What does Isaias Chapter 20 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Tharthan’s capture of Azotus supplies the event’s setting. Isaias obeys the command and its three-year sign is explained. Predicted captivity leads to an escape question without a specified route.

Chapter breakdown

Isaias 20 dates its event to Tharthan's entry into Azotus, sent by Assyria's king Sargon, and his fighting and capture of the city. At that time the Lord commands Isaias son of Amos to remove sackcloth and shoes. He complies, going naked and barefoot. The text is not softened into merely removing outer garments, nor expanded into an eyewitness account of a public procession.

The Lord identifies his servant's naked and barefoot walking as a sign and wonder of three years upon Egypt and Ethiopia. Assyria's king will carry away their prisoners, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to Egypt's shame. Those whose hope and glory rested on Ethiopia and Egypt become afraid and ashamed. The isle's inhabitants ask how they can escape when the refuge sought against Assyria fails. No calendar date, completed conquest of every inhabitant, supreme-commander title or universal rule against political cooperation is added.

The story inside

Opening: Tharthan’s capture of Azotus supplies the event’s setting. Development: Isaias obeys the command and its three-year sign is explained. Conclusion: Predicted captivity leads to an escape question without a specified route.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Tharthan’s capture of Azotus supplies the event’s setting.
2
Isaias obeys the command and its three-year sign is explained.
3
Predicted captivity leads to an escape question without a specified route.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 80084–80087
20:2. At that same time the Lord spoke by the hand of Isaias the son of Amos, saying Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and take off thy shoes from thy feet. And he did so, and went naked, and barefoot.
Lines 80093–80095
20:4. So shall the king of the Assyrians lead away the prisoners of Egypt, and the captivity of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt.