17] BEHOLD, THE LORD WILL CARRY THEE AWAY WITH A MIGHTY CAPTIVITY, AND WILL SURELY  COVER THEE.

 [Isaiah 22:18] HE WILL SURELY VIOLENTLY TURN AND TOSS THEE LIKE A BALL INTO A LARGE COUNTRY: THERE SHALT THOU DIE, AND THERE THE CHARIOTS OF THY GLORY SHALL BE THE SHAME OF THY LORD'S HOUSE.

 [Isaiah 22:19] AND I WILL DRIVE THEE FROM THY STATION, AND FROM THY STATE SHALL HE PULL THEE DOWN.

 [Isaiah 22:20] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL CALL MY SERVANT ELIAKIM THE SON OF HILKIAH:

 [Isaiah 22:21] AND I WILL CLOTHE HIM WITH THY ROBE, AND STRENGTHEN HIM WITH THY GIRDLE, AND I WILL COMMIT THY GOVERNMENT INTO HIS HAND: AND HE SHALL BE A FATHER TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH.                     

 [Isaiah 22:22] AND THE KEY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID WILL I LAY UPON HIS SHOULDER; SO HE SHALL OPEN, AND NONE SHALL SHUT; AND HE SHALL SHUT, AND NONE SHALL OPEN.

 [Isaiah 22:23] AND I WILL FASTEN HIM AS A NAIL IN A SURE PLACE; AND HE SHALL BE FOR A GLORIOUS THRONE TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.

 [Isaiah 22:24] AND THEY SHALL HANG UPON HIM ALL THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER'S HOUSE, THE OFFSPRING AND THE ISSUE, ALL VESSELS OF SMALL QUANTITY, FROM THE VESSELS OF CUPS, EVEN TO ALL THE VESSELS OF FLAGONS.

 [Isaiah 22:25] IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SHALL THE NAIL THAT IS FASTENED IN THE SURE PLACE  BE REMOVED, AND BE CUT DOWN, AND FALL; AND THE BURDEN THAT WAS UPON IT SHALL BE CUT OFF: FOR THE  LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.                     
 

Isaiah-Chapter 23
[Isaiah 23:1] THE BURDEN OF TYRE.  HOWL, YE SHIPS OF TARSHISH; FOR IT IS LAID WASTE, SO THAT THERE IS   NO HOUSE, NO ENTERING IN: FROM THE LAND OF CHITTIM IT IS REVEALED TO THEM.
Tyre in Hebrew is "Tsor" meaning "Rock". Tyre is how the Greeks  pronounced the name and perhaps the Phoenicians did as well
Tyre was the chief Phoenician city. The Phoenicians were identified as Canaanites and considered themselves Canaanites though some have said they were another stock superimposed on the original population.
Tyre had two parts: one part on the coast and one part on an island off the coast. The part on the coast was populated largely by descendan\ts of Edom. Ephraimites were also important in Tyrian enterprises and so were people from the Israelite Tribes of  Menasseh, Asher and Dan.
In "Lost Israelite Identity" there is quite a lot of information concerning Tyre and the Phoenicians.

There may be a link between Tyre and Troy.
Tyre in Rabbinical tradition was often taken to be synonymous with Edom and Rome. Rome was founded by people from Troy.
Troy has been identified as a place in present-day Turkey. Nevertheless it may be that certain traditions associated with Troy actually relate more to Tyre.  In some medievel writings Troy even isexpressly presented as interchangeable with Jerusalem. We will examine this further.

Chittim has been identified as Cyprus were the major city of Kittium was located. Cyprus was termed the "Isle of Dan" by the Assyrians. Israelites once ruled over Cyprus. Cyprus was linked with Crete. Cyrus Gordon proved that the first language of Crete (Minoan A) was a Phoenician dialect. The Phoenicians spoke a tongue similar to Hebrew.  Hebrew may have been imposed upon them and perhaps their original language had been a more "Hamitic" dialect.

On the other hand "Chittim" in Jewish sources was identified as Italy.  It appears that "Chittim" in Isaiah may indeed be Italy. The "ships of Chittim" are mentioned in Daniel 11;30 and there they refer to the ships of Rome in the first instance. The Book of Daniel (like other Prophetical works) describes historical events that in part have already occurred but will happen again with the same plot but different (though related) actors.

