Isa. 20 The captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia represented, to take off the Jews from seeking to them for help.

Tartan; a great commander in Sennacherib’s army, 2 Kings 18:17. Ashdod; an eminent and strong city of the Philistines, Josh. 13:3, 1 Sam. 5:1, in the utmost part of the land of Canaan, towards Egypt. Sargon: what king of Assyria this was is much disputed.

Loose the sackcloth; ungird it and put it off; the antecedent put for the consequent, which is very usual, as hath been often noted. God would sometimes have his prophets to add to their word a visible sign, to awaken people’s minds to a more serious consideration of the matters proposed to them.

Walked naked and barefoot three years; not constantly, but when he went abroad among the people, to whom this was appointed for a sign. Some think it was only three days, a day being usually put for a year in prophetical scriptures, as Num. 14:33–34, Ezek. 4:4–6.

Lead away, like beasts, of which this word is commonly used. Their buttocks uncovered; having their garments cut off by the middle, to the discovery of their buttocks and their secret parts. Compare 2 Sam. 10:4, Isa. 47:2.

They; all they that shall trust to them, and glory in them, as appears from the following words; the pronoun they being put indefinitely here, as it is Isa. 2:19, and elsewhere.

Of this isle; of this land, in which the prophet was, and to whose inhabitants these words were uttered. For the title of isles or islands in Scripture is frequently given not only to lands encompassed with the sea, but also to such countries as lay upon the sea-coasts, as Ps. 72:10, Ezek.