Difference between revisions of "Tyre"

<p> &nbsp;Joshua 19:29; &nbsp;2 Samuel 24:7; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:1; Ezekiel 26-28. In Phoenicia, E. of the Mediterranean, 20 miles S. of Sidon. Justin says the [[Sidonians]] founded [[Tyre]] after having been defeated by the king of Ascalon, 1209 B.C. according to the Parian marble. A double city, part on the mainland, part on an island nearly one mile long, and separated from the continent by a strait half a mile broad. Justin (xi. 10) records the tradition of the inhabitants that there was a city on the mainland before there was one on the island. Ezekiel represents the mainland city as besieged by Nebuchadnezzar's horses and chariots, and its walls assailed with "engines of war, forts, and mounts," and its towers broken down with axes; but the island city as sitting "in the heart of the seas" (&nbsp;Ezekiel 28:2, margin). The former, Old Tyre, stretched along the shore seven miles from the river [[Leontes]] on the N. to the fountain Ras el ain on the S., the water of which was brought into the city by aqueducts. </p> <p> Pliny (N. H., v. 17) says the circuit of both was 19 Roman miles, the island city being only 22 stadia. The difficulty is that the name "Tyre," meaning a "rock," belongs properly to the island city, there being no "rock" in the mainland city to originate the name; yet the mainland city is called "Old Tyre." Probably the Phoenician name of the mainland city resembled in sound but not sense the Greek Palaeo-Tyrus, and the latter name was given from a misunderstanding. Tyre is not mentioned in the Pentateuch, but first in &nbsp;Joshua 19:29 "the strong city Tyre." From '''''Tsor''''' came its two names, Tyre, and Sara, now [[Sur]] (Arabic). Joshua implies it was on the shore, but the city and chief temple of [[Hercules]] (Melkarth, the tutelary god of Tyre) was probably on the island. Unlike other oriental cities, space being limited on the island, the houses were built in stories. The majority of the population was on the mainland. Hiram by substructures enlarged the eastern and southern sides, so as to afford room for a public place, Eurychorus. </p> <p> The northern or [[Sidonian]] harbour was 900 ft. long, 700 wide, protected by walls. The southern or [[Egyptian]] was formed by a great breakwater; the barbours could be closed by a boom; a canal through the city joined the harbours. "Tyre did build herself a strong hold" (&nbsp;Zechariah 9:3); so [[Diodorus]] Siculus (xvii. 40), "Tyre had the greatest confidence, owing to her insular position, fortifications and abundant stores." A double wall, 150 ft. high, besides the sea, secured island Tyre. "Her merchants were princes, and her traffickers the honourable of the earth" (&nbsp;Isaiah 23:7-8). Hiram, as friend and ally, supplied David with timber and workmen for his palace (&nbsp;2 Samuel 5:11), and [[Solomon]] with cedars of Lebaron conveyed by floats to Joppa, 74 geographical miles, after having been hewn by Hiram's Sidonian hewers unrivaled in skill (&nbsp;1 Kings 5:6). (See [[Hiram]] ; SOLOMON.) The [[Tyrian]] skill in copper work appears in the lilies, palms, oxen, lions, and cherubim which they executed for Solomon. </p> <p> Tyrian colonists founded [[Carthage]] 143 years and eight months after the founding of Solomon's temple. (Josephus, contra [[Apion]] 1:18). [[Asher]] never possessed Tyre; though commanded to exterminate the Sidonians along with the other Canaanites, [[Israel]] never had war with them (&nbsp;Judges 1:31-32). The census takers in going to Tyre under David seem merely to have counted the [[Israelites]] resident in Tyre (&nbsp;2 Samuel 24:7). Joshua (&nbsp;Joshua 11:8; &nbsp;Joshua 19:28) designates [[Sidon]] "great." In David's time Tyre assumes the greatness above Sidon. So secular history represents Sidon as mother city of Phoenicia, which see (Justin, Hist. xviii. 3; [[Strabo]] Geegr. 