ישעיהו, פרק כ״ג, פסוק י״א

The collapse of a mighty maritime empire is never a random accident of history, but rather a direct divine decree. When a global commercial hub suddenly falls, it sends shockwaves of anxiety across the entire region, proving that even the most heavily fortified cities remain entirely under God's absolute control.

God strikes the coastal cities by reaching out over the sea. The primary approach among commentators is that God blocks the vital sea routes, bringing the merchant traffic that fuels the wealth of Tyre to a complete halt [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. This acts as a direct blow to the region [שד״ל]. Alternatively, this outstretched hand belongs to the conqueror Nebuchadnezzar. Having already devastated the inland empires, he expands his campaign to the sea dwellers, acting entirely as God's appointed agent [מלבי״ם]. Through these actions, God rouses foreign nations to attack with terrifying speed, and the sudden fall of such a massive naval power leaves the surrounding kingdoms trembling in fear [שד״ל, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

Taking a different perspective, [רד״ק] suggests that these events echo God's great miracles from the past. Striking the sea recalls the splitting of the Red Sea, shaking the kingdoms hints at the defeat of mighty kings like Sihon and Og, and the command to destroy the land points back to Joshua's initial conquest.

God commands His summoned armies to march against the region [רש״י, שד״ל, מצודת ציון]. The target, Tyre, is identified with Canaan for two reasons. Geographically and historically, the cities of Tyre and Sidon are the direct descendants of Canaan [רש״י, מלבי״ם, שטיינזלץ]. Additionally, this identity perfectly captures a city that serves as the center of global trade, as the name itself implies a merchant [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. The ultimate goal of this divine command is the complete destruction of the fortresses and military power in which the land placed its trust [שד״ל, שטיינזלץ]. Adding a poetic layer, [מלבי״ם] notes that the phrasing used for these strongholds sounds similar to the word for weighing scales. This implies that God is not only tearing down their physical walls but also entirely wiping out their commercial economy. Ultimately, this destruction is aimed directly at the city of Tyre itself, or at the great merchant caravans that sustained its wealth [אבן עזרא].