Isaiah 20:1. In the year that Tartan came, &c.— We have in this chapter an addition to the 5th discourse, in which the prophet is said to have shewn himself, by the divine command, naked and barefooted to the Jews, to teach them by this sign, which also he explains, that the Egyptians and Ethiopians, on whose assistance the Ephraimites and Jews, together with the Philistines, confided in their distress, should be afflicted by the Assyrian king Sargon, and should be led away captive, naked, and barefoot, to their own extreme shame, and the utter disappointment and mortification of their confederates. The chapter contains an inscription, which informs us of the time of the delivery of the prophesy, and of the circumstances, (Isaiah 20:1.) and the prophesy; in which two things are to be observed; namely, first, the revelation, which contains a command to the prophet, wherein he is enjoined to do something, Isa 20:2 and to say something, Isaiah 20:3-4. Secondly, the scope and consequence of the prophesy, Isaiah 20:5-6. Tartan is mentioned 2Ki 18:17 as one of the generals of Sennacherib, who is commonly supposed to be here called Sargon, according to an ancient custom, whereby the eastern kings had usually several names; though Vitringa is of opinion, that Salmanezer is here meant, and that the year which the prophet here marks out was the 7th year of king Hezekiah; that immediately following the taking of Samaria by this same Salmanezer. See 2 Kings 18:9-10. Vitringa, and the Univ. Hist. vol. 18: p. 254.

Isaiah 20:2. Spake the Lord by Isaiah, &c.— Or, To Isaiah, &c. By sackcloth is meant the hairy garment usually worn by prophets. By naked is meant, no more than that the prophet went without his upper garment: It was customary for captives to go about in this manner. See 1 Samuel 19:24. 2 Samuel 6:14-15.Matthew 3:4; Matthew 3:4. This action was agreeable to the mode of instruction made use of in those times; and, as it was intended to excite the attention of the Israelites, was not only consistent with the custom of the times, but likewise very well adapted to promote that intention. See Divine Leg. vol. 3: and Vitringa.

Isaiah 20:3. Three years for a sign.— A three years' sign. The meaning seems to be, not that Isaiah walked three years naked and barefooted, but that he walked naked and barefoot for a sign of what should happen three years afterwards.