Greetings and peace to all
I've been following this discussion with interest and now I'm about to say something that will interest you all ( I hope ) You are all correct in the sides you are taking and therefore this debate, should not get too defensive of your own perspective on the prophecy.
The "they" in this verse that will destroy Tyre, have to be either Nebuchadnezzar's forces or they have to be the nations. Depending on how you read the prophecy you will come up with good reasons for either reading, but the end result will be very different.. one perspective shows Ezekiel for what he is.. a major prophet of God, the other shows him as a failure, and therefore creates an error in the Bible.
I hesitate to throw in another website, as I understand that looking at websites is time consuming, especially if you are on limited internet time, as many of us are. however, if anyone does have time, this one is the best I've read.
It argues not only from a biblical perspective but from a historical perspective it was written in that the Tyre prophecy is correct. It addresses many of the concerns that Alexei has raised and this quote will show how
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On the Tyre Prophecy of Ezekiel
J. P. Holding
Who Are "They"?
"They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise.." (NIV)
This verse is pivotal to many of the arguments of each side. Our side would say that the "they" in v. 12 refers back the "nations" in v. 3-5, and were represented byAlexander the Great, who did the things described in v. 12, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Skeptics and other critics, however, say that the "they" in v. 12 refers to the elements of Nebuchadnezzar's forces in verses 7 and 11. Nebbie never did the things ascribed to "they," in verse 12 - he failed to take Tyre at all - so the prophecy, it is said, was not fulfilled.
If you would like to read how both sides of the arguement can be reconciled and shown that the prophecy has been fulfilled as Ezekiel predicted, then please look at this site..
http://www.tektonics.org/tekton_05_05_03.htm
Respectfully
Carol