The Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 20
Chapter XX · Vol. III, p. 1169
A type prefiguring the shameful captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia.
1 In the year that aTartan came unto 1Ashdod, (when Sargon2 the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against bAshdod and took it;
B.C. cir. 720.
a 2 Ki.18.17.
1 Ashdod or Azotus, situated on a hill near the Mediterranean, about 34 miles west of Jerusalem. Here was the temple of Dagon, whose image was broken before the ark. It must have been a place of great strength, as it stood the longest siege on record, having been besieged by Psammitichus king of Egypt for twenty-nine years. At present it is a miserable village of some fifty huts rather than houses. C.——Its site is now covered with gardens and orchards, among which a few columns and large building stones are here and there seen. These are the only remains of the royal city of Ashdod. The situation is beautiful, and the surrounding plain is not surpassed for fertility in Palestine.—P.
2 i.e. Sennacherib, or perhaps rather his father or elder brother.
b ch.14.29,30, with 2 Ki.18.13.
2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah3 the son of Amoz, saying, cGo and loose the dsackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked4 and barefoot.
3 Heb. by the hand of Isaiah.
c ch.8.18. Eze.iv. v. xii. Je.13.1-11; 19.1-13. ver.3. Mat.16.24.
d Re.11.3. 2 Ki.1.8. Mat.3.4. Zec.13.4. Je.9.1.
4 Without an upper garment, Job 1.20,21. Ac.19.16. 1 Sa.19.24. 2 Sa.6.20.
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;
4 Soe shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners,5 and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even gwith their buttocks uncovered, to the shame6 of Egypt.
e ch.xviii. xix.
5 Heb. the captivity of Egypt.
g 2 Sa.10.4. Je.13.22,26. ch.47.2. Mi.1.8.
6 Heb. nakedness.
5 And hthey shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
h ch.30.1-7; 31.1,2; 36.6. Eze.29.6,7. Ho.14.3. Je.3.23-25; 16.19.
6 And the inhabitant of this isle7 shall say in that day, iBehold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
Notes
Ver. 1. The word Tartan signifies 'general' or 'commander-in-chief;' and it is probable it is the official title of the first military officer of Assyria rather than a proper name.—Sargon was one of the greatest of Assyrian kings. He reigned between Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, and was the father of the latter. He ascended the throne in B.C. 721, and appears to have reigned about fifteen years. His various expeditions are recorded on the Assyrian monuments. He is only mentioned by name in this passage of Scripture; but he may be 'the king of Assyria' intended in 2 Ki. 17. 6. P.
Ver. 3. Three years. Probably he so walked only three days, a day for a year, according to prophetic rule, Nu. 14. 34; Eze. 4. 6. C.
Ver. 5. And they. That is, the Jews who trusted to Egypt and Ethiopia for help against Assyria, and who disregarded seeking help of God, shall now be afraid of similar calamities, and be ashamed of their unbelief and ingratitude. C.
Ver. 6. Isle. The Hebrew word here translated 'isle' has various shades of meaning. Generally it means 'land' as opposed to water. Then it signifies 'coast,' and then 'isle.' In this passage it should be rendered 'coast.' The reference manifestly is to Philistia, which lay on the coast of the Mediterranean. P.
Reflections.—O what need of a self-denying humility in the ministers of Christ! They know not to what apparently hard service he may put them. Into what pitiful condition men's wickedness plunges them! Alas! the dreadful nature of slavery and captivity to inward lusts! How created confidences shame, pain, and ruin us at last! But thrice happy are those who in time flee from them all to the never-disappointing Jesus Christ!