The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

They were destroyed twice (1) by Sargon II (named specifically in the OT only here, he reignedfrom 722-705 B.C.), King of Assyria. In 713 B.C. the King of Ashdod, Azuri, revolted and in 711 B.C.Sargon II’s army came and stopped the rebellion and (2) by Sennacherib in 705-701 B.C.However, this chapter does not form a new oracle about the destruction of Philisita (or “coastlands,” cf. v. 6), but a continuation of the judgment on Cush/Egypt, started in chapter 18. Thehumiliation of Ashdod was a foreshadowing of the shameful, humiliating exile of Egyptians by Assyrianarmies on several different historical occasions. Segments of the Egyptian army were captured in battleand exiled.} “the commander” The term (BDB 1077) denotes a field general (cf. II Kgs. 18:17 and also note Isa.36:2, where the name of the general in II Kings 18 appears, but not his title).20:2 Isaiah is told to dress (or better, undress) a certain way to denote current cultural mourning rites(see Special Topic at 15:2-3), but also to denote shame, at Assyria’s defeat and exile of several nations.1. Ashdod (Philistia)2. Egypt3. Cush or synonym of Egypt of the 25 Dynasties who were Nubian.What happened to Ashdod would in three years (cf. v. 3) happen to Egypt.}NASB, NRSV,Peshitta “loosen the sackcloth”NKJV“remove the sackcloth”TEV, LXX “take off. . .the sackcloth”REB“strip”The common VERB (BDB 834, KB 986, Piel PERFECT) basically means “to open.” So the questionis, “Does it mean ‘loosen’ (mourning) or ‘take off’ (shame)?”1. “remove,” NIV, Ps. 30:11; NASB has “loose,” but means “remove” in Isa. 52:2; Jer. 40:42. “loosen,” Isa. 5:27Normally wearing “sackcloth” (BDB 974) would denote mourning, as would being barefoot (cf. Micah1:8), but it is possible that Isaiah removed the symbol of his prophetic office (“hairy robe,” BDB 12CONSTRUCT, BDB 972, cf. Matt. 3:4). If this is correct then the text is not talking about nudity (but“naked,” BDB 736 in vv. 2,3,4 may, cf. Gen. 2:25). However, most uses of the term “naked” meanpartially clothed (cf. 47:1-3; I Sam. 19:24; II Sam. 6:14,20; Amos 2:16; Micah 1:8; John 19:23; 21:7).20:3 “as a sign” The NOUN ,“sign” (BDB 16), is used1. as a marker of time, Gen. 1:142. as a marker of person, Gen. 4:153. as a marker of covenant, Gen. 9:12,13,17; 17:114. as a marker of a faith promise, Exod. 3:125. as a miracle to affirm God’s representative (i.e., Moses), Exod. 4:8 (twice),9,17,28,30; 7:3;8:23, etc.6. tribal standard, Num. 2:2; Ps. 74:47. as a warning, Num. 16:38; 17:10It is used often in Isaiah.1. special birth, 7:142. Isaiah’s children, 8:183. altar and pillar in Egypt, 19:204. Isaiah’s dress, 20:35. harvest, 37:30206