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 three-quarters 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 Phœnicia, 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 observed, 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!