Ezekiel 26

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

God’s Judgment against Tyre

Tyre was a city-state of ancient Phoenicia, and was located to the ________ of Israel and Judah. While the trade routes involving caravans over land were controlled by Jerusalem, the trade routes involving ______ and the ____ were controlled by Tyre. Tyre was located in the area that is now _____________.
This prophesy of Ezekiel was given in the 11th year of Ezekiel’s captivity which was _____ BC, the very year that Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. It was not completely fulfilled at the time of Nebuchadnezzar when he and the Babylonians destroyed the city-state, however. What other powers acted against Tyre to bring about the complete fulfillment of God’s Word that she would “never be found again” (v 18)?
How was a causeway built from the mainland part of the city of Tyre to the fortified island part of the city? Who built this causeway?
Did Jesus visit Tyre during his earthly life of ministry? Is the modern town of Tyre on the same location as the ancient city? What are portions of the site of ancient Tyre now used for?

Tyre was a city-state of Phoenicia located to the north of Israel and Judah, and controlled the trade routes involving ships and the sea. Tyre was located in the area that is Lebanon today.
Ezekiel’s 11th year of captivity was the year 586 BC, the very year that Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. Other powers that acted against Tyre were the Persian Empire, the Greeks under Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, and finally the Saracens near the 14th century AD. The attacks by these powers are illustrated in verse 3 “as the sea causes its waves to come up.”
When Alexander the Great attacked and destroyed Tyre in 332 BC, he took the material ruins of the mainland city and used them to build the causeway to the fortified island part of the city. He was then able to attack and capture the island fortifications.
Yes, Jesus did visit the region of Tyre (Mt. 15: 21; Mk. 7:24). The city was rebuilt following its destruction by the Greeks, but never regained its former glory, and the modern town is not on the same site as the ancient city. Part of the site of the ancient city had the rocks scraped clean “like the top of a rock” (v 4), by Alexander the Great, is now used by fisherman to spread their nets to dry (v 5).

Consider the amazing details of Ezekiel’s prophesy concerning the city-state of Tyre. Compare this great prophesy with others in the Old Testament and discuss how you can use this prophesy in your testimony to unbelievers to help convince them of the inspiration and accuracy of God’s Word.

Can you identify times or circumstances when you were, or you could have been, a negative example used by God? Can you identify times or circumstances when you were a positive example used by God? Are you now committed to being a positive example with your love abounding in discernment, approving things that are excellent, being without offense, and filled with the fruits of righteousness (Philippians 1:9-11)?

“‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken’, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 26:3-5