Tyre

Lore & Background

Tyre appears as a major maritime and commercial power, with its king Hiram (also spelled Huram) forming alliances with David and Solomon. Hiram sent cedar trees, carpenters, and masons to build David a house (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 14:1), and later supplied Solomon with cedar, fir, and gold for the temple, receiving twenty cities in Galilee in return (1 Kings 9:11-12). A skilled craftsman from Tyre, a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, was brought to work on Solomon's temple in brass (1 Kings 7:13-14; 2 Chronicles 2:14).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Tyre as a wealthy, influential city-state with a complex relationship with Israel. On one hand, Tyre provided essential resources and skilled labor for the construction of David's palace and Solomon's temple, indicating a period of peaceful cooperation and mutual benefit (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1; 1 Chronicles 22:4). On the other hand, Tyre is also depicted as a foreign entity subject to divine judgment for its pride and commercial exploitation, as seen in the prophetic oracles of Isaiah and Joel (Isaiah 23:8-9; Joel 3:4). The New Testament references show Tyre as a region where Jesus ministered and as a symbol of unrepentant cities that would face a milder judgment than those who rejected his works (Matthew 11:21-22; Matthew 15:21). Overall, Tyre is presented as a powerful but morally ambiguous city, both a benefactor and a subject of prophetic condemnation.

Did You Know?

• Tyre is called a 'strong city' and 'strong hold' in Joshua 19:29 and 2 Samuel 24:7.
• King Hiram of Tyre supplied cedar, fir, and gold to Solomon, but was displeased with the twenty cities given him (1 Kings 9:11-12).
• A craftsman from Tyre, a widow's son of Naphtali, was filled with wisdom to work in brass for Solomon's temple (1 Kings 7:13-14).
• Isaiah prophesied that Tyre would be forgotten for seventy years and then return to its trade (Isaiah 23:15, 17).