Isaiah 20
Tyndale Open Study Notes 4 verses
Isaiah 20:1
20:1-5 Ashdod’s reliance on Egypt and Ethiopia was useless. As a complement to his words, Isaiah walked about exposed and barefoot, a symbolic action for what God would do.20:1 Sargon of Assyria is Sargon II (721–705 BC). • Ashdod was one of the five Philistine cities that rebelled against Assyria in 713 BC.
Isaiah 20:2
20:2 Prophets characteristically wore burlap or other rough clothing as a sign of mourning over the sins of the people (see 2 Kgs 1:8; Mark 1:6). • naked: That is, exposed in some way, possibly even completely nude.
Isaiah 20:3
20:3-4 This symbolic event took place some three years before the fall of Ashdod (see 20:2). Through it, Isaiah became an object lesson for the people (see 8:18).
Isaiah 20:5
20:5-6 Philistia’s downfall was a warning to the people of Judah, who also relied on Egypt and other alliances rather than on God.