The prophecy covers two separate historical events. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the mainland portion of Tyre in 573 BC. Alexander the Great destroyed the island city in 332 BC. He laid stones and timber in the water to build a causeway to the island. Fishermen still “spread their nets on the on the beaches where this great city once stood.”2 
As an overview, it’s helpful to know Ezekiel wrote at least five different words to describe Tyre’s downfall:
The city would be destroyed, laid waste, and made desolate. (vs. 2, 19)3
The city would be ruined and wiped out.(vs. 4)3
Other nations would break down, overthrow, and destroy Tyre’s towers. (vs. 4)3
Buildings would be torn down in total destruction. (vs. 12)3
The people would perish and be destroyed (die). (vs. 17)3
The city would be ruined by God’s judgment and left desolate. (vs. 20).3
Read Ezekiel 26:1-2.
- Tyre spoke against Jerusalem and rejoiced in the city’s misfortunes.
- Now it would lay in ruins, with the gates open so any nation could gain access.
- Tyre claimed they would prosper as a result of Jerusalem’s destruction.
- The word translated “prosper” includes the idea of complete satisfaction.4
How often do we envision our benefit or gain from another person’s misfortune?
Read Ezekiel 26:3-6.
- Because of their hateful words and actions, the Lord turned against Tyre.
- He would bring other nations against them to destroy Tyre’s fortifications.
- It sounds as if once the Lord made her a bare rock, He would allow her to be so close to the sea, people could spread their fishnets on the city’s ruins.
- Tyre would become plunder when ravaged with the sword.
- Then they will know that I AM (is) the Lord.
How would Tyre’s destruction cause the Phoenicians and others to recognize the Lord as the One True God?
Read Ezekiel 26:7-12.
- Nebuchadnezzar would come against Tyre from the north with military power and might.
- God gave Ezekiel a detailed description of Nebuchadnezzar’s attack. His army would
*ravage Tyre’s settlements with the sword
*lay siege to the city for a long time
*raise shields against them
*batter the city’s walls
*demolish their towers
*cover them with dust from the calvary
*breach the city’s walls and trample the streets
*cut down the people with swords
*plunder the city’s wealth
*demolish houses
*Then they would throw all the rubble into the sea.
- It’s almost as if God would rain blow after blow against the city for every word or action they committed against Jerusalem.
Why do you think God included such detail in this prophecy against Tyre?
Why did God use other nations to judge Israel?
Read Ezekiel 26:13-14.
- God would completely silence their songs and musical instruments.
- God repeated the fact Tyre would become a bare rock, suitable only to spread fishnets.
- This alluded to their complete and total destruction.
- The Lord declared Tyre would never be rebuilt.
Why did God silence their songs?
Why was this judgment so severe, that Tyre would never be rebuilt?
Read Ezekiel 26:15-18.
- The lands around would tremble at the sight of Tyre’s downfall.
- All would hear the wounded groan and all would know about the slaughter.
- The princes surrounding the city would exchange their royal robes for terror.
- They would be astonished by the destruction Tyre received.
- Those observing Tyre’s destruction would lament.
- They would mourn the loss of power.
- Instead of bestowing fear on those around them, others would experience fear now by their collapse.
- Interesting … a place with enough power to terrorize others would also terrorize them with the city’s complete and utter demise.
How would you describe the nations’ lament concerning Tyre?
Why were the nations around Tyre astonished and terrorized by their downfall?
How would you react if you observed this historical event? Why?
Read Ezekiel 26:19-21.
- The Lord said He would make Tyre desolate and drown them in ocean waters.
- They would be ruined and brought down forever.
- Those who would seek the remains of Tyre would not find them.
- The Lord declared these things and they would indeed happen.
- According to Bible Reading Archeology, the details of Tyre’s downfall occurred exactly as predicted.1
- The ancient battle was “so fierce that it permanently altered the Mediterranean coastline.”1
- The mainland part of Tyre indeed lay in ruins during Alexander the Great’s reign.1
- Alexander, with the help of Cyprus and others who had surrendered to Greek rule, finally conquered the island part of Tyre
- Ezekiel’s prophecy had been finally, completely fulfilled: “Tyre, no longer even an island was for a time, only fit for fishermen to dry their nets on the bare rock.”1
- Rome re-established the area as a commercial center, and hundreds of years later, the population that began to rebuild was “no longer Phoenician people, whose culture, religion and language has been lost to history.”1
- In other words, those whom the Lord chooses to wipe out will be no more.
Why do you think God destroyed Tyre and its people forever?
What do we learn about God’s character in this passage?
- Bible Reading Archeology. “What Happened to Tyre?” September 13, 2017.
https://biblereadingarcheology.com/2017/09/13/what-happened-to-tyre/comment-page-1/
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., The Complete Word Study Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994), 2028
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003), 373-374, 1124, 273, 763, 1, 375
- Ibid., 612