Isaías 20

Isaías 20:1-6

20:1 This verse gives modern readers the exact historical setting of YHWH's judgment of the Philistines by the description of the fall of Ashdod (one of the five main city-states of Philistia [Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, Ekron]). The fall of one denoted the fall of all (see earlier oracle in Isa. 14:28-32). They were destroyed twice (1) by Sargon II (named specifically in the OT only here, he reigned from 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 "coast lands," cf. Isa. 20:6), but a continuation of the judgment on Cush/Egypt, started in chapter 18. The humiliation of Ashdod was a foreshadowing of the shameful, humiliating exile of Egyptians by Assyrian armies on several different historical occasions. Segments of the Egyptian army were captured in battle and exiled. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF EGYPT ▣ "the commander" The term (BDB 1077) denotes a field general (cf. 2 Kgs. 18:17 and also note Isa. 36:2, where the name of the general in 2 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, but also to denote shame, at Assyria's defeat and exile of several nations. Ashdod (Philistia) Egypt Cush or synonym of Egypt of the 25 Dynasties who were Nubian. What happened to Ashdod would in three years (cf. Isa. 20:3) happen to Egypt. ▣ "spoke through Isaiah" The word (BDB 388) translated "through" is literally "with the hand." Therefore, it might denote a physical gesture. This is simply an idiom for a way to communicate. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ NASB, NRSV, Peshitta "loosen the sackcloth" NKJV, NET "remove the sackcloth" TEV, LXX "take off. . .the sackcloth" "strip the sackcloth" "untie the sackcloth" The common VERB (BDB 834, KB 986, Piel PERFECT with waw) basically means "to open." So the question is, "Does it mean 'loosen' (mourning) or 'take off' (shame)?" "remove," NIV, Ps. 30:11; NASB has "loose," but means "remove" in Isa. 52:2; Jer. 40:4 "loosen," Isa. 5:27 Normally wearing "sackcloth" (BDB 974) would denote mourning, as would being barefoot (cf. Micah 1:8), but it is possible that Isaiah removed the symbol of his prophetic office ("hairy robe," BDB 12 CONSTRUCT, BDB 972, cf. Matt. 3:4). If this is correct then the text is not talking about nudity (but "naked," BDB 736 in Isa. 20:2,3,4 may, cf. Gen. 2:25). However, most uses of the term "naked" mean partially clothed (cf. Isa. 47:1-3; 1 Sam. 19:24; 2 Sam. 6:14,20; Amos 2:16; Micah 1:8; John 19:23; 21:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES 20:3 "as a sign" The NOUN ,"sign" (BDB 16), is used as a marker of time, Gen. 1:14 as a marker of person, Gen. 4:15 as a marker of covenant, Gen. 9:12,13,17; 17:11 as a marker of a faith promise, Exod. 3:12 as a miracle to affirm God's representative (i.e. Moses), Exod. 4:8 (twice),9,17,28,30; 7:3; 8:23, etc. tribal standard, Num. 2:2; Ps. 74:4 as a warning, Num. 16:38; 17:10 It is used often in Isaiah. special birth, Isa. 7:14 Isaiah's children, Isa. 8:18 altar and pillar in Egypt, Isa. 19:20 Isaiah's dress, Isa. 20:3 harvest, Isa. 37:30 sparing Jerusalem from Assyria, Isa. 38:7 Hezekiah's healing, Isa. 38:22 false signs, Isa. 44:25 agricultural blessings, Isa. 55:13 missionaries to the nations, Isa. 66:19 SPECIAL TOPIC: SIGN (OT) ▣ "a token" NKJV, Peshitta "a wonder" NRSV, REB, NJB, JPSOA, LXX "portent" The term "wonder," "sign," "portent" (BDB 68) is synonymous with "sign," "mark" (BDB 16). It is used often in Exodus and Deuteronomy, but only twice in Isaiah (i.e. Isa. 8:18 and 20:3). BDB has two main usages. a special demonstration of God's power a token of future events or symbolic acts denoting future events (cf. Zech. 3:8). 20:4 This verse describes exile. young and old taken (idiom for the entire population) naked (BDB 736, idiom for shame, still had a tight-fitting undergarment) barefoot (BDB 405, idiom for mourning) buttocks uncovered (BDB 1059, only here and 2 Sam. 10:4, idiom of shame) 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 three years to illustrate a theological truth/prophecy. Nakedness was part of the cursing of Deuteronomy (cf. Isa. 28:48), which reflected exile. 20:5 Because of Cush/Egypt's trust in themselves (i.e. army, wisdom, wealth, religion) they will be dismayed, BDB 369, KB 365, Qal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 7:8; 8:9 (thrice); 9:4; 20:5; 30:31; 31:4,9; 37:27; 51:6,7 ashamed, BDB 101, KB 116, Qal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 1:29; 19:9; 20:5; 24:23; 26:11; 29:22; 30:5; 37:27; 41:11; 44:9,11 (twice); Isa. 45:16,17,24; 49:23; 50:7; 54:4; 65:13; 66:5 Obviously these two terms are a major part of Isaiah's message, both negatively and positively! Judah will suffer in the same way because she hoped in allies, not in YHWH. 20:6 This verse links Ashdod (Isa. 20:1) with all the inhabitants of the coastal plain of Palestine. Apparently the Egyptians had promised military aid if Assyria invaded, but they could/did not (cf. Isa. 30:7; 31:3). There was no one to deliver (cf. Isa. 10:3). Surely, this chapter bolstered Isaiah's message to Hezekiah not to make an alliance with Egypt (cf. Isa. 30:1-5; 31:1-3).