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

6. sparing Jerusalem from Assyria, 38:77. Hezekiah’s healing, 38:228. false signs, 44:259. agricultural blessings, 55:1310. missionaries to the nations, 66:19}NASB“a token”NKJV, Peshitta “a wonder”NRSV, REB,NJB, LXX “portent”The term “wonder,” “sign,” “portent” (BDB 68) is synonymous with “sign,” “mark” (BDB 16). Itis used often in Exodus and Deuteronomy, but only twice in Isaiah (i.e., 8:18 and 20:3).BDB has two main usages.1. a special demonstration of God’s power2. a token of future events or symbolic acts denoting future events (cf. Zech. 3:8).20:4 This verse describes exile.1. young and old taken (idiom for the entire population)2. naked (BDB 736, idiom for shame, still had a tight-fitting undergarment)3. barefoot (BDB 405, idiom for mourning)4. buttocks uncovered (BDB 1059, only here and II Sam. 10:4, idiom of shame)5. shame/nakedness (BDB 788, see Assyrian wall pictures)This verse makes it very clear that Isaiah shocked his culture by going partially nude/naked for threeyears to illustrate a theological truth/prophecy. Nakedness was part of the cursing of Deuteronomy (cf.28:48), which reflected exile.20:5 Because of Cush/Egypt’s trust in themselves (i.e., army, wisdom, wealth, religion) they will be1. dismayed, BDB 369, KB 365, Qal PERFECT, cf. 7:8; 8:9 (thrice); 9:4; 20:5; 30:31; 31:4,9;37:27; 51:6,72. ashamed, BDB 101, KB 116, Qal PERFECT, cf. 1:29; 19:9; 20:5; 24:23; 26:11; 29:22; 30:5;37:27; 41:11; 44:9,11 (twice); 45:16,17,24; 49:23; 50:7; 54:4; 65:13; 66:5Obviously these two terms are a major part of Isaiah’s message, both negatively and positively!20:6 This verse links Ashdod (v. 1) with all the inhabitants of the coastal plain of Palestine. Apparentlythe Egyptians had promised military aid if Assyria invaded, but they could/did not (cf. 30:7; 31:3).There was no one to deliver (cf. 10:3).Surely, this chapter bolstered Isaiah’s message to Hezekiah not to make an alliance with Egypt (cf.30:1-5; 31:1-3).207