Isaiah 20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 20

This chapter is a prediction of the carrying away of multitudes both of the Egyptians and the Ethiopians into captivity by the king of Assyria. Here is, I. The sign by which this was foretold, which was the prophet's going for some time barefoot and almost naked, like a poor captive, Isa. 20:1, 2. II. The explication of that sign, with application to Egypt and Ethiopia, Isa. 20:3-5. III. The good use which the people of God should make of this, which is never to trust in an arm of flesh,... read more

Matthew Henry

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

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 20 This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of the Egyptians and Ethiopians by the Assyrians, which had been prophesied of separately in the two preceding chapters Isaiah 18:1 , and now conjunctly in this: the time of it is given, Isaiah 20:1 the sign of it, the prophet's walking naked, and barefoot, Isaiah 20:2 the explanation and accommodation of the sign to the captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia, Isaiah 20:3 the use of this to the Jews, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:1

In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod ,.... Or Azotus, as the Septuagint here call it; and which is its name in the New Testament; see Gill on Acts 8:40 . This Tartan, or whom the Septuagint names Tanathan, and the Arabic version Tathan, was one of Sennacherib's generals, 2 Kings 18:17 , (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him) ; to the above place to besiege it. This Sargon is generally thought to be the same with Sennacherib, since Tartan was one of his generals, who might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:2

At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah the son of Amoz ,.... Or, "by the hand of Isaiah", by his means; and it was to him likewise, as the following words show; and so the Septuagint version renders it; he spoke by him, by the sign he used, according to his order, and he spoke to him to use the sign: saying ; so the Arabic version, "with him"; and with these versions Noldius agrees: go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins ; a token of mourning, and which the prophet wore,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:3

And the Lord said ,.... Here follows the explanation of the sign, and the accommodation of it to the thing signified by it: like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot ; not wholly naked, for that would have been very indecent and dangerous indeed; but without his upper garment, as Saul, 1 Samuel 19:24 and David, 2 Samuel 6:14 or with rent and ragged clothes, and old shoes, as Jarchi F11 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 77. 1. & Sabbat, fol. 114. 1. interprets it, and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:4

So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives ,.... As beasts are led or driven, being taken prisoners, and carried captive by the king of Assyria, namely Sargon, whoever is intended by him: young and old ; without any regard to age, sparing none for their tender years or gray hairs: naked and barefoot ; as prisoners of war commonly are, being stripped by their conquerors of their clothes, and having only a few rags given them to cover... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 20:5

And they shall be afraid and ashamed ,.... That is, those that trusted and depended upon the Egyptians and Ethiopians, particularly the Jews after mentioned, shall be "afraid" that it will be their turn next, that they also shall be taken and carried captive; and they shall be "ashamed" that they have put their trust and confidence in those nations, and not in the Lord: of Ethiopia their expectation ; from whom they expected assistance and protection, particularly when Tirhakah king of... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 20

The Prophet Isaiah a sign to Egypt and Cush or Ethiopia, that the captives and exiles of these countries shall be indignantly treated by the king of Assyria, Isaiah 20:1-6 . Tartan besieged Ashdod or Azotus, which probably belonged at this time to Hezekiah's dominions; see 2 Kings 18:8 . The people expected to be relieved by the Cushites of Arabia and by the Egyptians. Isaiah was ordered to go uncovered, that is, without his upper garment, the rough mantle commonly worn by the prophets,... read more

Group of Brands