1:2, section 33). (See [[Phoenicia]] .) Old Egyptian inscriptions give Sidon the first place. [[Homer]] often mentions Sidon, never Tyre. The reason for his and the Pentateuch's silence as to Tyre is, Tyre, though existing, was as yet subordinate. Secular history accords with the Bible in dating the accession of Tyre to greatness just before David's reign. </p> <p> Unlike other independent commercial cities Tyre was a monarchy, not a republic (&nbsp;Jeremiah 25:22; &nbsp;Jeremiah 27:3). The friendly relations between Tyre and Israel (Solomon supplying grain and oil in return for Hiram's timber, metals, and workmen) were again renewed when [[Ahab]] married the Sidonian king Ethbaal's (or Ithobal king of Tyre, according to Menander, in [[Josephus]] Ant. 8:13, section 2) daughter. Joel (&nbsp;Joel 3:4-8) denounces Tyre for selling children of Judah and [[Jerusalem]] as slaves to the Greeks, Amos threatens Tyre with devouring fire for "delivering the whole captivity (captive Israelites) to Edom, and remembering not the brotherly covenant" (&nbsp;Amos 1:9-10), between David and Hiram which guaranteed safety, religious privileges, and the undisturbed exercise of their faith to the [[Jews]] sojourning in Tyre. </p> <p> Hiram's successors were Baleazar, Abdrastatus ''(Assassinated By His Nurse'S Four Sons, The Elder Of Whom Usurped The Throne; Then Hiram'S [[Line]] After A [[Servile]] [[Revolt]] Was [[Restored]] In)'' , Adrastus, Aserymus, Phales ''(Who [[Slew]] His [[Brother]] Aserymus And Was [[Slain]] By)'' , Ithobaal, priest of [[Astarte]] and father of Jezebel, Ahab's unscrupulous, cruel, and idolatrous queen. Tyre's annals record the three years' drought of 1 Kings 17-18. Then Badezor, Matgen, Pygmalion; he slew Acerbas, Hercules' high priest, and the husband of Elissa or Dido. She fled with many of the aristocracy and founded Carthage. Her self immolation on a funeral pyre is essentially oriental. The next certain event after some interval is Elulaeus' reign and Shalmaneser's invasion. Shalmaneser, after taking Samaria, turned his arms against Tyre, then mistress of Sidon, and [[Cyprus]] with its copper mines ''("Copper" Derives Its Name From Cyprus)'' , 721 B.C. Menander, the translator of the Tyrian archives into Greek (Josephus Ant. 9:14, section 2), says Elulseus king of Tyre subdued a revolt in Cyprus. </p> <p> The [[Assyrian]] king then, assailed Pnoenicia; Sidon, Akko (Acre), and Palaeo-Tyrus submitted, and helped him with 60 ships and 800 rowers against 12 ships of Tyre. The Tyrians dispersed their opponent's fleet, but he besieged them for five years, apparently without success. Isaiah (Isaiah 23) refers to this siege; [[Sargon]] probably finished the siege. The reference to "the Chaldaeans" (&nbsp;Isaiah 23:13) implies an ulterior prophetic reference also to its siege under [[Nebuchadnezzar]] which lasted 13 years. "Behold," says the prophet, calling Tyre's attention to the humiliating fact that upstart Chaldees, subordinate then to [[Assyria]] and only in later times about to become supreme, should first as mercenaries under the Assyrian Shalmaneser, then as Nebuchadnezzar's army, besiege the ancient city Tyre. (See [[Chaldees]] .) </p> <p> [[Alexander]] the Great destroyed new Tyre after a seven months' siege. Nebuchadnezzar, having no vessels to attack the island city, besieged the mainland city, but the heart of the city was on the island. To this latter God's threat applies, "I will scrape her dust from her and make her like the top of a rock" (&nbsp;Ezekiel 26:2; &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:4, etc.); instead of her realizing her exulting expectation on Jerusalem's downfall, "I shall be replenished now she is laid waste," the very soil which Tyre brought together on the rock on which she built I will scrape so clean away as to leave no dust, but only the bore rock as it was; "it (island Tyre) shall be a place for spreading of nets in the midst of the sea." Ezekiel (&nbsp;Ezekiel 27:10-11) informs us that, like her daughter Carthage, Tyre employed mercenaries, "of [[Persia]] (the first mention of Persia in ancient literature), Lud, Phut, and Arvad"; a frequent occurrence and weakness in commercial cities, where artisans' wages exceed a soldier's pay. </p> <p> Merchants of Sheba and Raamah, i.e. Arabia. and the [[Persian]] gulf, brought Tyre gold (Ezekiel 27). (See [[Sheba]] ; [[Raamah]] Tarshish supplied Tyre with silver, iron, tin (from Cornwall), and lead; [[Palestine]] supplied Tyre with wheat, oil, and balm (&nbsp;1 Kings 5:9; &nbsp;Acts 12:20); whence the two nations were always at peace. Tyre got the wine of [[Helbon]] (Aleppo), not Judah's wines though excellent (&nbsp;Genesis 49:11). (See [[Tarshish]] .) The nomadic Bedouin [[Kedar]] supplied lambs, rams, and goats; Egypt, linen; the isles of [[Elishah]] (Greece, the Peloponnese, and [[Elis]] especially), blue and purple dyes; (latterly Tyre extracted her famous purple from her own shell fish the '''''Μurex Trunculus''''' (See [[Scarlet]] ); Pliny ix. 