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20:1 In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; 20:2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
20:3 And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
20:5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
20:6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

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Everything King James Bible:Isaiah
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 20

Overview:
The invasion and conquest of Egypt and Ethiopia.
- Isaiah was a sign to the people By his unusual Dress, when he
walked abroad. He commonly wore Sackcloth as a Prophet, to show
himself mortified to the world. He was to loose this from his
loins; to wear No upper garments, and to go barefooted. This
sign was to signify, that the Egyptians and Ethiopians should be
led away captives By the King of Assyria, thus stripped. The
world will often deem believers foolish, when singular in
obedience to God. But the Lord will support his servants under
the most trying effects of their obedience; and what they are
called upon to suffer for his sake, commonly is Light, compared
with what Numbers groan under from Year to Year from Sin. Those
who make any Creature their expectation and Glory, and So Put it
in the place of God, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of it.
But disappointment in Creature-confidences, instead of driving
us to despair, should drive us to God, and our expectation shall
not be in vain. The same lesson is in force now; and where shall
we look for aid in the Hour of necessity, but to the Lord our
Righteousness?

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