makerowner

Are you serious? It took Nebbuchadrezzar 13 years to defeat Tyre, and even then it was a negotiated settlement that allowed the Tyrians to keep their independence. Alexander had a weak navy and other business to take care of in Egypt and Persia, so it was a good bet that he wouldn't want to hang out there for 13 years just to get a truce. Unfortunately for the Tyrians, they were up against one of the greatest military thinkers of all time, and they lost their gamble. If this isn't grasping at straws, I don't know what is.

Johnny Skeptic

Message to arnoldo: Couldn't God have inspired Ezekiel to write the Tyre prophecy in ways that no one would have disputed?

No reasonable motives = no God of the Bible.

spin

You don't have to blather on this one. There are historical sources to tell you what happened. Alexander made a mistake in wanting to perform a sacrifice in a temple on Tyre. They refused and he became an asshole. It was a religiously based refusal on the part of the Tyrians.

This is from Arrian, Anab. Bk 2.16

To this Tyrian Heracles, Alexander said he wished to offer sacrifice. But when this message was brought to Tyre by the ambassadors, the people passed a decree to obey any other command of Alexander, but not to admit into the city any Persian or Macedonian; thinking that under the existing circumstances, this was the most specious answer, and that it would be the safest course for them to pursue in reference to the issue of the war, which was still uncertain. When the answer from Tyre was brought to Alexander, he sent the ambassadors back in a rage. He then summoned a council of his Companions and the leaders of his army, together with the captains of infantry and cavalry, and spoke as follows:...

Alexander then convinced his officers that it wasn't safe to continue with the Egypt campaign until Tyre was under Macedonian control. At this stage the small force of Alexander did not seem to be too much of a threat to the Tyrians.


spin

Sheshonq

What a stupid comment. Why "obviously"?

That is what history says - not me.

Maybe he didn't think he needed one.
Maybe he thought that the siege would starve them out.
Maybe engineering wasn't advanced enough at the time.
Maybe he did try, and the Tyrian fleet was successful at burning him out - just like they did with Alexander's attempt.

There are dozens of possible reasons. Did your hypothetical question have a point, however?

makerowner

There are several possible explanations:

a) he never thought of it
b) the engineering knowledge wasn't around at the time
c) the necessary equipment wasn't available
d) he thought the city would capitulate quickly
e) he didn't want to tie his troops up with building and defending a mole in case they were needed elsewhere

spin

I can only concur.


spin

Sheshonq

Agreed.

arnoldo seems to be firing off questions at random -- without even reading the responses -- only to get a reaction or a rise out of people.

TheRe's a wOrd for Lame behavior Like that.

makerowner

I agree that the threads not going anywhere, but I suspect if the thread gets locked, he'll think he's won.

Darklighter

Arnoldo: What are you trying to accomplish now? You can hold on to your faith, but you have to admit that the evidence does not support the prophecy... it's the ONLY rational conclusion.

arnoldo

Sorry, many sources indicate that Tyre is ONE CITY even though a part of it is on a island. This source states Nebby attacked TYRE for 13 years.
http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Tyre.asp