Ezekiel 26:2
“Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Tyrians didn't just hear about Jerusalem's fall; they gloated with a purely commercial, selfish glee, seeing the destroyed city not as a human tragedy but as an open marketplace. Their “Aha!” wasn't just about Jerusalem being broken, but about its brokenness becoming their gain, a "gate" of peoples and trade now swinging wide to enrich them. This verse reveals how even geopolitical events can be viewed through a lens of pure self-interest, missing the human cost entirely for profit.
Tyre, a wealthy and powerful commercial hub, rejoices over the destruction of Jerusalem, viewing it as a prime opportunity to expand its own trade and influence. They mockingly exclaim that with Jerusalem's downfall, its role as a central gateway for nations and commerce is now broken and will be turned to Tyre's own enrichment. This selfish glee at their neighbor's devastation is precisely what draws God's severe judgment against them.
It’s easy to get caught up in a city’s struggles, but what happens when one nation sees another’s pain as its own gain? Ezekiel calls out this exact heart posture.
A Bitter 'Aha!'
The prophet Ezekiel is given a heavy message, not just about Tyre's eventual destruction, but about the sin that led to it. The core of their sin here is a gleeful, selfish reaction to Jerusalem's downfall. They cry out, 'Aha!' – an exclamation of triumph and relief.
Trading on Tears
Tyre, a major commercial hub, saw Jerusalem's destruction not as a tragedy, but as an economic opportunity. They viewed Jerusalem as the 'gate of the peoples,' a vital trade route. With Jerusalem 'broken' and 'laid waste,' Tyre believed all that trade, all that wealth, would now 'be replenished' in their own coffers. This isn't just about business; it's about a heart that rejoices in the suffering of others for personal profit. It's a stark reminder that even nations can have a deeply selfish spirit.
The Lord Notices
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God sees this kind of exultation. He notices when people or nations celebrate the ruin of others, especially when their motive is to profit from that ruin. What Tyre saw as shrewd business, God saw as a profound moral failing.
Tyre saw Jerusalem as a competitor, a 'gate' that needed to be broken for their own good. But the prophet hints that Jerusalem's significance was far deeper than mere commerce.
The 'Gate of the Peoples'
Tyre's exclamations reveal their perspective: Jerusalem was the "gate of the peoples." This phrase signifies more than just a busy marketplace. It points to Jerusalem's historical role as a central hub for nations – a place of pilgrimage, diplomacy, and perhaps even a spiritual gateway for people from all over to encounter God.
Beyond the Bottom Line
While Jerusalem certainly had commercial importance, Tyre's narrow, commercial view missed the bigger picture. They focused solely on the loss of trade and the potential gain for themselves. They failed to recognize Jerusalem's divine purpose and its significance in God's redemptive plan. This often happens when we reduce people or places to mere economic factors, ignoring their deeper value and God's purposes for them.
Understand the original words
ben 'adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A prophetic title used frequently in Ezekiel to emphasize the human fragility and mortality of the prophet in contrast to the majesty and holiness of God. It highlights the prophet's role as a representative of humanity before the Almighty.
Tyre's exultation over Jerusalem's fall wasn't just schadenfreude; it was a calculated, commercial rivalry. They saw Jerusalem's destruction as a direct opportunity to absorb its trade routes and wealth, a self-serving ambition that God would judge.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Commercial Agreements
King Solomon established significant trade agreements with King Hiram of Tyre, solidifying Jerusalem's role as a vital hub for regional commerce and the passage of goods.
c. 734-722 BC
Assyrian Pressure on Tyre
Tyre faced sieges and pressure from the Neo-Assyrian Empire, highlighting its established importance and the ambition of surrounding powers to control its wealth.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite and skilled artisans to Babylon, weakening Judah considerably.
586 BC— this verse
Fall and Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and razed the city walls, marking the end of the Kingdom of Judah and causing widespread displacement.
585-573 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the island city of Tyre for thirteen years, a direct consequence of Tyre's perceived arrogance and likely its support of the Judean rebellion.
This passage describes the breaching of Jerusalem's walls during its final destruction, aligning with Tyre's taunting statement that 'the gate of the peoples is broken.'
Amos 1:9-10Amos also prophesied judgment against Tyre for their sin of trading in captured peoples and breaking their covenant of brotherhood, mirroring the spirit of Tyre's selfish exultation over Jerusalem's ruin.
Psalm 87:4-6This psalm speaks of nations being born in Zion and the Lord counting them among His people, a vision of Jerusalem's inclusive importance that stands in stark contrast to Tyre's narrow, commercial view of 'the gate of the peoples.'
Isaiah 23:2-3Isaiah's prophecy against Tyre also highlights its commercial pride and its role as a center of world trade, providing context for Tyre's fierce jealousy and rejoicing over any rival's downfall, including Jerusalem's.
Matthew 16:26Jesus' teaching about what good it is to gain the whole world but forfeit one's soul echoes the folly of Tyre's focus on material gain derived from another's destruction, showing the ultimate spiritual bankruptcy of such a mindset.
gillEzekiel 26:2: "Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:"
Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, aha,.... As rejoicing at her destruction, and insulting over her in it; which was barbarous and inhuman, and resented by the Lord: she is broken that was the gates of the people; through whose gates the people went in and out in great numbe…
ellicottEzekiel 26:2: "Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:"
(2) She is broken that was the gates of the people. —“Gates” is in the plural simply because the word originally means a leaf of a door or gate, and hence the two leaves mean the gate; accordingly the sense would be better conveyed by using the singular in English. On the other hand, “people, both h…
The Tyrians didn't just hear about Jerusalem's fall; they gloated with a purely commercial, selfish glee, seeing the destroyed city not as a human tragedy but as an open marketplace. Their “Aha!” wasn't just about Jerusalem being broken, but about its brokenness becoming their gain, a "gate" of peoples and trade now swinging wide to enrich them. This verse reveals how even geopolitical events can be viewed through a lens of pure self-interest, missing the human cost entirely for profit.
Tyre, a wealthy and powerful commercial hub, rejoices over the destruction of Jerusalem, viewing it as a prime opportunity to expand its own trade and influence. They mockingly exclaim that with Jerusalem's downfall, its role as a central gateway for nations and commerce is now broken and will be turned to Tyre's own enrichment. This selfish glee at their neighbor's devastation is precisely what draws God's severe judgment against them.
Tyre, a wealthy and powerful commercial hub, rejoices over the destruction of Jerusalem, viewing it as a prime opportunity to expand its own trade and influence. They mockingly exclaim that with Jerusalem's downfall, its role as a central gateway for nations and commerce is now broken and will be turned to Tyre's own enrichment. This selfish glee at their neighbor's devastation is precisely what draws God's severe judgment against them.
"“Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’" — The Tyrians didn't just hear about Jerusalem's fall; they gloated with a purely commercial, selfish glee, seeing the destroyed city not as a human tragedy but as an open marketplace. Their “Aha!” w…
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