Tarshish was in Spain. It was linked to Phoenecia and Israel.
Malbim: <<Tarshish. This is the city of Tartessus in Ancient Spain. It was linked with Tyre through shared responsibities and trade.

 [Isaiah 23:2] BE STILL, YE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLE; THOU WHOM THE MERCHANTS OF ZIDON, THAT PASS OVER THE SEA, HAVE REPLENISHED.
"ISLE" apparently the isle of Tyre.
ZIDON also spelt "Sidon". The first major Phoenician city. Tyre was founded by Sidonians. Tyre and Sidon were sometimes rivals, sometimes allies. "Sidonian" in Greek writings was synonymous with Phoenician.

 [Isaiah 23:3] AND BY GREAT WATERS THE SEED OF SIHOR, THE HARVEST OF THE RIVER, IS HER REVENUE; AND SHE IS A MART OF NATIONS.
"SIHOR" another name for the Nile. Egypt was once a major grain exporter. [It still  could be. Today Egypt imports grain. Phoenician ships traded with Egypt and Egypt relied upon them to market its produce.

 [Isaiah 23:4] BE THOU ASHAMED, O ZIDON: FOR THE SEA HATH SPOKEN, EVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE SEA, SAYING, I TRAVAIL NOT, NOR BRING FORTH CHILDREN, NEITHER DO I NOURISH UP YOUNG MEN, NOR BRING UP VIRGINS.

 [Isaiah 23:5] AS AT THE REPORT CONCERNING EGYPT, SO SHALL THEY BE SORELY PAINED AT THE REPORT OF TYRE.
Zidon and Tyre the two chief Phoenician cities are in trouble.

 [Isaiah 23:6] PASS YE OVER TO TARSHISH; HOWL, YE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLE.
Isiah is saying that refugees from Tyre will pass over to Tarshish in Spain. So they did. They also took Israelites with them. They were taken over by the Assyrians who used Tyrian ships to transport Israelite captives to Spain, Gaul, and Britain. See "Lost Israelite Identity".

 [Isaiah 23:7] IS THIS YOUR JOYOUS CITY, WHOSE ANTIQUITY IS OF ANCIENT DAYS" HER OWN FEET SHALL CARRY HER AFAR OFF TO SOJOURN.

 [Isaiah 23:8] WHO HATH TAKEN THIS COUNSEL AGAINST TYRE, THE CROWNING CITY, WHOSE MERCHANTS ARE PRINCES, WHOSE TRAFFICKERS ARE THE HONOURABLE OF THE EARTH"

 [Isaiah 23:9] THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH PURPOSED IT, TO STAIN THE PRIDE OF ALL GLORY, AND TO BRING INTO CONTEMPT ALL THE HONOURABLE OF THE EARTH.

 [Isaiah 23:10] PASS THROUGH THY LAND AS A RIVER, O DAUGHTER OF TARSHISH: THERE IS NO MORE STRENGTH.
Tarshish will overwhelmed with refugees from Phoeneicia like the waters of a river overflowing its banks.

 [Isaiah 23:11] HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND OVER THE SEA, HE SHOOK THE KINGDOMS: THE LORD HATH GIVEN A COMMANDMENT AGAINST THE MERCHANT CITY, TO DESTROY THE STRONG HOLDS THEREOF.        

 [Isaiah 23:12] AND HE SAID, THOU SHALT NO MORE REJOICE, O THOU OPPRESSED VIRGIN, DAUGHTER OF   ZIDON: ARISE, PASS OVER TO CHITTIM; THERE ALSO SHALT THOU HAVE NO REST.
The refugeees from Tyre were to move to Italy (Chittim) but to continue onwards from there to  Tarshish in Spain.

 [Isaiah 23:13] BEHOLD THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS; THIS PEOPLE WAS NOT, TILL THE ASSYRIAN FOUNDED IT FOR THEM THAT DWELL IN THE WILDERNESS: THEY SET UP THE TOWERS THEREOF, THEY RAISED UP THE PALACES THEREOF; AND HE BROUGHT IT TO RUIN.
"LAND OF THE CHALDEANS" means Babylon which was conquered and in part resettled and rebuilt by Assyria. Babylon was destined to rebel against Assyria and participate in its destruction. The Babylonians under Nebucahdnessar  would then conquer Tarshish in Spain where the Phoenicians of Tyre and Sidon had taken refuge.

