Thomas Aquinas Commentary Isaiah 20:1-6

"In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it; at that time Jehovah spake by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put thy shoe from off thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And Jehovah said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia; so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. And they shall be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?" — Isaiah 20:1-6 (ASV)

1. In the year that. Here the time of the destruction is described, and it is divided into three parts:

   1. A prophetic deed that serves as a sign is described.
   2. The meaning of that deed is given: and the Lord said (Isaiah 20:3).
   3. The effect of what was signified is shown: and they shall be afraid, and confounded (Isaiah 20:5).

2. Regarding the first point, he does three things:

   1. The time of the prophecy is established: in the year that Tartan entered into Ashdod, a city of the Philistines (Amos 1:7–8), where Gaza, Gath, Ekron, Ashkelon, and Ashdod are also located. Sargon is Sennacherib, according to Jerome, for he had six names: Sargon, Senach, Phua, Shalmaneser, Tiglath-pileser, and Esarhaddon. The phrase By the hand means a work that was in agreement with his words, as in Hosea 12:10: I have used similitudes by the handsManibus. Vg.: manu. DR: “ministry.” of the prophets.
   2. The divine command is given: go, and loose. As it says elsewhere, and Ezekiel shall be to you for a sign of things to come (Ezekiel 24:24).
   3. The fulfillment of the command is shown: and he did so, as it says later, and I do not resist (Isaiah 50:5).

3. And the Lord said. Here the meaning of the previously mentioned deed is explained:

   1. Regarding the duration of the persecution: three years, which was signified by the three days he went naked, according to the principle, a day for a year I have appointed to you (Ezekiel 4:6).
   2. Regarding the agent of the destruction: so shall the king be led. As it says, in that day shall messengers go forth from my face in ships to destroy the confidence of Ethiopia (Ezekiel 30:9).
   3. Regarding the nature of the destruction, it is universal, affecting the young and old, and it is debasing, as shown by the word naked, which signifies captivity: there is no cure for you (Jeremiah 46:11).

4. And they shall be afraid. Here the author describes the effect on the Jews:

   1. Fear: and they shall be afraid.
   2. Confusion: and confounded.
   3. The expression of both of these effects: and the inhabitants of this isle. This “isle” refers to Jerusalem, which was constantly battered by waves of persecution, just as an island is battered by the waves of the sea.

   In the phrase Lo this was our hope, their confusion is expressed.

   In the phrase and how shall we be able to escape, their fear is expressed. This is similar to a later passage: the strength of Pharaoh shall be to your confusion (Isaiah 30:3).