Reading for February 15th

Oracles concerning Tyre and its rulers. Chs. 26-28: Tyre, the preeminent power of the ancient world, joined Judah in revolt against Bybylon (jer 27.3). The Phoenician city of Tyre was an island until its conquest in 332 BCE by Alexander the Great, who built an earthen corridor through the water to assult the city by land. Shortly after his conquest of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Tyre for 13 years but was never able to conquer it. Read Ezekiel 26.1-6. In 26.1-21: Four oracles concerning the destruction of Tyre. In verse 1; The evenenth year ... the first day of the month: 587 BCE, shortly after the fall of Jerusalem. In verses 2-6: Ezekiel's indictment and sentencing of Tyre presupposes that the city was a commercial rival to Judah. Gateway of the peoples, literally "gateways," indicates Judah's role in controlling in land trade routes. Bare rock ("sela" or "rock" in hebrew) plays upon the Hebrew name "Sor" (Tyre) which means "rock." Daughter-towns designates nearby towns that were subsidary to Tyre. Comments or Questions..