 [Isaiah 23:14] HOWL, YE SHIPS OF TARSHISH: FOR YOUR STRENGTH IS LAID WASTE.
Tyre was the strength and sustained of Tarshish. It is brought low.

 [Isaiah 23:15] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT TYRE SHALL BE FORGOTTEN SEVENTY YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE DAYS OF ONE KING: AFTER THE END OF SEVENTY YEARS SHALL TYRE SING AS AN HARLOT.
Tyre will sing like an a worn-out whore trying to make a "comeback".

 [Isaiah 23:16] TAKE AN HARP, GO ABOUT THE CITY, THOU HARLOT THAT HAST BEEN FORGOTTEN; MAKE SWEET MELODY, SING MANY SONGS, THAT THOU MAYEST BE REMEMBERED.

 [Isaiah 23:17] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS AFTER THE END OF SEVENTY YEARS, THAT THE LORD WILL VISIT TYRE, AND SHE SHALL TURN TO HER HIRE, AND SHALL COMMIT FORNICATION WITH ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.                  
How this prophecy was fulfilled (if ever) is not clear. It may be that this part of Isaiah"s message was meant solely for the future. Tyre was first destroyed by the Assyrians then rebuilt, finally Alexander the great destroyed it again.

 [Isaiah 23:18] AND HER MERCHANDISE AND HER HIRE SHALL BE HOLINESS TO THE LORD: IT SHALL NOT BE TREASURED NOR LAID UP; FOR HER MERCHANDISE SHALL BE FOR THEM THAT DWELL BEFORE THE LORD, TO EAT SUFFICIENTLY, AND FOR DURABLE CLOTHING.          



The Encyclopedia Britannica says about Tyre:
  ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA

Tyre modern Arabic Sur, French Tyr, or Sour, Latin Tyrus, Hebrew Zor, or
Tsor,
 town on the Mediterranean coast of southern Lebanon, located 12 miles (19 km) north of the modern
 border with Israel and 25 miles (40 km) south of Sidon (modern Sayda). It was a major Phoenician
 seaport from about 2000 BC through the Roman period.

 Tyre, built on an island and on the neighbouring mainland, was probably originally founded as a colony of Sidon. Mentioned in Egyptian records of the 14th century BC as being subject to Egypt, Tyre became independent when Egyptian influence in Phoenicia declined. It later surpassed Sidon as a trade centre, developing commercial relations with all parts of the Mediterranean world. In the 9th century BC colonists from Tyre founded the North African city of Carthage, which later became Rome's principal rival in the West.
The town is frequently mentioned in the Bible (Old and New Testaments) as having had close ties with Israel. Hiram, king of Tyre (reigned 969"936), furnished building materials for Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem (10th century), and the notorious Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, was the daughter of Ethbaal, "king of Tyre and Sidon." In the 10th and 9th centuries Tyre probably enjoyed some primacy over the other cities of Phoenicia and was ruled by kings whose power was limited by a merchant oligarchy. For much of the 8th and 7th centuries BC the town was subject to Assyria, and in 585"573 it                successfully withstood a prolonged siege by the Babylonian king Nebuchadrezzar II.
 Between  538 and 332 it was ruled by the Achaemenian kings of Persia. In this period it lost its hegemony in Phoenicia but continued to flourish.
Probably the best-known episode in the history of Tyre was its resistance to the army of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great, who took it after a seven-month siege in 332. He completely destroyed the mainland portion of the town and used its rubble to build an immense causeway (some 2,600 feet [800 metres] long and 600"900 feet [180"270 metres] wide) to gain access to the island section. After the town's capture, 10,000 inhabitants were put to death, and 30,000 were sold into slavery. Alexander's causeway, which was never removed, converted the island into a peninsula. Tyre was subsequently under the influence of Ptolemaic Egypt and in 200 became part of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom. It came under Roman rule in 64 BC and was renowned in Roman times for its textiles and for a purple dye extracted from sea snails of the genus Murex (the dye was said to be worth more than its weight in gold, and purple cloth became a symbol of wealth and of royalty). By the 2nd century AD it had a sizable Christian community, and the Christian scholar Origen was buried there (c. 254). Tyre was under Muslim rule from 638 to 1124, when it fell to the Crusaders, and until the 13th century it was a principal town of the kingdom of Jerusalem. The Holy Roman emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, who died on the Third Crusade, was buried in its 12th-century cathedral. Captured and destroyed by the Muslim Mamluks in 1291, the town never recovered its former importance. Excavations have uncovered remains of the Greco-Roman, Crusader, Arab, and Byzantine civilizations, but most of the remains of the Phoenician period lie beneath the present town. Areas of archaeological note include the ruins of a Crusader church, a street with a 2nd-century mosaic pavement and a double colonnade of white green-veined marble, Roman baths, the ruins of a Roman-Byzantine necropolis, and the largest Roman hippodrome ever discovered. Built in the 2nd century, the hippodrome hosted chariot races with a capacity of 20,000 spectators. In 1984 UNESCO designated the historic town a World Heritage site. In the late 20th century the ruins were damaged by bombardment, most notably in 1982 and 1996 during Israeli offensives in southern Lebanon. The site is threatened by urban growth, looting, and the decay of stone because of airborne pollution. In 1998 UNESCO created a special fund for the preservation and archaeological excavation of the ancient treasures of Tyre. The economy of the town was upset by the unrest of the late 20th century. Fishing remains a major source of income. Pop. (1961) 16,483; (1991 est.) 70,000.
 " 1999-2001 Britannica.com Inc.

