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The purpose of this article is to examine the prophecy that Tyre would be forgotten for seventy years according to prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 23:15) and how the Lord dealt with Tyre afterwards. This period of seventy years should not be the same seventy years mentioned by prophet Jeremiah. The reason is crystal clear when we have the benefit in looking at history. In accordance to the prophecy against Tyre in the book of Isaiah, the destruction covers mainland Tyre (Isaiah 23:1), island Tyre (Isaiah 23:6; Isaiah 23:9), Sidon (Isaiah 23:12) and Carthage or Tarshish (Isaiah 23:14) so as to fulfill the order given by God that the Phoenicia fortresses are to be destroyed (Isaiah 23:11). However, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar conquered Sidon and the mainland Tyre in the sixth century B.C. while leaving the island Tyre untouched for he did not have the knowhow and a navy to do so. It was not until Alexander the great that island Tyre was conquered in 332 B.C. ¹. Then it was not until 146 B.C. that Carthage was destroyed by the Romans. In addition, if we look closer, the phrase "seventy years" is qualified by another phrase "the span of a king's life". Without specifying who the king is, it is difficult to know what this period refers to though it suggests the length of the period is an approximation of seventy years like the length of a lifespan (Psalm 90:10). However, more hints are given in the context of the prophecy which says that Tyre will return to her lucrative position and trade with all kingdoms (Isaiah 23:17). Moreover, her profits will go to those who live before the Lord (Isaiah 23:18). A very good article on the history of destruction of Tyre in light of Biblical prophecies and history proposes that the "seventy years" refers to the period after Tyre's conquest by Alexander in 332 B.C. to 274 B.C. when Ptolemy II granted independent status to Tyre ² . But, there are two problems in this interpretation. First, Tyre was not forgotten after the conquest by Alexander who conquered but did not completely destroy the island Tyre. In fact, Tyre recovered rapidly in a matter of seventeen years after the conquest ³. Second, 58 years (332 B.C. to 274 B.C. is about 58 years) is too rough an approximation of 70 years. But, the article makes an excellent observation that after its conquest and recovery, the coinage issued in Tyre was the only acceptable coinage used in payment of temple tax in New Testament times ². Since money is the medium of exchange, the temple tax money could definitely be used to provide the needs such as food and clothing of the people serving in the temple. Therefore, the prophecy about the earnings and profits would go to those who lived before the Lord for abundant food and fine clothes was fulfilled (Isaiah 23:18).

The question remains: what is the seventy year period in history that Tyre was forgotten according to the Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 23:15). A little research on my own shows that from 287 B.C. the Phoenicia was under the control of the Ptolemies and it remains dependent on the Ptolemies for nearly seventy years 3. While under the control of king Ptolemy II, Tyre's prosperity was hurt significantly. Moreover, the Phoenician culture and even language were changed towards Greek and the Phoenician monarchies were replaced ⁴. Therefore, the seventy year period that Tyre was forgotten could be the almost 70 years starting from 287 B.C. when the Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Tyre. Here are the relevant details in history concerning Phoenicia under the control of the Ptolemies:

"... when Ptolemy Philadelphus constructed the harbor of Berenice on the Red Sea, and made a road with stations and watering places to Coptos, and reopened the canal which joined the Pelusiac branch of the Nile to the Gulf of Suez, Tyre suffered a great and permanent loss, for the traffic of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, which had hitherto passed from Eloth and Eziongeber across to Rinocolura, and thence to all parts of the Mediterranean by vessels of Tyre, now passed by way of the canal to Alexandria. Thus the wealth that had formerly flowed to Tyre began to flow to Alexandria." ⁴

"The persistent lug of war between Ptolemies and Seleucids over Phoenicia, Syria and Palestine also results in great cultural changes in the region. Phoenician is discarded as a literary language and is replaced by Greek. " ⁴

"The years 287-225 B.C.saw the Ptolemies gain and maintain control of the cities (except for Aradus), and the disappearance of the Phoenician monarchies. G. suggests (p.58) that in some cases the depositions were carried out by Graeco-Macedonian rulers because the kings had failed to change sides swiftly enough in the period of rapidly changing hegemony early in the century. They were replaced by nominally republican constitutions of "the Tyrians" and "the Sidonians," with epigraphic formulae (in Greek) suggesting similarities to the boule and demos combination of contemporary Greek cities in the area." ⁴

Prophet Isaiah also wrote that after the seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. But, Tyre will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth (Isaiah 23:17). As we know from history, the Phoenicians were skilled merchants and sailors. With their well-built boats, they could travel far around the Mediterranean and out into the Atlantic (Isaiah 23:7). Archeological findings show that Phoenicians reached remote locations such as England and Ireland. When prophet Isaiah wrote that the Phoenicians prostituted with all the kingdoms of the earth, it literally meant that the Phoenicians practiced prostitution with people of all kingdoms of the earth. For the Phoenicians and most of their colonies, their religion required their maidens to have sex with strangers. There is little doubt that Phoenicians mixed sex along with their trades to their advantage 5. The Lord's dealings with Tyre were seen clearly in history as it gradually approached the New Testament era. Carthage (Tarshish in Isaiah 23) was the last stronghold of the Phoenicia with a large population practicing Phoenician religion and culture.. In fact, Carthage was so strong that it was a threat to the Romans. A series of three wars which historians call the Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage spanning almost 120 years from 265 B.C. to 146 B.C.. Finally, the Romans destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C. fulfilling the prophecy of prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 23:11; Isaiah 23:14). With the destruction of Carthage, the prophecy against Phoenicia (Canaan) was fulfilled for all the Phoenicia fortresses across the Mediterranean sea were destroyed (Isaiah 23:11). Although the major Phoenicia cities Tyre and Sidon were still in existence at that time, they had been conquered and were open to the influence and control of foreign powers. The Phoenician religion and culture were fading in history. Tyre, the mother city of Carthage, had been transformed to a Greek city and then to a Roman city at about 64 B.C..

