Isaiah 23:8-9

Isaiah 23:8-9

[8] Who hath taken this counsel  against Tyre,  the crowning  city, whose merchants  are princes,  are the honourable  of the earth?  [9] of hosts  hath purposed  it, to stain  the pride  of all glory,  and to bring into contempt  all the honourable  of the earth. 

What does Isaiah 23:8-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Why had Tyre perished? When Tyre founded colonies, she set up rulers over them-bestowed crowns. Princes and the honored of the earth ended up serving Tyre"s ends. Thus this ancient city had tremendous power and influence.
"The reference [1] is to Palestine-Lebanon, extending to the Euphrates in the northeast and to the "River of Egypt" and beyond to Egypt in the south. All this "land" was served by Tyre"s commerce and, accordingly, it treated Tyre with deference. All the "land" envied Tyre"s wealth and imitated her styles." [2]
The reason for Tyre"s death was the plan of the Lord Almighty. He desired to humble the proud and to humiliate the admired. He wanted to show the transitory nature of human glory and the folly of depending on such glory. God does not object when worthy people receive the credit due them. What He opposes is pride that seeks to live independent of Himself.