The text of Isaiah-24 together with Part of the Commentary to Isaiah-24 was inadvertnently attached to Isaiah-23 in the last posting. Below is a more complete version.
This is a very important chapter concerning the Lost Ten Tribes.
 

Isaiah-Chapter 24
[Isaiah 24:1] BEHOLD, THE LORD MAKETH THE EARTH EMPTY, AND MAKETH IT WASTE, AND TURNETH IT UPSIDE DOWN, AND SCATTERETH ABROAD THE INHABITANTS THEREOF.
Most of the major Jewish traditional commentaries say that this cahpter is speaking of the Lost Ten Tribes. The Land of Northern Israel will be emptied of its people.

 [Isaiah 24:2] AND IT SHALL BE, AS WITH THE PEOPLE, SO WITH THE PRIEST; AS WITH THE SERVANT, SO WITH HIS MASTER; AS WITH THE MAID, SO WITH HER MISTRESS; AS WITH THE BUYER, SO WITH THE SELLER; AS WITH THE LENDER, SO WITH THE BORROWER; AS WITH THE TAKER OF USURY, SO WITH THE GIVER OF USURY TO HIM.
When great calamity strikes all are equal. They all suffer the same disaster.

 [Isaiah 24:3] THE LAND SHALL BE UTTERLY EMPTIED, AND UTTERLY SPOILED: FOR THE LORD HATH SPOKEN THIS  WORD.                     
The land shall be emptied out. Archaeology confirms that this is what did happen. Israelite settlemen\ts in the northern Kingdom of "Israel" are all destroyed, disappear. Most are not built up again. Those that are have different inhabitants bearuing a different foreign culture.

 [Isaiah 24:4] THE EARTH MOURNETH AND FADETH AWAY, THE WORLD LANGUISHETH AND FADETH AWAY, THE HAUGHTY PEOPLE OF THE EARTH DO LANGUISH.

 [Isaiah 24:5] THE EARTH ALSO IS DEFILED UNDER THE INHABITANTS THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE LAWS, CHANGED THE ORDINANCE, BROKEN THE EVERLASTING COVENANT.
Northern Israel broke the Laws of the Torah. That is why they were exiled. See 2-Kings chapter 17.

 [Isaiah 24:6] THEREFORE HATH THE CURSE DEVOURED THE EARTH, AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN ARE DESOLATE: THEREFORE THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH ARE BURNED, AND FEW MEN LEFT.             
A very few did remain and these attached themselves to the Kingdom of Judah in the south.

 [Isaiah 24:7] THE NEW WINE MOURNETH, THE VINE LANGUISHETH, ALL THE MERRYHEARTED DO SIGH.

 [Isaiah 24:8] THE MIRTH OF TABRETS CEASETH, THE NOISE OF THEM THAT REJOICE ENDETH, THE JOY OF THE HARP CEASETH.
They were eating, drinking, singing, and making merry. That is all gone.

 [Isaiah 24:9] THEY SHALL NOT DRINK WINE WITH A SONG; STRONG DRINK SHALL BE BITTER TO THEM THAT DRINK  IT.
Drinking was a problem. The "Drunkards of Ephraim" are mentioned (Isaiah 28;1,3). Some things do not change. I was once almost a problem drinker myself.

