Judgment on the city of Tyre

1Eleven years26.1 Eleven years: Probably late in 587 BC. after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, the LORD spoke to me on the first day of the month. He said:26.1—28.19: Is 23.1-18; Jl 3.4-8; Am 1.9,10; Zec 9.1-4; Mt 11.21,22; Lk 10.13,14.

2Ezekiel, son of man, the people of the city of Tyre26.2 Tyre: One of the two major cities of Phoenicia; Sidon was the other. have celebrated Jerusalem's defeat by singing,

“Jerusalem has fallen!

It used to be powerful,

a centre of trade.

Now the city is shattered,

and we will take its place.”

3Because the people of Tyre have sung that song, I have the following warning for them: I am the LORD God, and I am now your enemy! I will send nations to attack you, like waves crashing against the shore. 4They will tear down your city walls and defence towers. I will sweep away the ruins until all that's left of you is a bare rock, 5where fishermen can dry their nets along the coast. I promise that you will be robbed 6and that the people who live in your towns along the coast will be killed. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

7King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia is the world's most powerful king, and I will send him to attack you. He will march from the north with a powerful army, including horses and chariots and cavalry troops. 8First, he will attack your towns along the coast and kill the people who live there. Then he will build earth ramps up to the top of your city walls and set up rows of shields around you. 9He will command some of his troops to use large wooden poles to beat down your walls, while others use iron rods to knock down your watchtowers. 10He will have so many horses that the dust they stir up will seem like a thick fog. And as his chariots and cavalry approach, even the walls will shake, especially when he proudly enters your ruined city. 11His troops will ride through your streets, killing people left and right, and your strong columns will crumble to the ground. 12The troops will steal your valuable possessions; they will break down your walls, and crush your expensive houses. Then the stones and wood and all the remains will be dumped into the sea. 13You will have no reason to sing or play music on harps,26.13: Rev 18.22. 14because I will turn you into a bare rock where fishermen can dry their nets. And you will never rebuild your city. I, the LORD God, make this promise.

15The people of the nations up and down the coast will shudder when they hear your screams and moans of death. 16The kings will step down from their thrones, then take off their royal robes and fine clothes, and sit on the ground, trembling. They will be so shocked at the news of your defeat that they will shake in fear26.16-18: Rev 18.9,10. 17and sing this funeral song:

“The great city beside the sea

is destroyed!26.17 The great city…is destroyed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Its people once ruled the coast

and terrified everyone there.

18But now Tyre is in ruins,

and the people on the coast

stare at it in horror

and tremble in fear.”

19I, the LORD God, will turn you into a ghost town. The ocean depths will rise over you 20and carry you down to the world of the dead, where you will join people of ancient times and towns ruined long ago. You will stay there and never again be a city filled with people.26.20 You will stay there…with people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. 21You will die a horrible death! People will come looking for your city, but it will never be found. I, the LORD, have spoken.26.21: Rev 18.21.