In this chapter, we read the symbol of Assyrian victory over Egypt and Cush. The NIV says, ‘In the year that the supreme commander,’ Isaiah 20:1. Note the KJV uses the words ‘In the year that Tartan.’
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Tartan was one of the generals of Sennacherib. Ashdod, called by the Greeks Azotus, was a seaport on the Mediterranean, between Askelon and Ekron, and not far from Gaza.’
Ashdod, Isaiah 20:1, was one of the five main cities of the Philistines, the others being Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Gath. Ashdod is called Azotas in Acts 8:40. It was a stronghold, a kind of key to the capture of Egypt and it was the site of a temple of Dagon, which was destroyed by Samson.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the ‘supreme commander’.
‘Sargon founded the last and greatest of the Assyrian dynasties, he was the successor to Shalmaneser and the father of Sennacherib. In the Bible, Shalmaneser is apparently the conqueror but it seems that the final phase of the conquest was completed by Sargon in 722 B.C., a fact confirmed in 2 Kings 18:10, in the statement, not that ‘He took it’, but that ‘They took it’. Sargon succeeded Shalmaneser just before the siege of Samaria was completed in 722 B.C., and reigned till 705 B.C., when he was succeeded by Sennacherib. It is possible to date this passage very precisely. Isaiah 20:1 makes mention of the fact that Isaiah’s symbolic act, going naked and barefoot, was interpreted to the people in the year that Ashdod fell to Sargon’s commander-in-chief. Sargon’s inscriptions date that event in 711 B.C. Since Isaiah had already been walking naked and barefoot for a period of three years, that symbolical protest actually began in 714 B.C.’
Isaiah walked naked and barefoot to indicate what would be the condition of the Egyptians and Cush, Isaiah 20:2. Please note that this doesn’t mean he was without clothes, it means that he took off his outer garment or covering because it was shameful for a man to go without this outer garment, 1 Samuel 19:24. This indicated a very low and poor estate.
Notice that God calls Isaiah ‘my servant’, Isaiah 20:3. What a blessing and honour it is to be called His servant. A few people in the Scriptures have had the honour of being spoken of as His servant, 1. Abraham, Genesis 26:24, 2. Moses, Numbers 12:7, 3. Caleb, Numbers 14:24, 4. Job, Job 1:8 / Job 42:7-8, 5. Eliakim, Isaiah 22:20, and 6. Zerubbabel, Haggai 2:23.
Notice that Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years, Isaiah 20:3.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It is not probable that the prophet walked uncovered and barefoot for three years; his appearing in that manner was a sign that within three years the Egyptians and Cushites should be in the same condition, being conquered and made captives by the king of Assyria. The time was denoted as well as the event; but his appearing in that manner for three whole years could give no premonition of the time at all. It is probable, therefore, that the prophet was ordered to walk so for three days to denote the accomplishment of the event in three years; a day for a year, according to the prophetical rule, Numbers 14:34 / Ezekiel 4:6.’
We read of the humility that will take place in Egypt and Cush, Isaiah 20:4, and we read of the treatment of prisoners on the march to captivity, Isaiah 20:4. The whole seaboard was unable to resist the conqueror, Isaiah 20:6. There were some in Jerusalem who thought that they could escape to Egypt. However, because this judgment was coming on Egypt, they couldn’t escape by fleeing to Egypt.
Isaiah preached that it is best to trust the Lord for deliverance, Isaiah 20:5. Captives can’t save others from captivity, Isaiah 20:5, hence, an alliance with Egypt is of no value to Judah. Judah had trusted in Egypt and Assyria had come to make war upon Egypt again. Egypt was subjected to the dominion of Assyria and when Assyria took care of Egypt she then turned on Judah and came right up to Jerusalem.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Even in Nahum’s account of the fall of Egypt in the siege of No-Amon, the alliance with Ethiopia was mentioned as one of the bulwarks upon which the doomed nation relied in vain for victory, Nahum 3:9.’