 [Isaiah 24:10] THE CITY OF CONFUSION IS BROKEN DOWN: EVERY HOUSE IS SHUT UP, THAT NO MAN MAY COME IN.

 [Isaiah 24:11] THERE IS A CRYING FOR WINE IN THE STREETS; ALL JOY IS DARKENED, THE MIRTH OF THE LAND IS GONE.

 [Isaiah 24:12] IN THE CITY IS LEFT DESOLATION, AND THE GATE IS SMITTEN WITH DESTRUCTION.

 [Isaiah 24:13] WHEN THUS IT SHALL BE IN THE MIDST OF THE LAND AMONG THE PEOPLE, THERE SHALL BE AS THE SHAKING OF AN OLIVE TREE, AND AS THE GLEANING GRAPES WHEN THE VINTAGE IS DONE.     

 [Isaiah 24:14] THEY SHALL LIFT UP THEIR VOICE, THEY SHALL SING FOR THE MAJESTY OF THE LORD, THEY SHALL CRY ALOUD FROM THE SEA.
"FROM THE SEA": In Hebrew also meaning "from the west". The Aramaic and Commentators say it means the exiles will be in the west in the last Days. Then it goes on to speak of Britain.

 [Isaiah 24:15] WHEREFORE GLORIFY YE THE LORD IN THE FIRES, EVEN THE NAME OF THE LORD GOD OF  ISRAEL IN THE ISLES OF THE SEA.      
Piotr Gasiorowski: <<I think the tradition of erecting hilltop cairns and mounds as orientation marks, and of using beacon fires for long-distance communication was very strong in Celtic (also Roman) Britain; the landscape of much of the country is as suitable for this purpose as could be. One trace of that is the occurrence of the Brythonic element tan- 'fire' (Welsh t n) in hill names (there are many Tan Hills in England). -- not only in ancient times but all through history down to the invention of the telegraph. For example, a network of beacons set up on hilltops was used in England in 1588 to signal the approach of the Spanish Armada, and once it was spotted off the Scillies the news reached the English commanders in no time at all.

Extract from "Lost Israelite Identity" by Yair Davidy
<<"The Chronicles of Eri, being the history of the Gaal Sciot Iber, or the Irish People, translated from the Phoenician dialect of the Scythian language", by Roger O' Connor were published in London in two volumes in 1822. It is not certain what sources this work is based upon but internal evidence indicates that it derived from similar ancient traditions as those known from elsewhere ". The Chronicles of Eri do not expressly say that their ancestors were Hebraic but they talk around the subject so that Hebrew origins are the logical conclusion to be drawn even though such may not have been the intention of the editor or "translator" who attempts to date the described events long before the time of Israelite exile.
      <<The Chronicle says that the Gaali had been in Armenia, and the Caucasus. They were traders and metallurgists, and archers. Oppressed by the Assyrians they fled via Hamath in northern Syria [-Which incidentally was known later as "Daphne of Antiochia" and was considered one of three regions through which the Lost Ten Tribes were taken into exile*24. The Jewish historian Nahum Slouschz (1909) regarded the exile of Daphne of Antiochea to represent that of Israelites associated with the Phoenicians].
<<The Chronicles tells how the Gaali sail to Spain which was then ruled by the Phoenicians who in turn were directed from (Assyrian-controlled") Hamath. In Spain they move from the southern area of Tartessos to Galatia in the northwest and shake off Phoenician control. Together with the Phoenicians from their base in Spain they establish mining operations in Cornwall, in Britain. Some of them move to Aquitaine in Gaul. Due to war and famine, those in Spanish Galatia emigrate to Ireland. Though not Phoenicians they worship God under the form of baal, receive instruction in Phoenician ways, bear Hebrew-sounding names and seem to have Israelite-values such as an aversion to images and other characteristics. 
<<These people (the Gaal of Sciot) had the custom of lighting beacon fires on the coasts.
     "All the headlands and promontories belonging to the Gaal of Sciot on the northwest coast of Spain  were called in the Phoenician language Breoccean, that is, The Land of Flaming Fires, because of the blaze that was kept up and could be seen at a great distance out to sea. The same custom was observed on the coast of Cornwall and Devonshire after the Gaal of Sciot joined with the Phoenicians in their mining operations there, and that land was called Breotan, Breo meaning Flaming Fire" [cf. "BIAR" = burn in Hebrew].
    <<This practice has been used25 to explain a verse in Isaiah:
    "They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD. They shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore, glorify  the LORD  in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea" (Isaiah 24;14-15).                                      

