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DESTRUCTION BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR.

Chaldeans.

This prophecy, which was repeated in still more awful terms by Ezekiel, was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar.

It is mentioned among the cities that should fall before the Chaldean conqueror, in Jer. xxvii. 3, 6, and Amos, i. 9, 10. He besieged it in the reign of Ithobal, set engines against it, broke down its towers, and took it, after a siege of thirteen years; fifteen years after the captivity, and B. C. 573. When the Tyrians saw no hope from resistance, they fled with all their wealth, according to St. Jerome-on the authority of a Syrian historian whose works have been lost-to the islands; some say to Carthage, but it is generally supposed that they took refuge on the neighbouring island, which other writers affirm was then first built upon; but Vitringa proves that it existed as a port even at that time. How beautifully the inspired poet describes the scene that then took place when the cry of the pilots rung through the suburbs, and the mariners that stood upon the shore of the island wept in bitterness of soul over the destruction of the hearths and homes of their beloved city. Nebuchadnezzar sacked the city, but was disappointed in the spoils he expected to gain, as the inhabitants carried all their valuable effects to the island previous to abandoning the city; however, in his subsequent conquest of Egypt he obtained a recompence for the disappointment he experienced

BUILDING OF INSULAR TYRE.

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at Tyre. Thus ended Palæ or Continental Tyre; but it was still considered part of the city of Tyre, and Herodotus speaks of it as continuing to possess the temple of Hercules, though it must have been regarded as of little importance, from the Tyrians allowing the Grecian soldiers to go and worship there.

Tyre never attained its former splendour or greatness, but continued to decline, till at length the prophetic declarations concerning its destruction, were fully accomplished. "They shall break down the walls of Tyrus, and destroy her towers." "I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock." "Thou shalt be built no more; though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again." "Thou shall be a terror and never shalt thou be any more.' And again, They shall lay thy stones, and thy timbers, and thy dust in the midst of the waters."

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We shall see that all these prophecies have been fulfilled to the very letter.

It was then forgotten or neglected seventy years, or during the remaining part of the Babylonian empire, when it was prophesied by Isaiah that she

* The word dust here, Archbishop Newcome translates earth, and refers it "to the custom in Palestine of fertilizing particular spots by carrying mould to them from other places less eligible for the purpose of sowing or planting-the top-the bare, shining surface of a rock." This learned authority falls into the usual mistake of making Old Tyre situated on the peninsula.

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BESIEGED BY ALEXANDER.

should "turn to her hire;" accordingly, at the end of seventy years, the Persians, under Cyrus, subverted the Babylonian dynasty, and restored the nations it held in bondage, to liberty. This brings us down to 503 years B. C. and the nineteenth year of Darius Hystaspes, who granted the Tyrians many immunities in return for the assistance they rendered him in quelling the Ionians. They afterwards aided Xerxes with ships and other necessaries, in his expedition to Greece; and the prophet Zechariah says, that "Tyrus did build herself a stronghold," by which is meant the fortifications on the island, which must have been erected according to the time in which this prophet wrote, about 518 years, before Christ and 55 years after the destruction of Palæ Tyrus.

The Tyrians, we have stated, fled to their island when Nebuchadnezzar took their former city. This island was distant, according to Pliny, 700 paces from the shore, and upon it the second city rose to considerable note and grandeur situated "in the midst of the sea."

Alexander, on his return from Babylon, passed through Judea, and was invited by the Sidonians to visit them, as from their very impoverished state at that time, they desired to have an opportunity of throwing off the yoke of Persian bondage, under which they had remained since the Chaldean captivity, by flinging themselves into the arms of the conqueror. His track lay along the coast, and on

PROPHETIC FULFILMENT.

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arriving opposite to Tyre, friendly messengers were sent to greet him, but, on his demanding admission, that he might sacrifice to the Tyrian Hercules, whose shrine existed there; they, with that prudence for which they were famed, peremptorily refused his demand, but directed him to the temple still standing in the old city. An answer such as this would but ill suit the temper of the haughty Macedonian, who resolved to take their city, and punish them for their refusal; but having no navy, he constructed a causeway, 200 feet broad, from the main land, with the stones and rubbish of the old city, which he finished in seven months. How beautifully and literally the prophecy was here fulfilled, when the very stones and dust of the former city were used in the destruction of the island fortress, to which the inhabitants had retreated, and which they considered impregnable.* Alexander subdued the city, killing 8,000 men in the attack, and crucifying 2,000 more after it had been taken, and afterwards sold 30,000 of the Tyrians as slaves. The remaining portion of the inhabitants, about 15,000 persons in number, were secretly conveyed away by the Sidonians;

*It is related, that when Alexander destroyed the city, he built a castle two miles south of Tyre upon the shore, and called it Sandalum; and it is so placed upon all the imaginary, or home constructed maps of Tyre. I found, however, a mound near the fountains of Solomon marked in the map Tal-Habish, on which are some ancient remains, which I conceive to be those of Alexander's castle, with which they correspond in site and distance.

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HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR CITY.

and Diodorus Siculus and others inform us that their wives and children had been previously sent to Carthage. The city was finally set on fire by the victorious troops of Alexander. How truly do we see fulfilled in the destruction of Tyre, those predictions which had been declared in the sure word of prophecy concerning it-"The Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea, and she shall be devoured with fire." Well might it be said " Howl, ye inhabitants of the isle; arise, pass over to Chittim; pass ye over to Tarshish, for thou shalt have no rest." "What city is like Tyrus the Destroyed, in the midst of the sea ?" And again, in reference to those sold into slavery" Behold, I will return your recompense upon your own head, and will sell your sons and daughters." All these predictions were fulfilled 332 years B. C. still Tyre was not totally destroyed, for we read of Alexander appointing a king over it. The island now became a peninsula; and about thirty years after this period Antigonus again blockaded it, and after fifteen months' siege, compelled it to receive a Grecian garrison. Afterwards, one of the Ptolemies invested and took it; and finally it fell into the hands of the Selucides, kings of Syria, until, along with that country, it came under the Roman yoke.

After this we hear little of it to the time of Christ, when many of the coast of Tyre and Sidon came to be taught of the Lord, partly ac