In the Christian order of books, Isaiah chapter 23 is obviously connected to the book of Isaiah. However chapter 23 also has many connections and cross references to other chapters in Isaiah. Further study may reveal that every verse in Isaiah 23 is connected to another chapter in Isaiah.
In the first sample for Isaiah chapter 23, the Lord makes a connection to the 23rd Christian book with the ships of Tarshish and everything being brought down.
ISAIAH 23:1 …Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste,
14 Howl ye ships of Tarshish; for your strength is laid waste.ISAIAH 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud…and upon every one that is lifted up…
16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish…
17 …and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
The phrase “ships of Tarshish” only appears three other times in the Bible (KJV).
In the second sample for Isaiah chapter 23, the Lord makes a connection to the 23rd Jewish book with the loss of houses and the phrase “Howl, ye inhabitants”. This phrase appears NO other place in the entire Bible (KJV). The Lord also uses verse 1 of Isaiah to connect to chapter 1 of Zephaniah, with the phrase “Howl, ye”.
ISAIAH 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house…
6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.ZEPHANIAH 1:11 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down…
13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them…
In the third sample for Isaiah chapter 23, the Lord makes a connection to ALL THREE chapters of the 23rd Jewish book with the joyous city, the merchants, pride and the princes unable to rejoice.
ISAIAH 23:7 Is this your joyous city…
8 …whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers (traders) are the honourable of the earth?
9 The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all…the honourable of earth.
12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice…ZEPHANIAH 1:8 …I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such…
11 …for all the merchant people are cut down…
ZEPHANIAH 2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, And there is none beside me…
ZEPHANIAH 3:11 …I will take away… them that rejoice in thy pride…
