Ezekiel 26:1 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ 3 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves. 4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. 5 Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishnets, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD. She will become plunder for the nations, 6 and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
7 “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army. 8 He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you. 9 He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons. 10 His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the war horses, wagons and chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. 11 The hoofs of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. 12 They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea. 13 I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more. 14 I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.
15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you? 16 Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you. 17 Then they will take up a lament concerning you and say to you:
” ‘How you are destroyed, O city of renown,
peopled by men of the sea!
You were a power on the seas,
you and your citizens;
you put your terror
on all who lived there.
18 Now the coastlands tremble
on the day of your fall;
the islands in the sea
are terrified at your collapse.’
19 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, 20 then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. 21 I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
This prophecy is false for many reasons.
The primary reason is that Nebuchadnezzar did not destroy Tyre. It exists to this day in modern Lebanon. It has been continuously occupied by people. The claims that it will be “a bare rock” and will “never be rebuilt” is false. Tyre was not brought to a “horrible end.” The claim “You will be sought, but you will never again be found” is nonsense since any person reading this blog could go there today!
Nebuchadnezzar did attack Tyre from 585-573 B.C. but was unable to take the city. Tyre was conquered in 332 B.C. by Alexander but at no time was the city destroyed. It exists to this day. According to the false prophecy found in Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar was supposed to completely destroy Tyre, it was never to be rebuilt again, but to remain an eternal ruin, and the King was supposed to get much wealth and loot from the city, making it worth his while.
Ezekiel admits he was wrong 3 chapters later (note that Ezekiel 26 starts out “in the 11th year, and Ezekiel 29 starts out “in the 27th year”)
Ezekiel 29:17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me: 18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. 19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. 20 I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Wait a minute! Didn’t Ezekiel say in 26:12 “They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise”? Now all of a sudden “he and his army got no reward.”
Then he makes a prophecy that he Nebuchadnezzar will be given Egypt as a reward. Guess what? That was another false prophecy! More details on that false prophecy at another time.
The bible is full of false prophecies. Too bad they are rarely read on Sundays.
Bible Verses Rarely Read on Sunday 
The following article is worth review:
Steel-Belted Tyre
On the Tyre Prophecy of Ezekiel
J. P. Holding
http://www.tektonics.org/uz/zeketyre.html
By: Deborah on June 2, 2009
at 1:18 am
Thank you for the link to the apologetic website.
Here is a direct quote from the website regarding Ezekiel 26:21.
“Therefore there is no need for my previous arguments with respect to the identities of the ancient and modern cities, or never “finding” the city again. Ezekiel does not predict a permanent destruction but uses the ancient metaphors of war to describe the seriousness of Tyre’s predicament.”
This is a typical Christian Apologetic response: When the Bible is Accurate, the Bible scriptures are LITERAL. But when THE BIBLE IS WRONG, the Bible scriptures are METAPHOR.
The problem with the Bible is that it does not tell you when it is literal and when it is metaphor. Is Genesis literal or metaphor? The Bible does not say. This is one of the problems with the Bible, and this Apologist only proves the extent of this problem.
Just prior to that, the Apologist makes this astonishing claim about this passage:
“In fact, Zeke goes on a skein of what we now regard as “trash talk” in the next several verses:
15 Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; …”
Zeke is this Apologist’s nickname for Ezekiel. So the Apologist claims this is not a prophecy, but it is simply “trash talk.”
But he has a major problem – The scriptures begin “Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus…” Where in the Bible does it say that this is trash talk? Is Ezekiel trash talking, or is God? The truth is that the Bible does not claim that God or Ezekiel is simply trash talking. The Apologist had to invent the “trash talking” argument in order to cover up an obviously false prophecy.
This is a prime example of how Apologists can delude themselves into believing the Bible is the perfect word of God.
By: Ed Hensley on June 3, 2009
at 1:38 am
“If the Phoenician remains lie underneath the present town, then they are not underwater”.
Obviously “any remains left by the Phoenicians” is hardly what you would call the city – in ANYONE’S book! Now it seems you have abandoned all thoughts of maintaining a serious discussion and resorted to desparate and rediculous hair splitting.
By: UppsalaDragby on July 25, 2010
at 11:31 am
My response is only showing what the source that you cited says about the location of ancient Tyre. This source provides evidence that the location of the ancient city is not under vast oceans as the prophecy claims. Your source only provides evidence that the prophecy was false.
As far as ridiculous hair splitting, it is your definitions that are hair splitting and ridiculous. Your definition of “rebuilt” is a prime example.
