In 586 BC, many prophecies about the city of Tyre were made by Ezekiel the prophet.
-- God would lay Tyre to waste because they were against the people of God-- Ezekiel 26:2
-- Many nations would come up against Tyre-- Ezekiel 26:3
-- They would destroy the walls of Tyre, break down her towers, scrape the dust from her like the top of a rock-- Ezekiel 26:4
-- Tyre would become a place for spreading of nets-- Ezekiel 26:5
-- People of Tyre would be killed-- Ezekiel 26:6
-- Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would be one of the nations, attacking from the north-- Ezekiel 26:7
-- He would use a siege mound, battering rams, and axes against their city-- Ezekiel 26:8-9
-- Their walls and houses would be broken down and cast into the sea-- Ezekiel 26:12
-- Tyre would be made like the top of a rock and never be rebuilt-- Ezekiel 26:14
Shortly after this prophecy was made, Nebuchadnezzar attacked Tyre. He built siege mounds and underwent a 13 year siege against the city of Tyre. The inhabitants of Tyre retreated out to an Island just off the coast and were not completely destroyed. Over the next 200 or so years, they were attacked by Syria, Egypt, Rome, Greece, Armenia, Persia, and many other nations (as history records). The final key to the fulfillment of this prophecy came when Alexander the Great attacked Tyre in 332 B.C. This was a 15 month siege during which time the people of Tyre retreated to their island as they had done in the past. Alexander the Great was different than all the other people who attacked. He was not satisfied with a partial victory and only partial destruction. Alexander the Great did not have boats and apparently didn't have the expertise to build boats, however he did have tens of thousands of people who would quickly do whatever he commanded.
Alexander the Great commanded his people to take down the city one stone at a time and throw it into the sea. Brick by brick Alexander's army leveled the city and used the bricks, stone, and dirt to build a land bridge out to the island. Once they arrived, they completely destroyed the people of Tyre. The land bridge is still in existence today.
The city of Tyre was never rebuilt. There is a city called "Tyre", but it is not in the same location. They cannot rebuild on the same location because at this time, the waters from the sea periodically flood where the city used to be. The old location is just a flat rock that the fishermen use to stretch out their nets on after a day of fishing.
Faith in God is not blind. God has given us evidence that His word is from Him and is true. There are hundreds of prophecies like this in the Bible, and each and every one has come true. It is not just coincidence...it is inspired!!!
Ezekiel 25:16 says, "And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, [2] “Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken who was the gateway of the peoples; now she is turned over to me; I shall be filled; she is laid waste.’ [3] “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. [4] ‘And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. [5] ‘It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD; ‘it shall become plunder for the nations. [6] ‘Also her daughter villages which are in the fields shall be slain by the sword. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.’[7] “For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen, and an army with many people. [8] ‘He will slay with the sword your daughter villages in the fields; he will heap up a siege mound against you, build a wall against you, and raise a defense against you. [9] ‘He will direct his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. [10] ‘Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, the wagons, and the chariots, when he enters your gates, as men enter a city that has been breached. [11] ‘With the hooves of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will slay your people by the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. [12] ‘They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water. [13] ‘I will put an end to the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps shall be heard no more. [14] ‘I will make you like the top of a rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD."
