Isaiah 20:6

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.] Here is their shame, and well it might be, for if Hezekiah relied not upon the Egyptian for help against the Assyrian, yet the people did, as Rabshakeh also could tell. {2Ki 18:24}

And how shall we escape?] Here is their fear. {Isa 20:5} How much more shall wicked men say thus at the last day?

{a} Venice is environed with her embracing Neptune, to whom she marrieth herself with yearly nuptials, casting a ring into the sea.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Meaning, Judea, which was compassed about with their enemies, as an isle with waters.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

isle--that is, coast on the Mediterranean--Philistia, perhaps Phœnicia (compare Isa 23:2; Isa 11:11; Isa 13:22; Psa 72:10).

we--emphatical; if Egypt, in which we trusted, was overcome, how shall we, a small weak state, escape?

He does not narrate the event, but graphically supposes himself a watchman in Babylon, beholding the events as they pass.

Next: Isaiah Chapter 21

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(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 Phœnicia, Tyre also having joined in it (Annals of Sargon in Lenormant’s 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.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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?''

Next: Isaiah Chapter 21

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And the inhabitant - The dwellers generally.

Of this isle - The word אי '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.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

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 God’s 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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

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.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The inhabitant of this isle; rather, of this coast (Knobel, Hitzig, Kay); i.e. of Palestine generally, which was a mere strip of coast compared with Egypt and Ethiopia. Sargon speaks of all the four powers who at this time "sought to Egypt," as "dwelling beside the sea" (G. Smith, "Eponym Canon," p. 130). Such is our expectation; rather, so hath it gone with our expectation; i.e. , with Egypt and Ethiopia.

A grove question with many applications.

"How shall we escape?" Egypt being reduced, no defense remained for Israel against the overwhelming power of Assyria. "This was the cry of despair at Jerusalem. But in such despair was her only hope. The destruction of Egypt and Ethiopia by the arms of Sennacherib weaned her from looking any longer to earthly powers for help, and raised her eyes to heaven" (Bishop Wordsworth). The expression, or exclamation, may be

I APPLIED TO PERSONAL TROUBLES. Oftentimes in life we are brought to extremities; we know not what to do, nor which way to take. In our difficulties, hedged in on every side, we cry out, "How shall we escape?" The Israelites cried thus when the Red Sea rolled before them, a wall of mountains barred the path, and an enraged foe hurried upon them from behind. The secret of peace and deliverance is, "Trust in the Lord, who maketh ways in the seas, and paths in the great waters.

II APPLIED TO THE POWER OF SIN. When it has become the enslavement of fixed habit. Compare St. Paul"s exclamation, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" And see his triumphant answer, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

III APPLIED TO THE PENALTIES OF SINNING. The "fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall consume the adversaries." The utter despair of escape is pictured in Scripture by the people crying to the very rocks to cover and hide them from the wrath of God and of the Lamb.

IV APPLIED TO OUR PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES OF SALVATION. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews finds expression for this: (Heb_2:2, Heb_2:3) "If the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" This grave question this great cry may be the cry of hopeful self-humiliation and distrust; and then to it God will be sure to respond. But it may be the cry of hopeless despair, the conviction that the day of grace is passed, that it is "too late;" and then God"s response must be holding aloof, and letting the overwhelming judgments come, if even thus at last the true humiliations may be wrought. R.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

“And the inhabitant of this isle (or coast) shall say in that day, Behold, thus (or such) is our expectation, whither we fled for help, to be delivered from the presence of the king of Assyria. And how shall we (ourselves) escape?” The disappointment described in the foregoing verse is now expressed by those who felt it. The argument is one a fortiori. If the protectors were subdued, what must become of the protected? The pronoun in the last clause is emphatic, as it usually is when not essential to the sense. The Hebrew word for island has no exact equivalent in English. Three distinct shades or gradations of meaning seem to be clearly marked in usage. The first is that of land as opposed to water; the second that of coast as opposed to inland; the third that of island as opposed to mainland. The last, although commonly expressed in most translations, is perhaps the least frequent of the three. The word here denotes the south-eastern shore of the Mediterranean, called this coast, in order to distinguish it from that coast, viz. Ethiopia and Egypt, which had just before been mentioned. As to the extent of country meant to be included, nothing of course can be determined from the word itself, which is designedly indefinite. Thus or such is our expectation, (i.e., this is the end of it, you see what has become of it, you see the fate of that to which we looked for help); how then can we ourselves be delivered or escape? See a similar expression 2Ki 10:4.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1846–1847; New York: Scribner, 1870–1878) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the inhabitants of this isle The land of Israel, who relied on Pharoah for aid.

isle like the islands of the sea.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

The inhabitant of this isle. The Israelites, who live in these islands near Egypt, will say,

This has happened to those to whom we fled, etc.

Ibn Ezra on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0); and “Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah - trans. by M. Friedlander, 1873” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.