The Message of Yeshayahu 20/2

The Message of Yeshayahu 20

Exegetical Approaches

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Downfall of Egypt and Kush

The prophecy is counted among Yeshayahu's prophecies about the foreign nations and foretells the downfall of both Egypt and Kush, at the hand of Assyria.

Sources:R. Eliezer of BeaugencyYeshayahu 20About R. Eliezer of Beaugency

Context – Yeshayahu 13-23 constitute a unit of prophecies aimed at foreign nations.  The location of this prophecy in the midst of this unit supports the idea that it, too, focuses on the fate of neighboring nations and not Yehuda.

Symbolic acts

Heading of the chapter – According to R"E of Beuagency, the chapter's heading is not intrinsically connected to the content of the prophecy.  It serves merely to date when the prophecy was given.  As the invasion of Ashdod was a known event, it served as a time marker.

Sackcloth – R"E of Beaugency assumes that Yeshayahu had bean wearing sackcloth as a sign of mourning for the exile of the ten tribes.

Vision or reality – R"E of Beaugency maintains that Yeshayahu did not walk around totally naked, as that would invite shame,¹ but with meager garb.  This would aptly symbolize the tattered rags worn by captives,² which the people of Egypt and Kush were soon to be.  If Yeshayahu's intended audience was Kush and Egypt, however, it is not clear why he needed to actively disrobe in Jerusalem, considering that his main audience would only hear of the symbolic act orally regardless. As such, this approach might alternatively suggest that to begin with, the disrobing only took place in a prophetic dream and was simply relayed as a verbal analogy to the people.

Three years – This approach might assume, as most medieval commentators do, that the words "three years" qualifies the second half of the verse. Yeshayahu was not meant to walk unclothed for a full three years; rather Kush and Egypt were to fall to Assyria in three years time, or to suffer at their hands for a period of three years..

"וְחַתּוּ וָבֹשׁוּ מִכּוּשׁ מַבָּטָם וּמִן מִצְרַיִם תִּפְאַרְתָּם" – According to R"E of Beaugency, the people who will be ashamed and dismayed are the Egyptians and Kushites themselves.  They had always looked to (מַבָּטָם) and prided themselves (תִּפְאַרְתָּם) upon the strength of their fortifications, which now proved worthless.

"יֹשֵׁב הָאִי הַזֶּה" – This phrase, too, refers to those left behind between the rivers of Egypt and Kush.  They bemoan the fact that that they had viewed their countries as a refuge, hoping they would provide safety from Assyria, when in the end they proved incapable of standing up to the enemy.³

Warning not to Trust Foreign Powers

The prophecy is aimed at Yehuda, and serves to warn them against relying on the might of foreign powers such as Egypt and Kush.

¹ See Bizarre Prophetic Commands for a variety of ways to read the many directives of Hashem which appear to invite humiliation or hardship on his prophets. 

² See Targhum Yonatan and Rashi who suggest that he worn torn garments.

³ R"E of Beaugency argues that the verse can not refer to Jerusalem and her reliance on Egypt/ Kush, as it does not border any water (as the word "island" would necessitate) and Israel never turned to Kush for aid.