Then a question arises concerning the prophecy of prophet Ezekiel against Tyre. Does the prophecy say that Tyre will be utterly destroyed? Why does Tyre still exist today? Indeed, Tyre was utterly destroyed as prophet Ezekiel foretold. We need to read the prophecy more closely to understand what is being targeted in the prophetic judgment. Some commentators suggest that it is not until 1291 A.D. that the prophecy was fulfilled when the Arabs totally destroyed Tyre to make it impossible for the Crusaders to reoccupy the city. On the other hand, there are skeptics saying that the prophecy against Tyre is a failed prophecy for Tyre has been rebuilt and still exists today. Actually, the prophecy unequivocally targets the Phoenician (Canaanite) Tyre. By Phoenician Tyre, I mean the original Tyre built and sovereignly ruled by the Phoenicians. The Phoenician Tyre consisted of the mainland city which was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and the island city which was conquered by Alexander the Great who also utterly destroyed the mainland city in order to use its materials to build a landbridge connecting to the island city during its siege. The prophetic judgement unequivocally targets against the Phoenicians in Tyre. Incidentally, the "real estate" the Phoenicians occupied was included in the prophecy also. It can be confirmed by reading a comment on Tyre and Sidon made by Jesus when He rebuked and prophesied against Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Matthew 11:21). These three cities had the privilege to witness the presence and works of Jesus the Messiah and yet they rejected Him. Jesus then announced prophetic judgement on them. Although Jesus did not say specifically how these cities were judged, He mentioned that Sodom would have remained, Tyre and Sidon would have repented (Matthew 11:21; Matthew 11:23). It is quite clear that Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum would be judged by destruction. Indeed, these three cities were destroyed by earthquakes later. With the comment on Tyre and Sidon given by Jesus, we can conclude that the core of the prophecies against Tyre and Sidon had been fulfilled by the time Jesus mentioned that Tyre and Sidon would have repented. By the core of the prophecies, I mean the judgement on the Phoenicians. After all, only people can repent not the land and houses they occupied. The targets of the prophetic judgement are therefore the Phoenicians who lived in Tyre and Sidon. It is erroneous to associate the prophecies to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders and the Lebanese people who came in the cities later after the Phoenicians. The reason is simply that it is the people that  committed sins are the causes and subjects of judgement and the destruction of the "real estate" the sinners occupied is incidental and served only as part of the penalty. Sometimes, as in the case of Tyre, the ruins of the "real estates" are described in the prophecy in order to mark the fulfillment of the divine judgement. Therefore, it is also erroneous to think that the prophecy against Tyre has not been fulfilled because newer architectures were added to the city by the late comers after the judgement of the Phoenicians. These new architectures were not the repairs or enhancements of the original "real estates" the Phoenicians occupied such that the prophecy of Ezekiel is violated. The prophecy clearly states that it is the Phoenician "real estates" that will not be inhabited and will not even be found (Ezekiel 26:21).

Let us examine the prophecy announced by prophet Ezekiel to see if it is consistent with the conclusion we made. By reading the details of the prophecy identifying the city being prophesied carefully, we understand that only Phoenician Tyre matched the descriptions. For example, it was Phoenician Tyre that traded with Judah and Israel (Ezekiel 27:17). Over the years, after the decline of the Phoenicians, various architectures were built in Tyre by the Greeks, Romans and even the Crusaders. In addition, you can find modern day residential and commercial buildings in the city. But, all these buildings were not of Phoenician and are therefore excluded from Ezekiel's prophecy. In fact, these buildings were added when Israel and Judah ceased to exist as nations after 722 B.C. and 586 B.C. respectively. In other words, by simple logic based on the timeline, these buildings did not even exist when Israel and Judah ended and logically are not targeted by the prophecy. Therefore, when prophet Ezekiel prophesied that Tyre would come to a horrible end and would never be found, he referred to the Phoenician Tyre (Ezekiel 27:36). Even the characteristics of the ruins of the Phoenician Tyre were specified in the prophecy: sunken into the ocean and embedded in the earth (Ezekiel 26:19; Ezekiel 26:20).

As you can see in the above diagram comparing Tyre in 332 B.C. and today, the major portion of the island which the Phoenician Tyre was located is now under ocean water. The land bridge connecting the mainland and the island has grown over the centuries mainly due to water currents carrying materials to enlarge the land bridge built by Alexander the Great. Today, the phoenician Tyre could not be found for it is under water and below the earth. Please go to this site to confirm that the archeology sites of Tyre today are the Crusader, Arab, Byzantine and Graeco-Roman remains. The Phoenician Tyre is indeed below ocean water and earth today and will not return to the land of the living (Ezekiel 26:19-20).

Therefore, we all witness the power and reliability of the words of God. God is indeed trustworthy for He is faithful and almighty. As the psalmist says, the word of the Lord is faithful and His word is right and true (Psalm 33:4). What God has spoken can be counted on for His word will be fulfilled (Isaiah 55:9-11).