Joe: Alright so what is Isaiah 23 all about?

Bible Expert: Well, Isaiah 23 is a prophecy about the downfall of Tyre, a powerful city-state on the Mediterranean Sea in present-day Lebanon. It's written in poetic form and begins by saying that Tyre will be destroyed and her merchandise and her wages will be taken away.

Joe: Wow, sounds like a pretty intense prophecy. So what's the backstory?

Bible Expert: Well, Tyre was a significant power in the region and had been trading with the Israelites for centuries. But due to their persistent pride and arrogance, God had decided that it was time for them to be punished for their sins.

Joe: Wow, okay. So what does Isaiah 23 say about the punishment?

Bible Expert: It says that Tyre will be completely destroyed and its people will be taken away into captivity. The city will become a bare rock, and the land around it will become a place of salt and barrenness. God also says that Tyre will no longer be a place of joy, but will become a place of shame and regret.

Joe: Wow, that's pretty harsh. So what was the result of this prophecy?

Bible Expert: Well, it did come to pass, and Tyre was completely destroyed by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in 573BC. The city was destroyed and its people were taken away into captivity, just as the prophecy said.