Isaiah 20:1-6

Isaiah: God controls the nations

God’s plans for Judah, Assyria and Egypt

Isaiah Chapter s 10 to 20

Norman Hillyer

Chapter 20

Isaiah himself will be a sign to Egypt and Cush

v1 Sargon, *emperor of Assyria, ordered the commander of his army to attack the *Philistine town called Ashdod.

v2 Three years earlier the *Lord had told Isaiah son of Amoz to take off his clothes and his shoes. Isaiah obeyed and he went about naked and without shoes on his feet.

v3 After the *Assyrians had *seized Ashdod, the *Lord said, ‘My servant Isaiah has been going about naked and without shoes for three years. This is a sign of the terrible troubles that will happen to Egypt and to Cush. v4 The king of Assyria will *seize the people in Egypt and the people in Cush as prisoners. He will *seize them whether they are young or old. He will make them walk naked and without shoes on their feet. They will be greatly ashamed. v5 The other nations thought that Cush and Egypt would be strong enough to support them against Assyria. But then they will be in despair. v6 People who live along the coast will see these events. And those people will say, “We had hoped that Cush and Egypt would protect us against the *Assyrian army. But now we realise that we cannot hope to escape.” ’