ITHOBALUS THE SECOND--TO SISINNES. THE FIRST SIEGE OF TYRUS, &c.--FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY BY JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL,--AND OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PROPHECY BY ISAIAH. During the war upon Egypt by the King of Babylon, (and which occurred only seven years after the Voyage around Africa,) it is probable that the King of Tyrus would assist Pharaoh-Necho against the invasion of the Nile by Nebuchadnezzar. The attack by Pharaoh, at the solicitation of Judæa [Ezekiel xvii. 15], (which nation was still paying the annual tribute to Egypt,) had compelled the Babylonian to raise the siege of Jerusalem:--in this movement, also, the Tyrians may have aided by countenance or wealth. In these apparent probabilities, we find the _political_ cause why Nebuchadnezzar turned his fury upon Tyrus, after his conquest of Egypt, and his second and successful invasion of Judæa, and the captivity of the Jews,--which latter event took place 588 B. C. The fall of Judæa gave the monopolizing and pride-stricken Tyrians great cause for rejoicing,--not from malice against the afflicted People,--but because their own _Trading_ propensities would be increased,--as it would (in their minds) by the downfall of any aspiring Nation. A few years before they had witnessed the conquest of Egypt,--and now of Judæa,--both of which were causes of peculiar joy to the Tyrians; for those Nations had latent sparks within them, from which the fire of Science might be created, and so illumine their own path towards the attainment of Navigation, and thence rest upon their own exertions for Commercial prosperity. Jerusalem had evinced this spirit as early as the time of SOLOMON,--and also Egypt, only seven years before her present downfall. This was the point causing the National rejoicing of Tyrus;--it was a Commercial gladness,--thence (with them) a _political_ one:--less rejoicing, or its entire absence, would have been "love of neighbour,"--and which, when it affected their interest, the Tyrians never had;--extended joy,--as if Jerusalem had fallen for the express purpose of their own prosperity, and so sanctioned by their Gods,--became blasphemy! They evinced this impiety to its full extent;--therefore, the King of Babylon, in resenting his own wrongs, was but an instrument of retribution in the hand of GOD, to punish those, who in savage triumph rejoiced at the chastening, and captivity of a neighbour-Nation. EZEKIEL thus describes the _Religious_ cause why Tyrus (in her want of charity to a fallen neighbour) should become desolate. [xxvi.] He prophesied, 588 B. C., "The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of Man, _because_ that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! she is broken that was the gates of the People: she is turned unto _me_; I shall be replenished, now _she_ is laid waste!'"-- The Prince of Tyrus, also, uttered this blasphemy in his triumph:-- "I am a God! I sit in the seat of God!" [xxviii.]