"Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires [Hebrew, "valleys">[ even the name of the Lord God of Israel, in the Isles of the Sea." [xxiv. 15.]
The Prophet here refers to Cyprus, Crete, Sicily, and Sardinia, for these are "Isles OF" or "IN" the Mediterranean,—while the Fortunatæ Insulæ are those denominated "beyond" the same Sea,—Britain and Hibernia were not yet discovered by the Tyrians;—and the only Islands at this time known to them "beyond" the Mare Internum, were those discovered during this celebrated Expedition;—truly so, for being alluded to by the Sacred writers, proves the importance attached to it in the days of Prophecy. The Islands discovered, and claimed by the Tyrians, were additional causes for their fatal pride,—and are, therefore, the only part of the enlarging Kingdom referred to by Jeremiah,—from the apparent fact, that the terrible prediction in alluding to a recent geographical discovery, would attract the instant attention, and arouse the fears of the Judæans as well as the Tyrians.
Ezekiel uttered his celebrated Prophecy concerning Tyrus 588 B. C., consequently only eighteen years after the Voyage. He should, therefore, allude to it, if our previous argument is founded upon just grounds in reference to Isaiah's not writing of it.
Ezekiel in issuing his malediction against Tyrus, its King, Prince, and People, gathers in his catalogue of their united powers all that had made them great, and unrivalled among the nations of the earth. He commences by stating their knowledge of Shipbuilding and Navigation,—then the various Kingdoms receiving their Commercial commodities, and the riches given in return,—progressing in his description in apparent chronological order,—for this singular fact is arrived at,—viz., that the last verse referring to the deeds of the Tyrians, covers distinctly this very Voyage,—and which took place only 18 years before the Prophecy, and was, therefore, probably their last great action, before they were besieged and conquered by the King of Babylon; and which event was only three years after the prediction of Ezekiel,—who, in alluding to the last effort for fame by the Tyrians, and causing additional pride of heart, says—
"Thy ROWERS have brought thee (Tyrus) into GREAT waters [i. e. the Atlantic]—the East-Wind hath broken thee in the midst of the Seas." [xxvii.]
The word "Sea" in the singular number, and without any pre-nomen as Dead Sea, &c., has already been shewn, and from the same writer, to have direct reference to the Mediterranean. In the above quotation he evidently means larger, and collective bodies of "great waters,"—i. e. Seas,—(plural).—Again,—In the same chapter he writes:
"And thou wast replenished [at the Insulæ?] and made very glorious in the midst of the Seas."
He even seems to define the boundary of Tyrus in the Atlantic, for Islands are distinctly alluded to.
"Thy borders are in the midst of the Seas."
And as a distinct contrast of locality; he says of the Capital of the Mediterranean,—