60-61, [[Pausanias]] iii. 21, section 6; the shell fish were crushed in round holes found still by travelers in the solid sandstone there: Wilde, [[Voyage]] along Mediterr.); and [[Dedan]] on the Persian gulf, ivory and ebony. </p> <p> The exultation of Tyre at Jerusalem's overthrow by Nebuchadnezzar might seem strange; but Josiah's overthrow of Solomon's altars to [[Ashtoreth]] or Astarte, the Tyrian queen of heaven, which for 350 years had been a pledge of the goodwill between Jerusalem and Tyre (&nbsp;2 Kings 23:13), had alienated the Tyrians; the selfishness of commercial rivalry further made them regard Jerusalem's fall as an opening for Tyre to turn to herself the inland traffic of which Jerusalem had hereto been the "gate"; Tyre said against Jerusalem, "Aha, she is broken that was the gates (the commercial mart) of the people, she is turned unto me" (&nbsp;Ezekiel 26:2); the caravans from Petra, Palmyra and the East instead of passing through Jerusalem, will be transferred to me. Tyre is thus the world's representative in its phase of intense self seeking, which not so much opposes directly God's people as exults in their calamity when this subserves her schemes of gain, pride, and ambition, however ostensibly heretofore on friendly terms with them. </p> <p> But Tyre experienced the truth "he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished" (&nbsp;Proverbs 17:5). Nebuchadnezzar's siege of 13 years followed; "every head was made bald, and every shoulder peeled, yet had he no wages nor his army, for Tyre, for the service that he had served against it" (&nbsp;Ezekiel 29:18-19). [[Jerome]] states that Nebuchadnezzar took Tyre, but had no wages for his pains since the Tyrians had removed in ships from Tyre everything precious. So God gave him Egypt in compensation; his success is implied in Tyre receiving a king from Babylon, probably one of the Tyrian hostages detained there, Merbal (Josephus, Apion 1:21, on the authority of Phoenician annals). Tyre probably submitted on mild terms, for no other authors mention its capture. Josephus quotes Phoenician records as stating that "Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre 13 years under their king Ithobal." Its capture accords with [[Pharaoh]] Hophra's expedition against Tyre not long after, probably in self defense, to prevent Tyre's navy becoming Babylon's weapon against Egypt. </p> <p> Under Persia Tyre supplied cedar wood to the Jews for building the second temple (&nbsp;Ezra 3:7). Alexander the Great, in order not to have his communications with [[Greece]] cut off, wished to have the Phoenician fleet at command; the other Phoenician cities submitted. Tyre stood a "seven months'" siege, the [[Cyprians]] blockading the northern harbour, and the Phoenicians the southern harbour, so that Alexander was enabled to join the island to the mainland by a vast artificial mole constructed of the ruins of mainland Tyre remaining after Nebuchadnezzar's siege; while Carthage, through internal commotions, was unable to help the mother city. The conqueror slew 8,000 of the brave defenders, crucified 2,000 in revenge for the murder of some Macedonians, and sold into slavery 30,000 of the inhabitants. Ezekiel (&nbsp;Ezekiel 26:11-12) says: "Nebuchadnezzar shall slay, ... They shall break down thy walls, and shall lay thy stones and timber and dust in the midst of the water." The overthrow of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar was the first link in the long chain of evil, and the earnest of its final doom. </p> <p> The change from "he" to "they" marks that what he did was not the whole, but paved the way for other's completing what he began. It was to be a progressive work until Tyre was utterly destroyed. Alexander did exactly as &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:12 foretells; with the "stones, timber," and rubbish of mainland Tyre he made the causeway to island Tyre (Q. [[Curtius]] iv. 2), 322 B.C. "Thou shalt be built (re-established as a commercial queen and fortress of the seas) no more." Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Antigonus, the crusaders in A.D. 1124, and the [[Saracens]] in the 13th century, A.D. 1291 (before whom the Tyrians vacated their city, fulfilling &nbsp;Isaiah 23:7), all contributed to make Tyro what she is, her harbours choked up, her palaces and fortresses in ruins and "built no more," only a few fishermen's humble abodes, Tyre only "a place to spread nets upon." In Hasselquist's day (Voyages in Levant, A.D. 1751) there were "about ten inhabitants, Turks and Christians, living by fishing." Its present population is 3,000 or 4,000. </p> <p> It was for long a [[Christian]] bishopric. Ithobaal was king at the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar's siege, and [[Baal]] his son at its close. Then the form of government changed to that of judges (Suffetes, [[Hebrew]] '''''Shophetim''''' ). Tyre is a vivid illustration of vicissitudes of fortune, so that [[Lucan]] calls her "unstable Tyre." During Tyre's existence Thebes, Nineveh, Babylon, and Jerusalem have fallen, and Carthage and Rome have risen and fallen; she "whose antiquity is, of ancient days" (&nbsp;Isaiah 23:7), who heaped up silver as dust and fine gold as the mire of the streets" (&nbsp;Zechariah 9:2), is now bore and poverty stricken. [[Greed]] of gain was her snare, to which she sacrificed every other consideration; this led her to join the wicked confederacy of seven nations constituting the main body, with three accessories, which sought to oust [[Jehoshaphat]] and God's people out of their inheritance (&nbsp;Psalms 83:7). </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalms 87:4 foretells that Tyre personified as an ideal man shall be in Messianic days spiritually born in Jerusalem. Her help to Solomon's temple foretypified this, and the [[Syrophoenician]] woman's faith (&nbsp;Mark 7:26) is the firstfruit and earnest. Isaiah's (&nbsp;Isaiah 23:18) prophecy that "her merchandise shall be holiness to the Lord ... it shall be for them that dwell before the Lord to eat sufficiently and for durable clothing," was fulfilled in the consecration by the church at Tyre of much of its wealth to God and the support of Christ's ministry (Eusebius Hist. 10:4). Paul found disciples there (&nbsp;Acts 21:3-6), a lively instance of the immediate and instinctive communion of saints, though previously strangers to one another. What an affecting picture of brotherly love, all bringing Paul's company on their way "with wives and children until they were out of the city, then kneeling down on the shore" under the canopy of heaven and praying! </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalms 45:12, "the daughter of Tyre shall entreat thy favor (so supply the omission) with a gift, even the rich (which Tyre was preeminently) among the people shall entreat thy favor," begging admission into the kingdom of God from Israel (&nbsp;Isaiah 44:5; &nbsp;Isaiah 60:6-14; &nbsp;Psalms 72:10). When Israel "hearkens" to [[Messiah]] and "forgets her own people (Jewish ritualism) and her father's house (her boast of Abrahamic descent), the King shall greatly desire her beauty," and Messiah shall become "the desire of all nations," e.g. Tyre (&nbsp;Haggai 2:7). On the other hand Tyre is type of (See [[Antichrist]] ) (Ezekiel 28) in her self deifying pride. "I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas ... yet thou art a man and not God. Though thou set thine heart as the heart of God, behold thou art wiser than Daniel ... no secret, can they hide from thee; with thy wisdom thou hast gotten riches" (compare &nbsp;Daniel 7:1-25; &nbsp;Daniel 11:36-37; &nbsp;2 Thessalonians 2:4; &nbsp;Revelation 13:1; &nbsp;Revelation 13:6; &nbsp;2 Timothy 3:1-9). </p> <p> The "seas" answer to the political disturbed sea of nations out of which antichrist emerges. Tyre's "holy island," sacred to Melkart (Sanchoniathon) answers to antichrist's mimicry of God's throne in the temple of God. Her self-vaunted wisdom (&nbsp;Zechariah 9:2) answers to the "eyes of a man" in the little horn (&nbsp;Daniel 7:8; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 1:19-31) and the second beast's "great wonders." Man in our days by discoveries in science hopes to be so completely lord of the elements as to be independent of God, so that "no secret can be hidden from him" in the natural world, which is the only world that self-willed fools recognize. When just at the summit of blasphemous self glorification, God shall bring these self deceivers with their masters, antichrist, the false prophet, and Satan, "down to the pit," as. Tyre (&nbsp;Ezekiel 28:8; Revelation 16; 17; &nbsp;Revelation 19:20; &nbsp;Revelation 20:10). </p> <p> In Tyre's king another example was given of man being put on his trial under most favorable circumstances, with all that beauty, sagacity, and wealth could do for man, like Adam and [[Eve]] in Eden (&nbsp;Ezekiel 