Isaiah 23:14

This repeated call to the ships of Tarshish, to wail, concludes Isaiah’s announcement of Tyre’s destruction, forming an inclusio with Isaiah 23:1. Even though Tyre’s demise would give Tarshish more control, Tarshish would suffer because Tyre determined the prosperity of the Mediterranean world. The ships of Tarshish would have no port to enter at Tyre (Isaiah 23:1), and they would have no security for their enterprise (Isaiah 23:14). How foolish it would be, then, for the Jerusalemites to pin their hopes on Tyre.

As in the previous chapter, Isaiah gave a sign that what he had predicted about Tyre’s destruction would indeed happen (cf. Isaiah 22:15-25). It would experience a brief revival in the near future. Looking into the far distant future, the prophet also announced the conversion of Tyre into a place of holiness to the Lord (cf. Isaiah 19:16-25).