Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, , at sacred-texts.com This
prophecy occupies this single chapter. Its design and scope it
is not difficult to understand. The time when it was delivered
is designated in Isa 20:1, and was manifestly in the reign of
Hezekiah. The Assyrian empire had extended its conquests over
Syria, Damascus, and Ephraim or Samaria Kg2 18:9-12. The king of
Assyria lied sent Tartan to take possession of Ashdod, or
Azotus, the maritime key of Palestine, and there was evident
danger that the Assyrians would overthrow the government of
Judah, and secure also the conquest of Egypt. In these
circumstances of danger, the main reliance of Judah was on the
aid which they hoped to derive from Egypt and Ethiopia Isa 20:5,
as being alone able to repel the Assyrians. They relied rather
on that aid than on God. To "recall" them from this, and to show
them the vanity of such a dependence, and to lead them to rely
on God, Isaiah was sent to them to be a sign; or to indicate by
a symbolic action what woul