28:13-14). No "precious stone" was withheld from Tyre; like the overshadowing cherubim, its king overshadowed Tyre; as the beau ideal of humanity he walked up and down "in the midst of the stones of fire" like "the paved work of sapphire" (&nbsp;Exodus 24:10; &nbsp;Exodus 24:17) under the feet of the God of Israel. But, whereas Hiram feared the God of Israel and helped forward His temple, "iniquity" even pride was found in Tyre. Therefore, God "cast her to the ground" (&nbsp;Ezekiel 28:17; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:9), "sacred and inviolate" ( '''''Hiera Kai Asulos''''' ) though she calls herself on coins. The Lord Jesus entered the coasts of Tyre, but it is uncertain whether He entered Tyre itself (&nbsp;Matthew 15:21; &nbsp;Mark 7:24; &nbsp;Mark 7:26). </p>

<p> [[Tyre]] ([[Tyre]] ) and [[Tyrus]] ( ''Ty'Rus'' ). Heb. ''Tsor,'' "rock;" Arabic ''Sûr'' . A celebrated city of Phœnicia, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, 21 miles south of Sidon. Tyre was originally on an island, or perhaps two islands, about one mile long, and lying parallel to the shore at the distance of half a mile. There was also a city called "Palætyrus"—"Old Tyre"—upon the mainland. The first [[Scripture]] mention of Tyre is in the time of Joshua, b.c. 1444, and it was then "a strong city." &nbsp;Joshua 19:29. It was coupled with the Zidonians. &nbsp;Jeremiah 47:4; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:2; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:4; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:12; &nbsp;Joshua 13:6; &nbsp;Ezekiel 32:30. The two cities Tyre and Sidon, being only 21 miles apart, were intimately associated. Tyre, under king Hiram, held friendly relations with Israel, under David and Solomon. David's census extended thither to embrace the Jews. &nbsp;2 Samuel 24:7. The Tyrians furnished the timber for the temple and great buildings of Jerusalem. The cedars of Lebanon were floated from Tyre to Joppa, some 85 miles, and thence taken to Jerusalem. Tyrian artists also were skilful in the fine work required. As a reward for his services, Hiram was presented with 20 cities in northern Galilee, but he was not well pleased with them and called them "Cabul"—"displeasing" or "despicable." &nbsp;2 Samuel 5:11; &nbsp;1 Kings 5:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 7:13; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:11-12; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 14:1; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 2:2-3; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 2:11. Hiram and Solomon were also associated in commercial enterprises. &nbsp;1 Kings 9:27; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:11-22; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:17-18; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:21. From Tyre came the many fatal influences toward idolatry which corrupted the chosen people. At a later period the friendly relations were changed to hostility. Tyre rejoiced in the distress of Israel, and God's prophet predicted the terrible overthrow of the proud heathen city. &nbsp;Isaiah 23:1; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:5; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:8; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:15-17; &nbsp;Jeremiah 25:22; &nbsp;Jeremiah 27:3; &nbsp;Jeremiah 47:4; &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:2-15; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:2-8; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:32; &nbsp;Ezekiel 29:18; &nbsp;Hosea 9:13; &nbsp;Joel 3:4; &nbsp;Amos 1:9-10; &nbsp;Zechariah 9:2-3; comp. &nbsp;Psalms 45:12; &nbsp;Psalms 83:7; &nbsp;Psalms 87:4. The prophecies were notably fulfilled. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, besieged Tyre in b.c. 721. The siege lasted for five years, but the city was not taken. Nebuchadnezzar besieged it for 13 years. But Tyre came under the Persian dominion and furnished that power with a large fleet. This excited the hostility of Alexander the Great, who determined to destroy the power of the city. Not being able to reach the walls with his engines, he collected together all the remains of the ancient city Palætyrus-stones, timber, rubbish—and threw them into the narrow channel. Thus was fulfilled in a most remarkable manner the prophecy of &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:3-4; &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:12; &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:21. After a siege of seven months the city was taken. Rome 8000 men were slain in the massacre, which followed; 2000 were crucified, and 30,000 men, women, and children were sold into slavery. The city was also set on fire by the victors. &nbsp;Zechariah 9:4; &nbsp;Joel 3:7. Insular Tyre afterwards came under the Romans, and for ages continued a flourishing trading city. &nbsp;Matthew 11:21; &nbsp;Matthew 15:21; &nbsp;Mark 3:8; &nbsp;Mark 7:24; &nbsp;Luke 6:17; &nbsp;Luke 10:13; &nbsp;Acts 21:3. It fell finally in the hands of the Mohammedans, a.d. 1291; since then it has irrecoverably declined. The Hebrew prophets denounced fearful judgments against Tyre for her idolatry and wickedness. &nbsp;Isaiah 23:1-18; &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:7-21; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:1-36; &nbsp;Ezekiel 28:1-19; &nbsp;Ezekiel 29:18. And how truthfully their predictions have been accomplished may be seen in the existing ruins scattered along the shore, and the number of splendid columns lying in heaps beneath the waves. This ancient city has indeed become like the top of a rock, "a place to spread nets upon I" </p>

<p> ''''' tı̄r ''''' ( צר , <i> ''''' cowr ''''' </i> . חר , <i> ''''' cōr ''''' </i> , "rock"' Τύρος , <i> ''''' túros ''''' </i> , "Tyrus"; modern Sur): </p> 1. [[Physical]] Features: <p> The most noted of the Phoenician cities situated on the coast, lat. 33ø 17 minutes, about 20 miles South of Sidon and about 35 North of Carmel. The date of its foundation is uncertain, but it was later than that of Sidon. It is mentioned in the travels of the Egyptian Mohar, dating probably from the 14th century BC, and in the <i> Tell el-Amarna [[Letters]] </i> of about the same period. <i> Herodotus </i> describes the temple of Hercules at Tyre and says it was built 2,300 years before his time, which would carry back the beginning of the city to more than 2700 BC. It was a double city, one part on an island, a short distance from the shore, and the other on the mainland opposite. The island city had two harbors, connected by a canal, one looking North and the other South. The island was rocky and the city was fortitled on the land side by a wall 150 ft. high, the wall being of less elevation on the other sides. It was an exceedingly strong position, and is referred to in the Bible as the "strong" or "fortitled" city (&nbsp; Joshua 19:29 ). The space within the walls was crowded with buildings, and is said to have contained 40,000 inhabitants. The town on the mainland was situated in a plain extending from the <i> ''''' Ras ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' ‛Abyaḍ ''''' </i> , on the South to [[Sarepta]] on the North, a distance of about 20 miles. It was fertile and well watered, the river Leontes (Litany) passing through it to the sea, about 5 miles N. of Tyre, and the copious fountain of Ras <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' ‛Ain ''''' </i> , 3 miles to the South, furnishing an abundant supply both for the city and the gardens. </p> 2. History: <p> (1) Tyre was for centuries subordinate to Sidon, but when the [[Philistines]] subdued the latter city, probably in the 12th century. (see [[Sidon]] ), Tyre received an accession of inhabitants from the fugitives which gave it the pre-eminence. From this time dates its great commercial and colonial activity. Its mariners pushed boldly out to the West and founded colonies in Spain and North Africa, some of which, like Gades, Abdera and Carthage, became famous. They extended their commerce more widely than Sidon had ever done and ventured into the Atlantic and reached the coasts of Britain and West Africa. They reached out to the East also, and had their ships in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and their land routes threaded all Western Asia (see [[Phoenicia]] ). Tyre, like all the Phoenician cities, became subject to Egypt under Thothmes 3 in the first half of the 15th century BC, and remained so for some 300 years, but it enjoyed practical autonomy under native kings, being only subject to tribute and to furnishing contingents of ships when the Egyptian kings made their expeditions to the North. In the <i> Tell el-Amarna Letters </i> , dating from the first half of the 14th century, we find a certain Abi-melek (or Abi-milki) writing from Tyre to the king of Egypt asking for aid