Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 20:6
And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
6. this isle ] strictly: this coastland (as R.V.). The expression is most accurately descriptive of the Philistine country; but must include Judah. Isaiah did not go three years naked and barefoot for the sake of the Philistines. It no doubt embraces the territory of all the states concerned in the conspiracy “this region.”
expectation here and Isa 20:5 is “object of expectation.” we has a position of great emphasis in the original.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the inhabitant – The dwellers generally.
Of this isle – The word ‘iy isle is used here in the sense of coast, or maritime country, and is evidently applied to Palestine, or the land of Canaan, which is a narrow coast lying on the Mediterranean. That the word is often used in this sense, and may be applied to a maritime country, see the notes at Isa 13:22; Isa 41:1. The connection here requires us to understand it of Palestine.
Shall say … – Shall condemn their own folly in trusting in Egypt, and seeking deliverance there.
And how shall we escape? – They shall be alarmed for their own safety, for the very nation on which they had relied had been made captive. And when the stronger had been subdued, how could the feeble and dependent escape a similar overthrow and captivity? All this was designed to show them the folly of trusting in the aid of another nation, and to lead them to put confidence in the God of their fathers.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 Psa 72:10; Eze 26:15,18, as Palestine or Canaan did, yea, to such countries as are remote or separated from that place in or of which the words are spoken, as Est 10:1; Isa 24:15; 42:4,10, &c, as Canaan was from Egypt, or at least from Ethiopia. Add to this, that Canaan had some resemblance with an isle, either because it was almost encompassed with the Midland Sea on one side, and with the Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee or Tiberius and Jordan on the other side; or because, as isles are separated from other lands by the sea, so this land and people were seoarated from all the rest of the world by Gods special providence, and presence, and worship.
Such is our expectation; so vain is our hope placed upon such a people as are unable to deliver themselves, and much more to deliver us.
Whither we flee for help; to whom we now and usually trust; for this was the common disease of the people of Israel, although Hezekiah was in a good measure free from it, as we read, 2Ki 18:5.
How shall we escape? either by their help, who cannot defend themselves; or by our own strength, seeing they who were much more potent than we are could not escape.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. islethat is, coast on theMediterraneanPhilistia, perhaps Phoelignicia (compare Isa 23:2;Isa 11:11; Isa 13:22;Psa 72:10).
weemphatical; ifEgypt, in which we trusted, was overcome, how shall we, asmall weak state, escape?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the inhabitants of this isle shall say, in that day,…. Not of Ashdod, Isa 20:1 or the isle of Caphtor, Jer 47:4 but the land of Israel, as both Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it; so called, because it bordered on the sea, as such countries are sometimes called isles; see Jer 25:22. Ben Melech interprets it of Jerusalem, and observes that the word signifies a place or country, whether it has a river or sea encompassing it, or not; besides, the land of Canaan had the Mediterranean sea on one side of it, and the sea of Galilee and Tiberias on the other, and was moreover separated from all other countries by the power, providence, and presence of God:
behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help, to be delivered from the king of Assyria; signifying that it was vain and foolish, and they had acted a very weak, as well as a wicked part, in having recourse to the Egyptians and Ethiopians to help them against the Assyrians, as it plainly appeared by both nations now being conquered by them:
and how shall we escape? seeing they had not, who were more powerful than they were; and how could they think that they could save them, who could not save themselves? and so the Targum,
“if they have not delivered their souls (themselves), how shall we be delivered?”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6. Lo, what is become of our expectation? He calls them expectation, or lurking, because the Jews turned towards them, whenever they were oppressed by any calamity, and placed their hope in them. We are accustomed to turn our eyes to that quarter from which we expect any assistance. Hence also, to “look” often signifies, in the Hebrew language, to “hope.” (Psa 34:5.) Now, they ought to have looked to God alone. Their wandering levity is therefore censured. And the same thing must happen to us, and deservedly, that when we have been invited by God, and refuse the sure refuge which he offers to us, and allow ourselves to be captivated by the delusions of Satan, we may lie down naked and destitute with shame and disgrace.