By: edhensley on July 25, 2010
at 12:18 pm
http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3077
You would be amazed how much you can learn if you search with an open mind, instead of looking for what you want to prove or disprove.
By: Javiel Gonzalez on June 15, 2009
at 4:29 am
Thank you for your post. Unfortunately, it only shows how far Christians are willing to delude themselves.
You show your hypocrisy by chastising me for looking for what I want to “prove or disprove”, yet your source quotes a book entitled “Fulfilled Prophecies that Prove the Bible.” It is you and other Christians who need an open mind and who need to stop looking for what you want to prove or disprove.
I suggest you read other sources on the history of Tyre rather than the biased sources that you site.
By: edhensley on June 16, 2009
at 1:24 am
The Bible does NOT say that Nebuchadnezzar alone would demolish Tyre. This is a false assumption. On the contrary, it says that “many nations” would do so in “waves” (see v. 3). If these verses were all referring to Nebuchadnezzar then how on earth could the prophecy EVER be fulfilled?
Nebuchadnezzar’s attack was the first wave and was confined to “THE MAINLAND” settlements (v. 8). Notice that he came with horses and chariots (v. 10), not ships!
In order to understand scripture you need to take into consideration the fact that the original hebrew text had neither punctuation marks nor paragraphs, which in this case makes it necessary to pay closer attention to what pronouns are used. In verse 11 there is a switch from “he” to “they”.
“They” refers to many nations, not Nebuchadnezzar, otherwise the text would continue to use the pronoun “he”.
The original city of Tyre was thrown into the sea by Alexander the great, just as the prophecy declared. The modern day Tyre is NOT a “rebuilt Tyre”. The old city was demolished and is submerged and it’s original location cannot be found.
By: UppsalaDragby on July 22, 2010
at 2:42 pm
Your response is typical of apologists, but it is not accurate. Tyre is not a bare rock. It was rebuilt. People are able to locate both the original mainland and original island of Tyre (in fact, it is mentioned in the New Testament). Tyre is not covered with vast oceans. It remains a false prophecy.
By: edhensley on July 24, 2010
at 4:26 pm
And I would say that your reply is typical of critics who are not Bible scollars, who just read the English translation sloppily and then draw hasty conclusions.
A NT reference and a name on a map is hardly enough evidence to refute Ezekiel’s prophecy. That the name Tyre was still in use after the original city was destroyed is no big surprise since the Tyrinians fled to the island, but the fact remains that the original city was completely dismantled and used to build the causeway over to the island:
“The old city of Tyre did supply stones and dirt to build the causeway” (Loeb Classical Library:Quintius Curtius IV, 2. 18-19).
What evidence can you supply that the old city was rebuilt? Please supply sources!
By: UppsalaDragby on July 24, 2010
at 4:57 pm
Where in the verses does it use the phrase “the old city of Tyre?”
Since the obvious answer is nowhere, your question is irrelevant.
San Francisco and Galveston were destroyed by hurricanes. They were rebuilt. We do not say that the cities were not rebuilt because their original buildings do not exist. The same is true regarding cities destroyed by fires, bombs, etc. We are currently still rebuilding New Orleans. According to you, we are not rebuilding it because we are not restoring every brick of every original building.
By: edhensley on July 24, 2010
at 5:44 pm
I didn’t say the “old city of Tyre” was in any of the verses. If anywhere it certainly wouldn’t be there!
The Tyre mentioned in the verses of the prophecy is located on the mainland. It was a city having both walls and towers.
If you maintain that there is a city on the mainland that corresponds to this city then please provide the coordinates AND the sources that verify that it was a reconstruction of the original city.
To assume that the prophecy would affect another city on the basis of it having the same name wouldn’t make sense! The prophecy was directed towards a specific city AND the inhabitants of that city.
By: UppsalaDragby on July 24, 2010
at 6:18 pm
You used the phrase “old city of Tyre.” It was your analogy that contained phrases not found in the verses, of which you have been forced to admit. Now you have added a new phrase, “reconstruction of the original city.”
Where does “rebuilt” mean “a reconstruction of the original city”? My use of other cities in my prior response is to provide examples showing the meaning of “rebuilt”. Your definition of rebuilt is absurd.
It is only by adding phrases and perverting definitions that you can continue to wrongly claim that this prophecy has been fulfilled. And you completely ignore the other elements of this false prophecy such as “when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you”. The locations of the mainland city and the island city are known to historians and every in Lebanon, and neither location has ever been covered by ocean depths.