against the [[Amorite]] leader, Aziru, and the king of Sidon, who had joined the rebels. The name is Phoenician, and we know that it was the policy of the Egyptian kings to leave the native dynasts on the throne. </p> <p> (2) After the decline of Egypt, Tyre regained her independence and exercised the hegemony over most of the Phoenician towns, at least as far North as [[Gebal]] (Byblus), as appears in the control that Hiram had over the Lebanon forests in the time of David and Solomon. Hiram was evidently desirous of an alliance with Israel, since he sent messengers to David and furnished cedar and workmen to build him a house, apparently without solicitation. The friendly connection between the two kingdoms was advantageous to both, since David and Solomon needed the timber and the skilled artisans that Hiram could furnish, and Hiram needed the food products of the land of Israel (&nbsp;1 Kings 5 ). Tyre was at this time noted for the skill of its artificers, and its manufactured products were famous throughout the world (see [[Phoenicia]] , 4.). The purple dye and works in bronze were especially famous, and Hiram, the Tyrian artisan, was engaged by Solomon to cast the bronzes required for the temple (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:13 ff). Hiram, the king, enlarged and beautified his capital. He united the two small islands on which the city was built by filling up the space between, where he made an open square and built a splendid temple to Melkarth and Astarte. He engaged in commercial enterprises with Solomon (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:26-28; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:22 ), both in pursuance of the friendly alliance and also for the advantage of having the use of the port of Ezion-geber on the Red Sea. His brilliant reign lasted 43 years. </p> <p> (3) The list of kings who succeeded him contains the names of Baal-azar, Abd-ashtoreth, murdered by his brothers, the eldest of whom succeeded him, followed by Astartus and Aserymus murdered by his brother, Pheles, who was overthrown by the high priest Eth-baal, showing how disturbed the period was. Eth-baal, or Ithobal, was the king who made an alliance with Ahab and gave him Jezebel, his daughter, in marriage, which proved most disastrous both to her and the country because of the introduction of the Baal-worship into Israel. Eth-baal was an energetic monarch, and is said to have rounded [[Botrys]] (Batrun). He reigned 32 years, and was followed by Badezor and Mattan, who gave his daughter, Elissa (Dido), in marriage to her uncle Sicharbas and transferred the throne to them; but they were set aside by an uprising of the people, and Pygmalion, son of Mattan, was placed on the throne, and Sicharbas put to death. Elissa fled with a party of nobles, by sea, to Africa and founded the city of Carthage. This happened about the middle of the 9th century BC, Josephus putting it at 860 BC. </p> <p> (4) In the first half of this century Tyre became subject to Assyria, and her hegemony in Phoenicia came to an end, but her prosperity was not seriously checked as we may infer from &nbsp;Isaiah 23:8 , which was written a century or so later. Assyria was satisfied with the payment of tribute until the time of Tiglath-pileser Iii (745-727), who laid a heavier hand upon her, and this led Elulaeus, king of Tyre, to form a confederacy of the Phoenician cities against Assyria. Shalmaneser [[Iv]] subdued all except Tyre, which he distressed by cutting off her water-supply. But the people dug wells and obtained enough to subsist upon for five years, when Shalmaneser was killed and Elulaeus recovered control of his territory. He was not molested by Sargon, but [[Sennacherib]] advanced against him with 200,000 men, and Elulaeus fled to Cyprus. The citizens made a successful resistance and Sennacherib did not take Tyre, but it submitted to Esar-haddon, and its king, Baal, obtained the special favor of the Assyrian king, who made him ruler of all the coast cities from [[Dor]] to Gebal, and the Lebanon was placed under his control (680-673 BC). It is rather surprising that Baal refused to assist him in his attack upon Egypt and that Esar-haddon did not punish him, probably because he was too much occupied with Egypt. Ashur-banipal, however, did compel him to submit and to give him his daughter, and those of his brothers, as secondary wives, but left him as king of Tyre. </p> <p> (5) On the decline of Assyria, Tyre