Bible Reading: Tyre: From Olive Tree

“Tyre Wealthy Phoenician city north of Israel (in modern Lebanon) that sits along a rocky portion of the Mediterranean coast. During the time of ancient Israel it was known for its cedar supplies and skilled craftsmen, and was home to a lucrative international trading business (Isa. 23:3, Ezek. 27:3). It is often mentioned with Sidon, a town farther north. Tyre is first referenced in accounts of the area allotted to the tribe of Asher, where it is described as a fortified city (Josh. 19:29), though it remained a settlement of the Phoenicians. At the beginning of the Israelite monarchy its king, Hiram, sent David cedar logs and workmen to build David’s palace (2 Sam. 5:11). These friendly relations continued through Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 5:1, 12). Solomon traded food supplies with Hiram for cedar logs for his temple construction (1 Kings 5:7-11), a trade that the Jewish people would make again centuries later after returning from exile in Babylon to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:7). Solomon also enlisted a man of half Jewish descent from Tyre to create bronze items for the temple (1 Kings 7:13-14). Over time these good relations became strained, as people from Tyre stole valuables from Israel and sold Jews into slavery in Greece (Joel 3:5-6). Isaiah prophesized against the city, predicting that it would be forgotten for seventy years and then have its trading business restored, but with its revenue supporting God’s people (Isa. 23:15-18). Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, and Zechariah all predicted Tyre’s downfall, Amos and Ezekiel attributing it to their dishonorable trading practices (Jer. 25:22; 27:3; Ezek. 26:7-14; 28:16-18; Amos 1:9-10; Zech. 9:3-4). In the New Testament, Jesus references Tyre as a contrast with unrepentant towns (Matt. 11:21-22; Luke 10:13-14). He also visited the region after walking on water and praised a non-Jewish woman there for her faith (Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). Years later Paul made a stop in Tyre with Luke on his third missionary journey and stayed for several days with some disciples, praying with them and their families on the shore before departing (Acts 21:3-6).” Sent from Bible Study