Oracle on Tyr.

v. 1-5. The fleet of Tarshish (Mediterranean, Spain?) is in the pain of despair because of the destruction that has befallen Tyre, and Sidon which supplied it. Tyre was the center of the nations' trade, as was later Carthage, a Tyrian colony (not to mention Venice), then Amsterdam, then England. Not all of Tyre's maritime trade formed a people. Egypt provided Tyre with its prosperity, and Tyre's fall ruined Egypt. All this alludes to the destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar (see Ezek. 26-28).

This oracle is historically fulfilled against Tyre, but will only be fully realized in apocalyptic Babylon (Rev. 18), when all the merchants and pilots will mourn. Don't forget that apocalyptic Babylon has two characters, the religious character and the character of worldly, commercial prosperity. So the king of Tyre becomes the personification of Satan and the Antichrist for the time of the end. Historic Tyre, destroyed by historic Babylon, becomes a type of apocalyptic Babylon in the end, the commercial Christianity of Rev. 18.

In Ezekiel 28, the king of Tyre is first and foremost man, as the prince established in Eden (v. 2, 13), becoming satanic through the temptation of Satan, who seduces him with pride and intelligence (v. 9, 10). He makes himself God, relying on his wisdom and the greatness of his wealth and power. From v. 11 onwards, the true king of Tyre is again man, represented as a creature, the image of God in Eden, but assimilated to Satan, the anointed cherub in whom iniquity was found.

Satan was a cherub in the holy mountain, Adam was the completed form of human perfection and glory in the image of God in Eden. The former seized the latter and cast him into the same judgment as himself. The king of Tyre is the type of Antichrist in his commercial power. He is Satan's direct successor. The king of Babylon and Assyria is again the type of Antichrist in his moral power (Lucifer), actuated by Satan. In short, all these characters relate to the original character of Satan.

v. 6-9. The downfall and destruction of Tyre is repeated historically in the successive destruction of the trading powers, Venice, Amsterdam, London, etc., until the final destruction of trading Babylon.

v. 10-14. Nebuchadnezzar is aroused against Tyre, but also against Canaan, against commercial power, and against spiritual power. This is what will happen in the end.

v. 15-17. At the end of 70 years Tyre is restored, like Judah, but, like him, in unbelief and in her prostitution. The reasons are the same as before. But (v. 18) there will come a time of restoration when, under Christ, all her trade will benefit the saints and their glory.

Bible commentary