By: edhensley on July 24, 2010
at 6:45 pm
Now you’re being silly and evasive. I did not say that the phrase “old city of Tyre” was in any of the verses. So what exactly am i “admitting”? It seems to me you are just trying to muddy the discussion since you are unable to prove anything you say.
In order to prove that the city was rebuilt you would have to prove that it was at least in the original location. All you have is a name, and since you are the one making the claim that the prophecy failed then it is up to you to prove the actual rebuilding has been done. The original city was used to build the causeway, and therefore is “covered by the vast waters”. This is a fact that is historical fact that has been verified. Are you denying this?
By: UppsalaDragby on July 24, 2010
at 7:08 pm
The causeway is visible from google maps and is NOT covered by water, much less “ocean depths” and “vast waters”.
Look up any history of Tyre. The original location is known. Tyre is a UNESCO world heritage site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/299). To claim that archaeologist have no idea where the ancient city of Tyre was located is absolutely absurd.
By: edhensley on July 24, 2010
at 7:32 pm
Ancient historian Diodorus Siculus, who lived from approximately 80-20 B.C., wrote extensively of the young Greek conqueror’s dealing with Tyre. It is from his original work that much of the following information on Tyre’s destruction derives (see Siculus, 1963, 17.40-46).
Siculus stated: “Immediately he demolished what was called Old Tyre and set many tens of thousands of men to work carrying stones to construct a mole” (17.40). Curtius Rufus noted: “Large quantities of rock were available, furnished by old Tyre” (4.2.18).
By: UppsalaDragby on July 24, 2010
at 7:15 pm
Under the city centre, the ancient harbour.
Tyre and Sidon: heritages to preserve
Journal of Cultural Heritage 6 (2005) 183–189
“New geoarchaeological research reveals that the early ports actually lie beneath the modern urban centres. ”
This article is on the location of ancient harbours, but it shows that these harbours were located under modern city centers, not under vast oceans.
Your quote regarding Old Tyre only shows that it’s existence was known at the time of the quote. This only proves that people could locate Tyre, and this contradicts the prophecy!
By: edhensley on July 24, 2010
at 8:29 pm
From Sidon it is half a day’s journey to Sarepta (Sarfend), which belongs to Sidon. Thence it is a half-day to New Tyre (Sur), which is a very fine city, with a harbour in its midst…. There is no harbour like this in the whole world. Tyre is a beautiful city…. In the vicinity is found sugar of a high class, for men plant it here, and people come from all lands to buy it. A man can ascend the walls of New Tyre and see ancient Tyre, which the sea has now covered, lying at a stone’s throw from the new city. And should one care to go forth by boat, one can see the castles, market-places, streets, and palaces in the bed of the sea.
(Benjamin of Tudela,ca 1170).
By: UppsalaDragby on July 24, 2010
at 7:25 pm
Under the city centre, the ancient harbour.
Tyre and Sidon: heritages to preserve
Journal of Cultural Heritage 6 (2005) 183–189
The article explains how the coast of Tyre (mainland and island) has changed over 7000 years. The city has been rebuilt multiple times, contradicting the bible.
Your post claims that around 1170 CE someone knew where ancient Tyre was. This contradicts the bible, which claims people will look for ancient Tyre and never find it.
You have only provided evidence that people have found ancient Tyre. I have also provided such evidence. Sounds like we agree!
By: edhensley on July 24, 2010
at 8:38 pm
According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition: “The principal ruins of the city today are those of buildings erected by the Crusaders. There are some Greco-Roman remains, but any left by the Phoenicians lie underneath the present town.”
By: UppsalaDragby on July 25, 2010
at 10:42 am
If the Phoenician remains lie underneath the present town, then they are not underwater. The prophecy is not fulfilled.
Also, you have provided sources that contradict each other. Some of your responses say that the old city is now underneath the current causeway (not water). Some say the old city is visible beneath the sea (if it is, then pay for an exhibition and show pictures). This source says the present remains lie underneath the present town (again, not under water).
Your claims are as inconsistent as Ezekiel’s!
By: edhensley on July 25, 2010
at 11:18 am
Ezekiel was not a prophet–he was a pitchman. He “prophesied” so as to get Nebuchadnezzar to do what he, Ezekiel, wanted. He wanted to eliminate Tyre so that Jerusalem would again become a major trading center. It was the same with Egypt. He “prophesied” Nebucchadnezzar’s victory there but, apparently, when that effort failed, Nebucchadnezzar realised that Ezekiel was just trying to manipulate him. After Egypt, Ezekiel is not heard of again. It is likely that Ezekiel had a “day” job with the House of Murashu which was on the hill on the other side of the canal in Nippur.
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at 3:41 am
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