The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 71

genera.Uy, but refere especially to the attitude theee peoples had ta.ken towards bis own countrymen, their land, and their motropolis, No doubt there was patriotism in this we.y of looking at matters. But the frequency and evident deliberateness of such references show that it was not mere personal and patriotic feeling which animated Ezekiel. He spoke a.a e. religioue teacher and as the prophet of the Lord ; and he recognized, a.e underlying hostility to Israel, hostility to Israel's God. It is observable that in the powerful and eloquent denunciation of Tyre's offences, in the awful predic- tion of Tyre's impending fate, which forms so interesting and instructive e. portion of this book, Ezekiel puts in the very forefront of his indictment Tyre's attitude towards Jerusalem, the Hebrew metropolis. Tyre's jealousy of Jerusalem's historic power, prosperity, and wealth, Tyre's malicious delight in Jerusalem's humiliation and fall, a.re adduced as reasons for the Divine displeasure, and for the execution of the sentence of Divine condemnation. The proud queen of the seas was to be smitten and deposed, not only because of her luxury, pride, and idolatry, but especially because of her jealousy and malevolence towards the beloved and chosen city of Jehovah. I. THE FAOT tll'ON WfilOH THIS JEALOUSY WAS BASED, i.e. THE FORMER PROSPERITY OF JERUSALEM. According to the poetical language of the prophet, Jerusalem had been " the gate of the peoples." In the reign of Solomon especially, and to some extent subsequently, the metropolis of the Jewish people had been an emporium of commerce. Its situation in some degree fitted it to be the centre of communication between the great Eastern countries, and Egypt on the south, and the Mediterranean and its traffic Westwards. We a.re not accustomed to think of Jerusalem in this light; but this verse in Ezekiel's prophecies brings before our minds the unquestionable fact that there was a. time when this city was a ma.rt in which the surrounding nations were wont to exchange their produce and their commodities. IJ. THE BEJOIOING TO WHICH THIS JEALOUSY LED, i.e. IN THE DOWNFALL OF JERUSALEM. "She is broken," was the exulting exclamation of Tyre upon beholding the distress of her rival. That Jerusalem deserved her fate there is no room for doubt- ing; yet it was not generoUB in Tyre thus to triumph over the misfortunes and calamities of her neighbour. The wealth and prosperity of the Jewish capital was a.bout to end; the de.ye of her glory were over ; her streets were to be forsaken ; the caravans of the merchants were no more to thread their way through the proud gates of the city. And in this change, in these disasters, Tyre rejoiced. III. 'l'HE HOPE WITH WHICH THl8 JEALOUSY WAS ASSOCIATED, i.e. THE EXTENSION OJ.I' THE PROSPERITY OF TYRE. The Phcenician city·anticipa.ted that she would gain what Jerusalem was a.bout to lose: "I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste." The greatness, opulence, and renown of Tyre were such that it seems scarcely cre- dible that her prosperity could be affected by anything which could happen to a. small and inland capital such as Jerusalem. Yet it is evident that the Tyrian spirit was a spirit of selfishness, exclusiveness, and grasping. Nothing was too great for Tyre's ambition, nothing too small to be beneath her notice and cupidity. IV. Tns MEANNESS WHIOH THIS JEALOUSY REVEALED. In what follows Ezekiel displays the pomp, splendour, and magnificence of the greo.t seaport of Phcenicia.; it is strange that he should put in the forefront or his address to Tyre this imputation of littleness. There is a. reason for this; it may be that the prophet spoke, not only !ls a. patriot who resented Tyre's jealousy, but as a. religious teacher for whom more.I distinc- tions were e.ll-importe.nt, and for whom a. moral fault was of more consequence than all material splendour. V. 'l'HE DISPLEASURE WHICH THIS JEALOUSY EXCITED IN THE MIND OJ.I' THE DIVINB KING AND JUDGE. "I," says God-" I am against thee, 0 Tyre!" The city which had envied and hated his own Jerusalem, the seat of his worship, and the metropolis of his chosen; the city which was pained by Jerusalem's prosperity, and which rejoiced in Jerusalem's fa.11,-incurrcd the indignation as well as the disapproval of the Most Hi~h. For dispositions were revealed discreditable to. human nature, and repugn<1nt to Divine purity, Because Tyre was against Jerusalem, the Lord God was against 'l'yre.-'l'. Vera. 3-6.-The fate of Tyre. From such obscure peoples as the Ammonites, MoabiteR, and Edomites, who-except for their occasional association with Israel-are quite a.side from the world's history, the prophet passes to deal with Tyre, one of th8 74 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL, [cH. xxvr.1-21.