[Isaiah 24:16] FROM THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH HAVE WE HEARD SONGS, EVEN GLORY TO THE  RIGHTEOUS. BUT I SAID, MY LEANNESS, MY LEANNESS, WOE UNTO ME! THE TREACHEROUS DEALERS HAVE  DEALT TREACHEROUSLY; YEA, THE TREACHEROUS DEALERS HAVE DEALT VERY TREACHEROUSLY.
We do not have to understand everything nor answer every conundrum. The chapter begins by describing the Land of Northern Israel being utterly devasted and emptied of Israelites who were all taken into exile. Thiswas the exile of the northern Ten Tribes taken away by Assyria. Then come verses saying that in the Latter Days the exiles will be in the west and in the Isles apparently meaning the Isles of Britain. There will be at least a partial return to the True Way. Then some type of disaster will occur apparently involving most of the earth. Finally there will be succor and salvation to Zion and Jerusalem.

 [Isaiah 24:17] FEAR, AND THE PIT, AND THE SNARE, ARE UPON THEE, O INHABITANT OF THE EARTH.

 [Isaiah 24:18] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT HE WHO FLEETH FROM THE NOISE OF THE FEAR SHALL FALL INTO  THE PIT; AND HE THAT COMETH UP OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE PIT SHALL BE TAKEN IN THE SNARE: FOR THE  WINDOWS FROM ON HIGH ARE OPEN, AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH DO SHAKE.

 [Isaiah 24:19] THE EARTH IS UTTERLY BROKEN DOWN, THE EARTH IS CLEAN DISSOLVED, THE EARTH IS MOVED   EXCEEDINGLY.

 [Isaiah 24:20] THE EARTH SHALL REEL TO AND FRO LIKE A DRUNKARD, AND SHALL BE REMOVED LIKE A COTTAGE; AND THE TRANSGRESSION THEREOF SHALL BE HEAVY UPON IT; AND IT SHALL FALL, AND NOT RISE AGAIN.

 [Isaiah 24:21] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE LORD SHALL PUNISH THE HOST OF THE  HIGH ONES THAT ARE ON HIGH, AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH UPON THE EARTH.
From this we learn that every nation has its own "guardian" angel in heaven. Somehow or other the angel is held responsible for the deeds of the nation underneath it. See Daniel 10;13 10;21: "Michael your prince".
Michael is described as the guardian angel of Israel. In early Christian times the archangel Michael was regarded as the patron saint of Britain but was later replaced, first by St. Edward, then by St. George.

 [Isaiah 24:22] AND THEY SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER, AS PRISONERS ARE GATHERED IN THE PIT, AND SHALL  BE SHUT UP IN THE PRISON, AND AFTER MANY DAYS SHALL THEY BE VISITED.

 [Isaiah 24:23] THEN THE MOON SHALL BE CONFOUNDED, AND THE SUN ASHAMED, WHEN THE LORD OF  HOSTS SHALL REIGN IN MOUNT ZION, AND IN JERUSALEM, AND BEFORE HIS ANCIENTS GLORIOUSLY.                
"moon" perhaps means the nations of Islam, "sun" those of Christendom.
The Divine Presence of the Almighty God of Israel Creator of the Universe will return to dwell in Jerusalem. Some traditional commentators (e.g. Midrashim) say that on a mystical level "Zion" can represent Joseph. Jerusalem is Judah but also the future capital of all Israel.
Isaiah-Chapter 25
This chapter appears to have a universal theme.
[Isaiah 25:1] O LORD, THOU ART MY GOD; I WILL EXALT THEE, I WILL PRAISE THY NAME; FOR THOU HAST DONE WONDERFUL THINGS; THY COUNSELS OF OLD ARE FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH.
The first part is a hymnal of praise to the Almighty.

 [Isaiah 25:2] FOR THOU HAST MADE OF A CITY AN HEAP; OF A DEFENCED CITY A RUIN: A PALACE OF STRANGER TO BE NO CITY; IT SHALL NEVER BE BUILT.
The city of the enemy is destroyed. It shall be no more.

