--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 35 of 769 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/35/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation, section 35. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/35/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 2 of 2. ## 35. Ezekiel · 26 of 47 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/35/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/35/#p-N ### Verse 8 [¶1] Thy daughters in the field - This seems to be spoken of Palaetyre, or Tyre on the main land; for forts, mounts, engines of war, horses, and chariots could not be brought to act against the other. ### Verse 12 [¶3] And they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water - This answers to the taking of Tyre by Alexander; he actually took the timbers, stones, rubbish, etc. of old Tyre, and filled up the space between it and new Tyre, and thus connected the latter with the main land; and this he was obliged to do before he could take it. ### Verse 14 [¶5] Thou shalt be built no more - If this refer to Nebuchadnezzar's capture of the city, old Tyre must be intended: that was destroyed by him, and never rebuilt. But I doubt whether the whole of this prophecy do not refer to the taking of Tyre by Alexander, three hundred years after its capture by Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed it may include more recent conquests of this important city. It went through a variety of vicissitudes till 1289, when it and the neighboring towns were sacked and ravaged by the Mamelukes. Mr. Maundrell, who visited this place, says, "it is a Babel of broken walls, pillars, vaults, etc., there being not so much as one entire house left! Its present inhabitants are only a few poor wretches, harbouring themselves in the vaults, and subsisting chiefly on fishing; who seem to be preserved in this place by Divine Providence as a visible argument how God has fulfilled his word concerning Tyre, that it should be the top of a rock, a place for fishers to dry their nets on." ### Verse 15 [¶7] The isles shake at the sound of thy fall - All those which had traded with this city, which was the grand mart, and on which they all depended. Her ruin involved them all, and caused general wailing. ### Verse 16 [¶9] The princes of the sea - The chief maritime states, such as Leptis, Utica, Carthage, Gades, etc. See Calmet. ### Verse 17 [¶11] Wast strong in the sea - The strength of Tyre was so great, that Alexander despaired of being able to reduce it unless he could fill up that arm of the sea that ran between it and the main land. And this work cost his army seven months of labor. ### Verse 20 [¶13] And I shall set glory in the land of the living - Judea so called, the land of the living God. ### Verse 21 [¶15] Yet shalt thou never be found again - This is literally true; there is not the smallest vestige of the ancient Tyre, that which was erected on the main land. Even the ground seems to have been washed away; and the new Tyre is in nearly a similar state. I think this prophecy must be extended to the whole duration of Tyre. If it now be found to be in the state here described, it is sufficient to show the truth of the prophecy. And now it is found precisely in the state which the above prophetic declarations, taken according to the letter, point out! No word of God can ever fall to the ground. [¶16] Notwithstanding the former destructions, Tyre was a place of some consequence in the time of St. Paul. There was a Church there, (see [Act 21:3], [Act 21:4], etc.), which afterwards became famous. Calmet observes, it afforded a great number of martyrs for the Christian Church. ### Introduction [¶18] This chapter may be considered as the second part of the prophecy concerning Tyre. The prophet pursues his subject in the manner of those ancient lamentations or funeral songs, in which the praeficiae or mourning women first recounted whatever was great or praiseworthy in the deceased, and then mourned his fall. Here the riches, glory, and extensive commerce of Tyre are enlarged upon, vv. 1-25. Her downfall is then described in a beautiful allegory, executed in a few words, with astonishing brevity, propriety, and perspicuity, [Eze 27:26]; upon which all the maritime and commercial world are represented as grieved and astonished at her fate, and greatly alarmed for their own, [Eze 27:27-36]. Besides the view which this chapter gives of the conduct of Providence, and the example with which it furnishes the critic and men of taste of a very elegant and highly finished piece of composition, it likewise affords the antiquary a very curious and interesting account of the wealth and commerce of ancient times. And to the mind that looks for "a city that hath foundations," what a picture does the whole present of the mutability and inanity of all earthly things! Many of the places mentioned in ancient history have, like Tyre, long ago lost their political consequence; the geographical situation of others cannot be traced; they have sunk in the deep waters of oblivion; the east wind hath carried them away. ### Verse 2 [¶20] Take up a lamentation for Tyrus - This is a singular and curious chapter. It gives a very circumstantial account of the trade of Tyre with different parts of the world, and the different sorts of merchandise in which she trafficked. The places and the imports are as regularly entered here as they could have been in a European custom-house. ### Verse 3 [¶22] The entry of the sea - Tyre was a small island, or rather rock, in the sea, at a short distance from the main land. We have already seen that there was another Tyre on the main land; but they are both considered as one city. ### Verse 4 [¶24] Thy builders have perfected thy beauty - Under the allegory of a beautiful ship, the prophet, here and in the following verses, paints the glory of this ancient city. Horace describes the commonwealth of Rome by the same allegory, and is as minute in his description, Carm. lib. 1. Od. xiv: - [¶25] O navis, referent in mare te novi [¶26] Fluctus? O quid agis? Fortiter occupa [¶27] Portum. Nonne video, ut [¶28] Nudum remigio latus, [¶29] Et malus celeri saucius Africo, [¶30] Antennaeque gemant? ac sine funibus [¶31] Vix durare carinae Possint imperiosius [¶32] Aequor! non tibi sunt integra lintea; [¶33] Non Di, quos iterum pressa votes malo: [¶34] Quamvis Pontica pinus, [¶35] Sylvae filia nobilis, [¶36] Jactes et genus, et nomen inutile [¶37] Nil pictis timidus navita puppibus [¶38] Fidit. Tu, nisi, ventis [¶39] Debes ludibrium, cave. [¶40] Unhappy vessel, shall the waves again [¶41] Tumultuous bear thee to the faithless main? [¶42] What, would thy madness thus with storms to sport? [¶43] Cast firm your anchor in the friendly port. [¶44] Behold thy naked decks, the wounded mast, [¶45] And sail-yards groan beneath the southern blast.