Tyre
 
 A rock, now es-Sur; an ancient Phoenician city, about 23 miles, in
 a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. Sidon was the
 oldest Phoenician city, but Tyre had a longer and more illustrious
 history. The commerce of the whole world was gathered into the
 warehouses of Tyre. "Tyrian merchants were the first who ventured to
 navigate the Mediterranean waters; and they founded their colonies on
 the coasts and neighbouring islands of the AEgean Sea, in Greece, on
 the northern coast of Africa, at Carthage and other places, in Sicily
 and Corsica, in Spain at Tartessus, and even beyond the pillars of
 Hercules at Gadeira (Cadiz)" (Driver's Isaiah). In the time of David
 a friendly alliance was entered into between the Hebrews and the
 Tyrians, who were long ruled over by their native kings 2Sa 5:11 
 1Ki 5:1 2Ch 2:3 Tyre consisted of two distinct parts, a rocky
 fortress on the mainland, called "Old Tyre," and the city, built on a
 small, rocky island about half-a-mile distant from the shore. It was a
 place of great strength. It was besieged by Shalmaneser, who was
 assisted by the Phoenicians of the mainland, for five years, and by
 Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586) for thirteen years, apparently without
 success. It afterwards fell under the power of Alexander the Great,
 after a siege of seven months, but continued to maintain much of its
 commercial importance till the Christian era. It is referred to in
 Mt 11:21 Ac 12:20 In A.D. 1291 it was taken by the Saracens, and
 has remained a desolate ruin ever since. "The purple dye of Tyre had a
 worldwide celebrity on account of the durability of its beautiful
 tints, and its manufacture proved a source of abundant wealth to the
 inhabitants of that city." Both Tyre and Sidon "were crowded with
 glass-shops, dyeing and weaving establishments; and among their
 cunning workmen not the least important class were those who were
 celebrated for the engraving of precious stones." 2Ch 2:7,14 The
 wickedness and idolatry of this city are frequently denounced by the
 prophets, and its final destruction predicted Isa 23:1 Jer 25:22
 Eze 26:1-2 28:1-19 Am 1:9,10 Zec 9:2-4 Here a church was founded soon
 after the death of Stephen, and Paul, on his return from his third 
 missionary journey spent a week in intercourse with the disciples 
 there Ac 21:4 Here the scene at Miletus was repeated on his 
 leaving them. They all, with their wives and children, accompanied him 
 to the sea-shore. The sea-voyage of the apostle terminated at 
 Ptolemais, about 38 miles from Tyre. Thence he proceeded to Caesarea 
 Ac 21:5-8 "It is noticed on monuments as early as B.C. 1500 and 
 claiming, according to Herodotus, to have been founded about B.C. 2700
 It had two ports still existing, and was of commercial importance in
 all ages, with colonies at Carthage (about B.C. 850 and all over the
 Mediterranean. It was often attacked by Egypt and Assyria, and taken
 by Alexander the Great after a terrible siege in B.C. 332 It is now a
 town of 3,000 inhabitants, with ancient tombs and a ruined cathedral.
 A short Phoenician text of the fourth century B.C. is the only
 monument yet recovered."
 
  See PHENICIA 25930