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Isaiah 

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The Prophecy Against Egypt And Cush (ch. 20:1 - 6)

 

Note in verse one Sargon.  He was a king of Assyria.  He sent an army to Ashdod and attacked it. Ashdod was a Philistine city almost on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea , where leftovers from the Anakin race lived.  Many believe that the race of Anakins, who ere giants, descended from those who were born in Genesis 6:1 when the sons of men had sex with the daughters of men.  The sons of men are commonly believed by many to be angels.  You can see my commentary on Genesis 6 for further details.

 

The battle spoken of here in verse 1 took place in 711 B. C..  So we know when Isaiah received this word from the Lord.

 

In verse 2 the Lord told Isaiah to take off his sackcloth and his sandals. Some commentators suggest that Isaiah was naked while others suggest that he had some kind of loin cloth on.  I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I believe Isaiah was naked.  I will come back to this later.

 

In verses 3 and 4 we note that Isaiah was naked for 3 whole years.  His nakedness symbolized the destruction of Egypt and Cush after the Assyrians would invade these countries. Cush is understood to be present day Ethiopia.

 

The reason why I feel Isaiah was naked is seen in verse 4.  Both the Egyptians and the Cushites were devastated by the Assyrians that they were naked.  We know they were naked because the text speaks of their bare buttocks. Also note the word "shame' in verse 4.  Shame in Old Testament thinking is associated with nakedness.

 

Verses 5 and 6 point out the futileness of trusting in nations and national leaders, something we should take note of in today's world.  Both Egyptians and Cushites had put their trust in the wrong place and thus the Assyrians swept in and conquered them. 

 

This does not seem to be a prophecy of the future, but that being said, many of these Old Testament prophecies have double fulfillments. 

 

 

 

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