Chapter 20

A type prefiguring the shameful captivity of Egypt and Ethiopa.

1. Tartan. Literally, “the commander,” tartan being the title of the commander in chief of the Assyrian armies, not his personal name. In the annals of the 11th year of Sargon (711 b.c.) it is recorded that Azuri, king of Ashdod, revolted against Assyria, and that Sargon promptly sent an army, deposed Azuri, and set his younger brother Ahimiti upon the throne of Ashdod. The Ashdodites, however, refused to accept the Assyrian appointee and set a Greek adventurer upon the throne instead. According to Sargon’s annals, other Philistine cities, with Judah, Edom, and Moab, joined in the struggle against Assyria, and an appeal asking him to be their ally was sent to “Pir’u [Pharaoh?] king of Musru [Egypt?], a potentate, [who was] unable to save them.” When Sargon attacked Ashdod, the Greek usurper fled “into the territory of Musru, which belongs to Ethiopia,” and an Assyrian was made governor. The distant king of Ethiopia was stricken with terror at Sargon’s advance, and quickly took steps to make his peace with Assyria, putting the Greek in fetters and sending him to the land of Assyria.

Sargon. For many years the only available reference to this important Assyrian king was the statement here made. Skeptics previously challenged the historical accuracy of this text, but during the course of his excavations at Khorsabad in the years 1843 to 1845, however, Botta discovered the palace of Sargon, together with its famous inscriptions that deal with the history of this important king.

2. Loose the sackcloth. Sackcloth is usually worn in mourning, and to loose the sackcloth is therefore a figure of joy (Ps. 30:11). But in this instance sackcloth seems to have been the distinctive dress of Isaiah as a camel’s-hair garment was of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4) and the leather girdle was of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).

Naked. See on 1 Sam. 19:24. The word Фarom, “naked,” may mean either completely naked or only half clad. Here, as in Isa. 58:7; Eze. 18:7, 16; Micah 1:8, the latter meaning is indicated. Isaiah laid aside his outer garment and wore only his inner garments, a common practice in the Orient even today, particularly with laboring men. The act was to betoken humiliation, deprivation, and shame.

3. Three years. Whether Isaiah wore this garb continuously for three years, or only at various intervals during a period of three years, to keep the forthcoming humiliation of Egypt before the people, is not certain.

4. Lead away the Egyptians. Sargon has left no record of an invasion of Egypt, but if “Musru,” where the Greek usurper fled, was Egypt (see on v. 1), it is likely that many of the Egyptians who had taken part in the movement against Assyria were likewise sent to Assyria in humiliation, as here pictured. However, in the reigns of Esarhaddon (681–699) and of Ashurbanipal (669–627?) Egypt was, on several occasions, invaded by the Assyrian armies, and many captives, even of the royal seed, were taken to Assyria.

6. Isle. Heb. Хi, “isle,” or, as used here, “coastland.” The peoples of the entire Palestinian seaboard, including Philistia and Phoenicia, and possibly Cyprus, had taken part in the anti-Assyrian revolt, but were ruthlessly suppressed. They discovered, to their sorrow, that not even with the help of Egypt and Ethiopia could the might of Assyria be resisted.

Flee. The Dead Sea scroll 1QIs reads “rely [for support].” Whichever reading is accepted, the meaning is the same.