A Sign against Egypt and Cush 1 In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
Ambrose of Milan · AD 397 That it may be more fully clear that prophets look not to themselves or what lies at their feet but to heavenly things, Stephen, when he was being stoned, saw the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Then he did not feel the blows of the stones, he did not heed the wounds of his body, but, fastening his eyes on Christ, he clung to him.
Jerome · AD 420 (Chapter 20, verses 1 and following) In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him and he 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.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 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).
2 At the same time spoke the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off your loins, and put off your shoe from your foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he sets out the divine command: go, and loose: and Ezechiel shall be unto you for a sign of things to come (Ezek 24:24). Third, the fulfillment of the command: and he did so, below: and I do not resist (Isa 50:5).
3 And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And the Lord said. Here the signification of the aforementioned deed is set out. And first, as to the time for which the persecution lasted: three years, signified by the three days in which he went naked: a day for a year I have appointed to you (Ezek 4:6).
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.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, as to the author of the destruction: so shall the king be led: in that day shall messengers go forth from my face in ships to destroy the confidence of Ethiopia (Ezek 30:9). Third, as to the condition of the destruction, into universality: young and old; into baseness: naked, namely, captivity: there is no cure for you (Jer 46:11).
5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 And they shall be afraid. Here he places the effect on the Jews; first, fear, and they shall be afraid; second, confusion, and confounded.
6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Look, such is our expectation, where we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
Jerome · AD 420 Even as islands have been set in the midst of the sea, churches have been established in the midst of this world, and they are beaten and buffeted by different waves of persecution. Truly these islands are lashed by waves every day, but they are not submerged. They are in the midst of the sea, to be sure, but they have Christ as their foundation, Christ who cannot be moved.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, the expression of both of these effects: and the inhabitants of this isle, that is, Jerusalem, which was incessantly beaten by waves of persecution, like an isle beaten by the waves of the sea.