Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
Go across the sea to Tarshish; cry out in anguish, you people who live on the coastlands.
The writer is telling the coastal peoples to flee to distant lands and mourn because of the coming destruction.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah was delivering God's judgments against powerful trading cities like Tyre, which had grown wealthy through maritime commerce but had turned away from God in pride. This verse specifically calls for the people of Tyre to flee to Tarshish, a distant and prosperous port likely in the western Mediterranean, and to mourn as their city faced imminent destruction from invading forces such as the Assyrians. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's accountability for nations that exploit others for gain.
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