It is possible to understand that the prophet's nakedness became a sign of the coming military defeat of Egypt and Ethiopia. There can be no...
It is possible to understand that the prophet's nakedness became a sign of the coming military defeat of Egypt and Ethiopia. There can be no hope in such allies; the strength of their weapons is not supported by the strength of the Lord and therefore will not withstand their enemies. But why did the prophet need to reinforce his warnings in such an extravagant way? Was verbal preaching not enough for him?
It must not have been, for the reaction to what is heard too often fails to match the importance of what is heard. After all, people say all kinds of things. And anyway, how does he know? He is not an expert; where did this know-it-all come from? But here before us is not just a speaker, but a man staking his own reputation and ready to engage in the most extravagant behavior, if only he can reinforce what he has said vividly and emotionally and break through the indifference of his hearers.
By revealing his visions to his hearers, the prophet gives us a chance to touch, at least a little, the way he sees the world around him. Images of distant nations appear before us, nations that are destined to play a role in Israel's history, and these nations come closer and closer. The prophet does not hide from us that he is afraid, for he is an ordinary person, not without weaknesses. But he overcomes his weaknesses and continues to gaze into what the Lord reveals to him. However difficult it is for the prophet, he courageously continues to proclaim to the people what he sees.
20 The captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia represented, to take off the Jews from seeking to them for help, Isa 20:1-6.
20:1 Sargon - Sennacherib, who, before he came to Jerusalem, came up against and took all the walled cities of Judah, of which Ashdod might be reckoned one, as being in the tribe of Judah.
20:2 Sackcloth - Which he wore in token of his grief for the calamities that were already come upon Israel, and were coming upon Judah.Naked - Not wholly naked, but without his upper garment, as slaves and prisoners used to do, whose posture he was to represent. Bare - foot - After the manner of mourners and captives.
20:3 Three years - Not constantly, but when he went abroad among the people, to whom this was appointed for a sign. A sign - When this judgment should come, namely, three years after this prophecy.
20:4 Uncovered - Having their garments cut off by the middle.
20:5 They - All that shall trust to them. But under this general expression the Israelites, seem to be principally intended.
20:6 Of the country - Of this land, in which the prophet was, and to whose inhabitants, these words were uttered. Such - So vain is our hope placed upon such a people as are unable to deliver themselves.
21 The prophet's fear and trouble at his vision of Babylon's ruin, the Medes and Persians, Isa 21:1-4.
He mocketh Babel, Isa 21:5-9.
Edom scorning the prophet is called to repentance, Isa 21:11-12.
The time of Arab's calamity set, Isa 21:13-17.
21:1 The plain - Of Babylon, which lay in a very plain country. And the title of the sea might well be given to the waters of Babylon, because of the great plenty and multitude of them. South - In those parts which lay southward from Judea, where there were many and great deserts.Pass through - As meeting with no opposition. It - The burden or judgment. Desert - From Media and Persia; a great desert lay between them and Chaldea. A terrible land - From the Medes, a warlike and formidable people.
21:2 A vision - A vision or prophecy, containing dreadful calamities which were to fall upon Babylon. The spoiler - The Medes and Persians used treachery as well as force against Babylon.Elam - Persia, so called, because Elam was an eminent province of Persia, bordering upon the Medes. Besiege - Namely, Babylon, ver. Isa 21:9.The sighing - The sighing and groaning of God's people, and other nations under the oppressions of that cruel empire.
21:3 My loins - Which he mentions with respect to the following similitude of child - bearing. Pangs - Sharp and grievous pains.
21:4 The night - In which I used to have sweet repose. He seems to have had this vision in a night. But withal this signified that horror and destruction, which should befal the Babylonians in a night of feasting and jollity. He - God, who shewed him that vision.
21:5 Prepare - Furnish it with meats and drinks. The prophet foretells what the Babylonians would be doing when their enemies were at their doors. Watch - To give us notice of any approaching danger, that in the meantime we may more securely indulge ourselves. Princes - Of Babylon: arise from the table and run to your arms. Shield - Prepare yourselves and your arms for the approaching battle. The shield is put for all their weapons of offence and defence. They used to anoint their shields with oil, to preserve and polish them, and to make them slippery.
21:6 Go set - This was now done only in a vision, but it signified what should be done really afterwards.
21:7 A chariot - Hereby he signifies the variety and abundance of warlike provisions which the Medes and Persians should have for their expedition, and particularly of chariots, whereof some were for the carriage of necessary things, and others for the battle.
21:8 A lion - The watchmen cried out, I see also a lion marching before the horsemen and chariots: which they suppose to represent Cyrus or Darius marching in the head of their armies. My lord - The watchman speaks to the prophet, who had set him in this station.Whole nights - According to thy command I have stood, and do yet stand continually, both day and night, upon my watch - tower.
21:9 Men - Not fitted with goods, but provided with men to fight.He - The prophet, who here gives an explication of the vision.He - God, by the hands of Cyrus.
21:10 Threshing - Threshing is put for the corn threshed; and the corn threshed for people sorely afflicted. This is probably spoken of Babylon.The corn - Which I will cause to be threshed upon the floor. You - Unto you my people; for all the prophecies, even concerning other nations, were published to them, and for their use and comfort.
21:11 Dumah - Of Edom or Idumea. He - The people of Dumah, one of them in the name and by the appointment of the rest. Me - To the watchman: the prophet delivers his prophecy in the form of a dialogue between the people and the watchman. Seir - Out of Edom, which is frequently called Seir. Watchman - The watchman of Edom, whom they had set as people use to do in times of great danger. Night - The people are supposed to come to him very early in the morning, to enquire what had happened in the night; which shews a state of great perplexity and fear. Night - The repetition of the words, shew the greatness of their solicitude.
21:12 The night - The night is past without any mischief, and the light of the morning is approaching; but tho' the morning is coming, it will be gone, and the night will return, and your fears with it. Come - If you will enquire, enquire: I perceive your danger is not past, and there will be occasion for farther enquiries. Therefore return, come - Come to me the next morning, and so from morning to morning.
21:13 Forest - Not as you used to do, in the houses or tents of the Arabians: whereby he implies, that that populous country should be a wilderness. Companies - In those parts travellers then did, and still do, go together in companies. Dedanim - These were merchants, who used to trade with Tyre, and their way lay thro' Arabia.
21:14 Tema - A part of Arabia. Fled - Whereby he implies, that those other Arabians, against whom this prophecy is principally directed, should be reduced to great scarcity, and forced to flee for their lives, from a bloody enemy.
21:16 A year - From the time of this prophecy: an exact year.Glory - Their power, and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory. This was executed by the Assyrians.