During the reign of King David, a cordial relationship existed with King Hiram of Tyre, with Israel purchasing building material from Tyre, in anticipation of the construction of a temple and Israel supplying food to Tyre. Several hundred years later, when God punished Jerusalem by allowing King Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem, Tyre rejoiced at Jerusalem’s calamity. God did not punish Jerusalem for the entertainment of neighboring countries; but, rather for its disobedience to Him.
Tyre was physically divided, with Old Tyre located on the mainland, along the Mediterranean Sea. New Tyre was an island a half mile offshore, surrounded by a 147-foot wall and water. As the prophets predicted, Tyre was destroyed: first Old Tyre was reduced to ruins and later the ruins were pushed into the sea to form a causeway to the island of New Tyre. Under Alexander the Great, New Tyre was destroyed. [Reflection is based on the Bible reference – Zechariah 9:3-4 and biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_tyre.html]
