Isaiah 20

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 20:3

Isaiah 20:3. Three years for a sign.— A three years' sign. The meaning seems to be, not that Isaiah walked three years naked and barefooted, but that he walked naked and barefoot for a sign of what should happen three years afterwards. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 20:5-6

Isaiah 20:5-6. And they shall be afraid, &c.— We have, in these words, the consequence of the divine judgment upon the Egyptians and Cushites; and the scope of the prophesy, namely, to convince the inhabitants of Palestine, and, among these, some factious persons in Jerusalem, of the vanity of the confidence which they placed in the Egyptians and Cushites, as their tutelar deity; for when they should see the completion of this prophesy, they would then condemn their own folly, for placing... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20

CHAPTER 20 :-. CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT OF THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER, BUT AT A LATER DATE. CAPTIVITY OF EGYPT AND ETHIOPIA. In the reign of Sargon (722-715 B.C.), the successor of Shalmaneser, an Assyrian invasion of Egypt took place. Its success is here foretold, and hence a party among the Jews is warned of the folly of their "expectation" of aid from Egypt or Ethiopia. At a later period ( :-), when Tirhakah of Ethiopia was their ally, the Ethiopians are treated as friends, to whom God... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:1

1. Tartan—probably the same general as was sent by Sennacherib against Hezekiah ( :-). GESENIUS takes "Tartan" as a title. Ashdod—called by the Greeks Azotus (Acts 8:40); on the Mediterranean, one of the "five" cities of the Philistines. The taking of it was a necessary preliminary to the invasion of Egypt, to which it was the key in that quarter, the Philistines being allies of Egypt. So strongly did the Assyrians fortify it that it stood a twenty-nine years' siege, when it was retaken by the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:2

2. by—literally, "by the hand of" (compare Ezekiel 3:14). sackcloth—the loose outer garment of coarse dark hair-cloth worn by mourners (Ezekiel 3:14- :) and by prophets, fastened at the waist by a girdle (Matthew 3:4; 2 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4). naked—rather, "uncovered"; he merely put off the outer sackcloth, retaining still the tunic or inner vest (1 Samuel 19:24; Amos 2:16; John 21:7); an emblem to show that Egypt should be stripped of its possessions; the very dress of Isaiah was a silent... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:3

3. three years—Isaiah's symbolical action did not continue all this time, but at intervals, to keep it before the people's mind during that period [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, join "three years" with "sign," a three years' sign, that is, a sign that a three years' calamity would come on Egypt and Ethiopia [BARNES], (Isaiah 8:18). This is the only instance of a strictly symbolical act performed by Isaiah. With later prophets, as Jeremiah and Ezekiel, such acts were common. In some cases they were... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:4

4. buttocks uncovered—BELZONI says that captives are found represented thus on Egyptian monuments (Isaiah 47:2; Isaiah 47:3; Nahum 3:5; Nahum 3:8; Nahum 3:9), where as here, Egypt and Ethiopia are mentioned as in alliance. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:5

5. they—the Philistine allies of Egypt who trusted in it for help against Assyria. A warning to the party among the Jews, who, though Judah was then the subordinate ally of Assyria, were looking to Egypt as a preferable ally ( :-). Ethiopia was their "expectation"; for Palestine had not yet obtained, but hoped for alliance with it. Egypt was their "glory," that is, boast ( :-); for the alliance with it was completed. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:6

6. isle—that is, coast on the Mediterranean—Philistia, perhaps Phoelignicia (compare Isaiah 23:2; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 13:22; Psalms 72:10). we—emphatical; if Egypt, in which we trusted, was overcome, how shall we, a small weak state, escape? read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 20:1-2

The year in view was 711 B.C. Like Isaiah 7:1, Isaiah 20:1 introduces the historical setting for the events that follow. For four years, Egypt had encouraged the city-states of western Palestine to resist Assyrian aggression-with the promise of assistance. In 713 B.C., Ashdod, the northernmost Philistine town that stood about 35 miles west of Jerusalem, had rebelled, and Assyria replaced her king, Ahimiti (Azuri), with another, a man named Yamani (Jaman). Rebellion continued, however, and pleas... read more

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 20:3

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 20:5-6

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:3

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:5

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:6

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 20:1-2

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