Isaiah 20 · The Lantern

A Sign against Egypt and Cush

In the year the commander came to Ashdod, when Sargon king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and captured it —

Someone perhaps will say, "Was it not disgraceful for a man to walk naked among the people since he must meet both men and women? Must not his appearance have shocked the gaze of all, but especially that of women? Do we not ourselves generally abhor the sight of naked men?

(Chapter 20, Verse 1) In the year that Tharhaka came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him and fought against Ashdod and took it. At that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

In the year that. Here the time of destruction is set out, and it is divided into three parts. And first is set out something that signifies, namely a prophetic deed; second, the signification of the deed: and the Lord said (Isa 20:3); third, he shows the effect of the thing signified: and they shall be afraid, and confounded (Isa 20:5).

at that time the LORD spoke by the hand of Isaiah son of Amoz, saying: Go and loose the sackcloth from upon your waist, and take off your sandal from upon your foot. And he did so, going naked and barefoot.

And the LORD said: As my servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years, a sign and a portent against Egypt and against Cush,

so the king of Assyria will drive the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot and with buttocks bared — the nakedness of Egypt.

And they will be shattered and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their beauty.

And the inhabitant of this coastland will say in that day: See, such is our hope, where we fled for help, to be delivered from the king of Assyria — and how shall we ourselves escape?

Isaiah20

A Sign against Egypt and Cush