And the inhabitants of the island shall say. He gives the name island not only to Jerusalem, but to the whole of Judea; and it is generally thought that the name is given because its shores are washed by the Mediterranean sea. But I think that there is a different reason for this metaphor, for it is but a small portion of the sea that washes it; but as an island is separated from other lands, so the Lord separated Judea from other countries. It was kept apart from all the nations, which cherished a mortal hatred towards the Jews; for there was a “wall” between them, as Paul says, (Eph 2:14,) which Christ at length threw down. Here again Isaiah confirms his prophecy. If you are not now moved by my nakedness, you shall one day be taught by the event, that these words were not spoken to you in vain. Thus, at a late hour, obstinate and rebellious men are constrained by God to confess their guilt, so that they are struck with amazement, and argue within themselves how they could be so greatly blinded by their own stubbornness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) The inhabitant of this isle . . .Better, as elsewhere, coast-land. Here it probably refers to the whole coast of Philistia, which had been foremost in the revolt, and Phnicia, Tyre also having joined in it (Annals of Sargon in Lenormants Anc. Hist., i. 396). Cyprus, the conquest of which Sargon records (Records of the Past, vii. 51), may also be included. The whole sea-board population would find out too late that they could not resist Assyria even with the help of Egypt and Ethiopia.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Of this isle This coastland from Gaza to Phenicia, and northward, how insignificant this compared with the thousand miles up the Nile covered by the great powers of Egypt and Ethiopia combined, on which Judah depended for help. Judah can now see her land all open as a foraging highway region for the conquering Assyrians, who are only too ready to take revenge for her alliance with the conquered countries. Well may the people cry out, How shall we escape? “We?” “We know the barbarities of war. We know the retributions laid on conquered dependants.” Nevertheless, during these direful wars, Jehovah did in considerable measure interfere for Jerusalem, on account of the theocratic fidelity of pious Hezekiah. See chapter 37.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
READER! art thou struck with the view of the Prophet becoming a type, as well as a preacher and a prophet in the church of the Lord; and no doubt in the three years walk through the streets of the people, made thereby the drunkard’s song, and the sport and derision of the profane; and will it not lead thee to contemplate Him in his unequalled humbleness and meekness of deportment, who, though Lord of life and glory, went about the streets of Jerusalem, in the garb of a poor Jew, despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief? Precious Jesus! how do all thy servants sink to nothing, compared to thee; pre-eminent in humility, as pre-eminent in nature, in office, and in character! Thou wert indeed the sum and substance of every type; and the one great end and purpose of both sacrifice, prophecy, and ordinance. With what unwearied zeal for thy Father’s honour, and with unabating love to thy church’s salvation, didst thou endure such a contradiction of sinners against thyself! And how didst thou, when reviled, revile not again, but committed thyself to him who judgeth rightly! Lamb of God! keep the eyes of thy redeemed stedfastly fixed on thee; and in every exercise of life, may thy servants hear the sweet voice of consolation, arising out of thy bright example, made perfect through suffering: Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 20:6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
Ver. 6. And the inhabitant of this isle shall say, &c. ] Judea, though part of the continent, is here called an isle or island, whereas it was indeed an inland; (1.) Because it was bounded on the west with the Midland Sea, and on the east with the lake of Gennesaret; (2.) Because it was beset with many enemies, and beaten upon by the waves of wars from all parts, but especially from Egypt and Babylon, which is called a sea; Isa 21:1 ; Isa 8:8 (3.) Because begirt with God’s favour, power, and protection, which was greater security to it than the sea is to Venice a (which yet is media insuperabilis unda ), or than wooden walls can be to any island.
Behold, such is our expectation, &c.
And how shall we escape?
a Venice is environed with her embracing Neptune, to whom she marrieth herself with yearly nuptials, casting a ring into the sea.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
isle = sea coast, or coast land. See note on Isa 11:11
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
isle: or, country, Job 22:30, Jer 47:4
whither: Isa 28:17, Isa 30:1-7, Isa 30:15, Isa 30:16, Isa 31:1-3, Job 6:20
and how: Mat 23:33, 1Th 5:3, Heb 2:3
Reciprocal: Isa 10:3 – And what Isa 30:2 – walk Isa 30:5 – General Isa 36:6 – General Jer 4:30 – And when Jer 5:31 – and what Jer 22:20 – and cry Jer 46:25 – and all Eze 29:6 – a staff Zec 9:5 – for Phm 1:15 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:6 And the inhabitant of this {g} isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
(g) Meaning Judea which was encompassed by their enemies as an isle with waters.