 [Isaiah 25:3] THEREFORE SHALL THE STRONG PEOPLE GLORIFY THEE, THE CITY OF THE TERRIBLE NATIONS SHALL FEAR THEE.
Two Explanations were offered for this verse: 1. "THE STRONG PEOPLE" the strong people is Israel "THE CITY" is Jerusalem.
OR
2. The intention is plural (though read in the singular) and means that after seeing the mighty deeds of God all the strong nations and cities of terrible peoples will be in fear.

 [Isaiah 25:4] FOR THOU HAST BEEN A STRENGTH TO THE POOR, A STRENGTH TO THE NEEDY IN HIS DISTRESS, A REFUGE FROM THE STORM, A SHADOW FROM THE HEAT, WHEN THE BLAST OF THE TERRIBLE ONES IS AS A STORM AGAINST THE WALL.
God is our refuge at all times. He is always there but we feel His proesence when we feel our need of HIM and experience consciously HIS answer to us.

 [Isaiah 25:5] THOU SHALT BRING DOWN THE NOISE OF STRANGERS, AS THE HEAT IN A DRY PLACE; EVEN THE HEAT WITH THE SHADOW OF A CLOUD: THE BRANCH OF THE TERRIBLE ONES SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW.

 [Isaiah 25:6] AND IN THIS MOUNTAIN SHALL THE LORD OF HOSTS MAKE UNTO ALL PEOPLE A FEAST OF FAT THINGS, A FEAST OF WINES ON THE LEES, OF FAT THINGS FULL OF MARROW, OF WINES ON THE LEES WELL REFINED.
"THIS MOUNTAIN" means the Temple Mountrain in Jerusalem..

 [Isaiah 25:7] AND HE WILL DESTROY IN THIS MOUNTAIN THE FACE OF THE COVERING CAST OVER ALL PEOPLE, AND THE VAIL THAT IS SPREAD OVER ALL NATIONS.
People will be aware of God.
"THE VAIL THAT IS SPREAD OVER ALL NATIONS" according to one commentary means anti-semitism. Most peoples today are distinctly anti-semitic. They hate the Jews no matter what the Jews do. Out of about 1300 UN declarations up to now around 800 were against the Jewish State of Israel. Today it is no longer respectable to hate the Jews for "racial" or religious reasons so other reasons are found.
Most peoples today are also against the descendants of Israelite Tribes. The US is hated by a large portion of the earth even though the US did more good for the world than most nations put together.

 [Isaiah 25:8] HE WILL SWALLOW UP DEATH IN VICTORY; AND THE LORD GOD WILL WIPE AWAY TEARS FROM  OFF ALL FACES; AND THE REBUKE OF HIS PEOPLE SHALL HE TAKE AWAY FROM OFF ALL THE EARTH: FOR THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.
"THE REBUKE OF HIS PEOPLE SHALL HE TAKE AWAY" The Jews will no longer have to be ashamed of their very existence and of their belief in the Truth.

 [Isaiah 25:9] AND IT SHALL BE SAID IN THAT DAY, LO, THIS IS OUR GOD; WE HAVE WAITED FOR HIM, AND HE WILL SAVE US: THIS IS THE LORD; WE HAVE WAITED FOR HIM, WE WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN HIS SALVATION.
"THIS IS OUR GOD": God will be close to us. We will experience Him.

 [Isaiah 25:10] FOR IN THIS MOUNTAIN SHALL THE HAND OF THE LORD REST, AND MOAB SHALL BE TRODDEN DOWN UNDER HIM, EVEN AS STRAW IS TRODDEN DOWN FOR THE DUNGHILL.
"MOAB" according to Commentary quoted by "Me-Am Loaz" will be defeated and subjected and in the end its people will repent and be accepted as part of Israel. I do not know who Moab is today though I believe it is one of the European nations.

 [Isaiah 25:11] AND HE SHALL SPREAD FORTH HIS HANDS IN THE MIDST OF THEM, AS HE THAT SWIMMETH SPREADETH FORTH HIS HANDS TO SWIM: AND HE SHALL BRING DOWN THEIR PRIDE TOGETHER WITH THE SPOILS OF THEIR HANDS.

 [Isaiah 25:12] AND THE FORTRESS OF THE HIGH FORT OF THY WALLS SHALL HE BRING DOWN, LAY LOW, AND BRING TO THE GROUND, EVEN TO THE DUST.
 

Isaiah chs. 16 to 20

Isaiah chs. 26 to 30

See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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