Isaiah 20:6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 20:1-6

God here, as King of nations, brings a sore calamity upon Egypt and Ethiopia, but, as King of saints, brings good to his people out of it. Observe, I. The date of this prophecy. It was in the year that Ashdod, a strong city of the Philistines (but which some think was lately recovered from them by Hezekiah, when he smote the Philistines even unto Gaza, 2 Kgs. 18:8), was besieged and taken by an army of the Assyrians. It is uncertain what year of Hezekiah that was, but the event was so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:6

And the inhabitants of this isle shall say, in that day ,.... Not of Ashdod, Isaiah 20:1 or the isle of Caphtor, Jeremiah 47:4 but the land of Israel, as both Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it; so called, because it bordered on the sea, as such countries are sometimes called isles; see Jeremiah 25:22 . Ben Melech interprets it of Jerusalem, and observes that the word signifies a place or country, whether it has a river or sea encompassing it, or not; besides, the land of Canaan had the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 20:1-6

A PROPHECY AGAINST EGYPT AND ETHIOPIA . The Assyrian inscriptions enable us to date this prophecy with a near approach to exactness. Ashdod was besieged by an Assyrian army twice in the reign of Sargon—in his ninth year and in his eleventh year. On the former occasion it is probable that the arms of a general (Tartan) were employed; on the latter it is nearly certain that Sargon made the expedition in person. The capture of Ashdod, here mentioned, is consequently the first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 20:1-6

The prophet as a sign. I. THE HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES . The illusion of Egyptian unity had passed away again. The country was broken up under the rule of a number of petty kings, of whom Shabak, or So, or Seve ( 2 Kings 17:4 ), was one. Negotiations seem to have been begun between Judah and Egypt, probably as a resource against the Assyrian. Ashdod was laid siege to by the Assyrians about B.C. 713-711, and the inhabitants carried off captives. And Judah's name appears in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 20:5-6

The insufficiency of the stronger. Assyria attacked Ashdod with designs on Judaea. Judaea rested on Egypt and Ethiopia; but these "powers" would be utterly defeated by Assyria, and their citizens led away into captivity with every circumstance of humiliation and shame. In that hour of fear and humiliation ( Isaiah 20:5 ) the inhabitants of Judaea would be constrained to argue from the insufficiency of Egypt and Ethiopia to their own helplessness. If such strong nations as these are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 20:6

The inhabitant of this isle ; rather, of this coast (Knobel, Hitzig, Kay); i.e. of Palestine generally, which was a mere strip of coast compared with Egypt and Ethiopia. Sargon speaks of all the four powers who at this time "sought to Egypt," as "dwelling beside the sea". Such is our expectation; rather, so hath it gone with our expectation ; i.e; with Egypt and Ethiopia. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 20:6

A grove question with many applications. "How shall we escape?" Egypt being reduced, no defense remained for Israel against the overwhelming power of Assyria. "This was the cry of despair at Jerusalem. But in such despair was her only hope. The destruction of Egypt and Ethiopia by the arms of Sennacherib weaned her from looking any longer to earthly powers for help, and raised her eyes to heaven" (Bishop Wordsworth). The expression, or exclamation, may be— I. APPLIED TO PERSONAL ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 20:6

And the inhabitant - The dwellers generally.Of this isle - The word אי 'iy “isle” is used here in the sense of “coast, or maritime” country, and is evidently applied to Palestine, or the land of Canaan, which is a narrow coast lying on the Mediterranean. That the word is often used in this sense, and may be applied to a maritime country, see the notes at Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 41:1. The connection here requires us to understand it of Palestine.Shall say ... - Shall condemn their own folly in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 20:3-6

Isaiah 20:3-6. And the Lord Who here explains and applies the sign, said, Like as my servant hath walked naked, &c., three years Not constantly, but when he went abroad among the people, to whom this was appointed to be a sign. Bishop Lowth says, probably three days, to show, that within three years the Egyptians and Ethiopians should be conquered and made captives by the king of Assyria, and be in the same condition, and that the town should be taken. But it is objected, that... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:1-6

Further warning against alliances (20:1-6)Previous messages have shown Hezekiah the uselessness of forming alliances with Philistia, Ethiopia or Egypt for the purpose of fighting against Assyria (see 14:28-32; 18:1-6; 19:1-15). To emphasize the point afresh, Isaiah acts a message for everybody to see. He dresses himself as a prisoner of war, to show the people of Judah what will happen to them if they enter foreign alliances instead of trusting God for victory over Assyria. After three years... read more

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