Isaiah 20:1-2

A Prophecy Against Egypt and Cush

1 In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it—
2 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.

Isaiah 20:1-2 Meaning and Commentary

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 Isa 18:1-19:25, and now conjunctly in this: the time of it is given, Isa 20:1 the sign of it, the prophet's walking naked, and barefoot, Isa 20:2 the explanation and accommodation of the sign to the captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia, Isa 20:3,4 the use of this to the Jews, and the effect it had upon them; shame for their trust and dependence on the above nations, and despair of deliverance from the Assyrians by their means, Isa 20:5,6.

Cross References 7

  • 1. 2 Kings 18:17
  • 2. S Joshua 11:22; S Joshua 13:3
  • 3. S Isaiah 13:1
  • 4. 2 Kings 1:8; S Isaiah 3:24; Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 3:4
  • 5. Ezekiel 24:17,23
  • 6. S 1 Samuel 19:24
  • 7. Ezekiel 4:1-12; Micah 1:8
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