Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 20

Verse 1

In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

Sargon — Sennacherib, who, before he came to Jerusalem, came up against and took all the walled cities of Judah, of which Ashdod might be reckoned one, as being in the tribe of Judah.

Verse 2

At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Sackcloth — Which he wore in token of his grief for the calamities that were already come upon Israel, and were coming upon Judah.

Naked — Not wholly naked, but without his upper garment, as slaves and prisoners used to do, whose posture he was to represent.

Bare-foot — After the manner of mourners and captives.

Verse 3

And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

Three years — Not constantly, but when he went abroad among the people, to whom this was appointed for a sign.

A sign — When this judgment should come, namely, three years after this prophecy.

Verse 4

So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Uncovered — Having their garments cut off by the middle.

Verse 5

And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

They — All that shall trust to them. But under this general expression the Israelites, seem to be principally intended.

Verse 6

And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

Of the country — Of this land, in which the prophet was, and to whose inhabitants, these words were uttered.

Such — So vain is our hope placed upon such a people as are unable to deliver themselves.