Isaiah 20 WEB
Summary: In the year Assyria's commander captured Ashdod, the LORD commands Isaiah to walk stripped and barefoot for three years as a living sign and wonder against Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia). This enacted prophecy signifies that the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptians and Cushites captive and barefoot in the same shameful state, young and old alike, to Egypt's disgrace. The inhabitants of the coastland are pictured as dismayed, having lost their hoped-for allies against Assyria, left asking how they themselves will escape. The short chapter functions as a real-time enacted warning against Judah trusting in Egypt or Cush for deliverance.
1In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;
2at that time Yahweh spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loosen the sackcloth from off your waist, and take your sandals from off your feet.” He did so, walking naked and barefoot.
3Yahweh said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia,
4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
5They will be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
6The inhabitants of this coast land will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And we, how will we escape?’ ”
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