Ezekiel 26 and the Tyre prophecy is a flagship proof text for those who claim divine inspiration for the Scriptures.

Who Are 'They'?
> 'They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise..' (Ezekiel 26:12)

The 'they' in verse 12 refers back to the 'nations' in verses 3-5, and were represented by Alexander the Great, who did the things described in verse 12, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Critics argue that the 'they' refers to Nebuchadnezzar's forces in verses 7 and 11, who failed to take the island city of Tyre.

However, the oracle clearly offers two pairings: the I/they of Adonai YHWH the sovereign, leading the nations; and the he/personified-possession army of Nebuchadnezzar, who though still under Adonai YHWH's sovereign control, is given credit for being able to 'will' things on his own. The oracle indicates that Nebuchadnezzar will do specific actions, and that 'nations' will perform certain actions. Nebuchadnezzar brings one of those nations, but the language tells us that the actions of 3-5 and 12-14 may be performed by any nations God brings against Tyre.

Nations Scraping and Nets
> 'And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.' (Ezekiel 26:4)

Alexander fulfilled this verse. He turned the rubble of the mainland city of Tyre into a causeway to defeat the island city. Note particularly that it is the city itself which will be made like the top of a rock. Ancient literature often utilizes hyperbolic excess to emphasize totality; it would be unreasonable to demand that every microscopic grain of dust be removed.

> 'It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.' (Ezekiel 26:5)

The 'midst of the sea' reference likely refers to the spreading of nets on the causeway—thus the mainland city became 'a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea'.

'Built No More'
> 'And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.' (Ezekiel 26:14)

Ezekiel does not predict a permanent literal destruction but uses the ancient metaphors of war to describe the seriousness of Tyre's predicament. In ancient victory steles, such as that of Ramesses III or Merneptah, literal descriptions are frequently mixed with metaphorical ones (e.g., 'made non-existent', 'captured'). The threat to be 'built no more' is a metaphorical taunt common to ancient Near Eastern oracles of war.