Isaiah 20 - Introduction

An Assyrian conquest of Egypt and Ethiopia predicted

The chapter is unique amongst Isaiah's discourses as giving the interpretation of a very remarkable symbolic action performed by the prophet at the command of Jehovah. For three years he went about in the garb of a beggar or captive, an object of astonishment and derision to the respectable inhabitants of Jerusalem. At the end of that time he published this explanation of his strange conduct. It was a public protest against the false hopes then entertained of a speedy deliverance from the Assyrian tyranny through the help of Egypt and Ethiopia (Isaiah 20:6).

The date of the prophecy is assured. The expedition mentioned in Isaiah 20:1 took place in 711, and is minutely related in two of Sargon's own inscriptions (see Schrader, Cuneiform Inscriptions, Vol. ii., pp. 89ff. [Engl. Trans.]). At that time Ashdod was the focus of disaffection in Palestine towards the Assyrian government. Its king, Azuri, had withheld his tribute and joined with the princes of the neighbouring states (Judah included) in an appeal to Egypt for succour. For this he was deposed by Sargon, his brother Akhimit being set up in his place; but Akhimit was in turn removed by the Ashdodites, who chose one Yaman as their leader. Sargon then sent his commander-in-chief against Ashdod; the city was taken and plundered and its inhabitants led into captivity. Yaman had fled to the king of Meluḥḥa, but was delivered up to the Assyrian king. Sargon's forces seem to have been too much occupied elsewhere to allow the work of chastisement to be carried further, and so for the time Judah escaped the penalty of its meditated revolt.

The chapter is important as shewing that at this date Isaiah still looked forward to a great extension of the Assyrian conquests.