foretold by the first Lawgiver nearly nine centuries before!

The Tyrians, through the means of their shipping, continually supplied the Capital with provisions,thence the duration of the Siege, and Nebuchadnezzar had not the genius of the subsequent and final Conqueror of Tyrus-the heroic Macedonian.

The Babylonian had therefore to erect his forts and mounds, and with his engines of war make a breach into the mainland City. During the several years, thousands were slain on either side; those of the Tyrians were replaced by her "wise-men" of the Ocean, her pilots and mariners; and as they left their vessels for the Metropolis, the Galleys were sunk at Sea to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands, and thereby enable them to turn upon the Island, the only place of Tyrian retreat. After a Siege of thirteen years, and more than threequarters of the male population destroyed, breaches were made in the walls,-for men were no longer there to defend them, the Metropolis was entered by the foe, and every part destroyed; Temples, Palaces, and houses laid in ashes, or razed to the ground, and the inhabitants slain, excepting those that had fled to the Island. These consisted principally of Women and Children; and to the rescue of the great proportion of the former, and thus preventing Rapine and Slaughter by the besiegers, may reasonably be attributed the cause of the rapid increase of the Tyrian population upon the Island, and which has always confounded

writers upon this Siege, and led some to doubt the fulfilment of the Prophecy.

The Babylonian could not reach these fugitives for the reason stated,-viz., the want of navigable means. And besides, the Metropolis was destroyed, and that was his intent; and that accomplished, he would be willing to receive a tributary capitulation from the Islanders. In the course of the Siege, the King of Tyrus died, and also the Prince. [These deaths were prophesied by EZEKIEL.] The Tyrian Monarch was succeeded by Baal, a branch of the Royal House. Nebuchadnezzar finding that the Island could not be subdued [572 B. c.], offered terms to Baal,-they were accepted, and Baal was appointed his tributary Viceroy, and remained the vassal king of Tyrus for ten years, and died 562 B. C. The shadowy dignity of Viceroy was then abolished, and Magistrates were appointed to administer Justice, and preside over the affairs of State. This Magisterial Government continued only for six years, when it was abolished, and the Sovereignty restored in the person of Balator, but still depending on the Assyrian Monarch for all power and authority. [556 B. c.] This vassalage of the Tyrians was continued to the time of Sisinnes, regal governor of Phoenicia, who, by the command of Darius, King of Babylon, assisted by the Tyrians, materially aided in building the Second Temple of Jerusalem, upon the restoration of the House of Judah; and in the same spirit as Hiram the Great aided Solomon king of Israel.

515 B. C.] The Second Temple was finished and dedicated in the year 515 before Christ. Now taking the Prophecy of ISAIAH, to commence at the beginning of the Siege of Tyrus (for Tyrus had then ceased to be free, i. e. as a Nation), which was in 585 B. C., the seventy years" will be exactly accomplished at the dedication of the Second Temple.

Thus were the first and second Prophecies by ISAIAH fulfilled,-viz., the fall and subsequent freedom, -for the destruction did take place, and at the termination of "seventy years" the Lord of Mercy did "visit Tyrus," and made her again a Nation;-for her scorn and boast upon the destruction of Jerusalem had been forgotten and forgiven, in her stretching forth her hand again to aid the building of the Sacred Temple to The One and Only GOD!

As an instance of Divine Justice, it may be ob served, that the freedom of Tyrus did not take place before the restoration of Judæa,-and that the former nation had to endure the remorse of knowing that the latter from her new throne of liberty, could behold the manacles of thraldom upon that country, which (in prosperity) had shouted in impious triumph upon her desolation!

CHAPTER VIII.

(515-335 B. C.)

SISINNES TO STRATO.

AND FROM THE FIRST TYRIAN REVOLUTION TO AZELMIC.

Ar the termination of the siege by Nebuchadnezzar, we have stated, that the remaining Tyrians fled to the Island, opposite to the ancient metropolis destroyed by the Babylonian. The inhabitants never rebuilt the Capital upon the ruins on the mainland, but upon the Island which had received and sheltered them, they had for the last half-century turned all their attention; -this was now renewed with redoubled energy,upon it they erected their new, and in time, gorgeous Temples, especially that dedicated to HerculesApollo, the tutelary God of the Tyrians. They also surrounded the Island with a sea-wall, 150 feet in height, and of proportionate thickness, and from there being no approach to it but by water, the new metropolis was considered impregnable. Upon the mainland they erected many buildings of a minor character, such as are usually found in the environs of

a City; and a great proportion of the labouring classes dwelt there; as, also, the strangers visiting Tyrus in pursuit of traffic or merchandise. Many years were employed in bringing the Island-Capital to a state of complete defence, owing to the diminished numbers of the male population immediately after the siege. Tyrus must now be viewed as only on the Island, which was about 800 yards from the shore,— somewhat less than half a mile.

From the time of Sisinnes the Nation continued to increase in wealth and power. The former cause of

was revived

her pride and glory Navigation with all the energy and perseverance for which their ancestors in the time of Hiram had been so

justly renowned. As in her days of ancient fame, Tyrus had loaned and built fleets and navies for Israel and Egypt, she now did the same for the Persian Monarch in his war upon Greece. A double motive caused this,—not only the pride of being able to furnish a navy, but her spirit of monopoly had again risen, and begun to stalk abroad,-for Greece had already aroused the jealousy of the Tyrians, and any means to crush or destroy the harbour of the Peiræus, would advance their wishes. sian they could entertain no fears of commercial rivalry, for he had no river or port upon the Mediter

ranean.

From the Per

The honour of Tyrus, as a Nation, however, was shewn in refusing to loan or man a navy, intended by a foreign king (who at first concealed his intent) for