regained its independence, and its greatness is indicated by the fact that it resisted Nebuchadnezzar 13 years (598-585); it is uncertain whether the island city was taken, but it evidently came to terms with the king of [[Babylon]] (compare &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:26; Josephus, <i> Ant. </i> , X, xi, 1 and see <i> The Expository Times </i> , 1899, pp. 378, 430, 475, 520). After this siege Sidon took the lead and Tyre was in a disturbed state: the monarchy was overthrown and suffetes, or judges, took its place for six years, when the old order was restored. The decline of Babylon enabled Tyre to regain her independence for a short period until its submission to the [[Persians]] about 525 BC, and thenceforth it was a vassal state during the continuance of the Persian empire. </p> <p> (6) It was by no means hindered in its commercial prosperity, and its great strength is seen in the brave and energetic resistance it made to Alexander the Great. All Phoenicia submitted to him without resistance, and Tyre was willing to admit his suzerainty, but declined to receive him into the city. This so angered Alexander that he at once commenced a siege that proved the most difficult undertaking in all his wars. He had no fleet and was obliged to build a mole (causeway) from the mainland to the island, but before he could finish it the Tyrians destroyed it and beat back their assailants handily. Alexander had to do the work all over again, and since he was convinced that without a fleet he would not be able to take the city, he procured ships from the Phoenician towns that had submitted, and with the aid of these was able to blockade the port and prevent the besieged from issuing forth to destroy the new causeway. This was at length pushed up to the very wall of the city, which was finally breached, and the troops of Alexander forced their way in. But even then the defenders would not yield, and the king himself had to lead the assault upon them with his bodyguard and put them all to the sword. Those who died with arms in their hands were 8,000, and the survivors, women, children and slaves, to the number of 30,000, were sold in the open market. He placed over the ruined city, into which he introduced some colonists, a certain Abd-elonim, and left it after having spent about seven months in subduing it. </p> <p> (7) After the death of Alexander, Tyre passed into the hands of [[Ptolemy]] Lagi, and when Antigonus, in 314 BC, took Phoenicia from him, Tyre resisted, and he had to blockade it 15 months before it would yield, showing how quickly it had recovered from its previous disaster. It became a part of the Seleucid kingdom when [[Antiochus]] 3 drove the [[Ptolemies]] from Syria (198 BC), and the Seleucid kings regarded it of importance and gave it the right of asylum, and it was allowed the status of a free city by the Romans, Antony recognizing the magistrates and council of Tyre as allies. When the [[Parthians]] attacked and took Syria, in 40 BC, Tyre would not submit and was left untouched, being too strong for them. Augustus deprived it of its freedom, but it was given the status of a "metropolis" by Hadrian, and this title appears on its coins. </p> <p> (8) Tyre is mentioned in the New [[Testament]] several times: Christ visited its territory (&nbsp;Matthew 15:21; &nbsp;Mark 7:24 ), and people from there came to hear Him (&nbsp;Luke 6:17 ). Herod [[Agrippa]] I had trouble with Tyre, and a deputation came to visit him at Caesarea (&nbsp;Acts 12:20 ). Paul visited Tyre on his journey from Asia to Jerusalem (&nbsp;Acts 21:6-7 ). </p> <p> Christianity was accepted by the people of Tyre, so that the 2nd century [[Ad]] saw a bishopric established there, and in the 4th a council was held there to consider charges against Athanasius, by the party of Arius; he was condemned, a decision which brought the Tyrian church into disrepute. Tyre was already obnoxious to Christians because the anti-Christian philosopher [[Porphyry]] was from there. Tyre continued a commercial center, and Jerome says that it was the noblest and most beautiful of the Phoenician cities and an emporium of commerce for almost the whole world ( <i> [[Commentary]] on Ezekiel </i> ). It was of considerable importance in the [[Crusades]] and continued so until toward the end of the 13th century, when its trade declined, and it has now dwindled to a town of some 5,000 inhabitants. For "literature" see [[Phoenicia]] . </p>