5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
5 Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame.
5 Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.
5 Everyone who has put hope in Ethiopia and expected help from Egypt will be thrown into confusion.
5 Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory.
5 Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for they counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 20:5
Chapter Contents
The invasion and conquest of Egypt and Ethiopia.
Isaiah was a sign to the people by his unusual dress, when he walked abroad. He commonly wore sackcloth as a prophet, to show himself mortified to the world. He was to loose this from his loins; to wear no upper garments, and to go barefooted. This sign was to signify, that the Egyptians and Ethiopians should be led away captives by the king of Assyria, thus stripped. The world will often deem believers foolish, when singular in obedience to God. But the Lord will support his servants under the most trying effects of their obedience; and what they are called upon to suffer for his sake, commonly is light, compared with what numbers groan under from year to year from sin. Those who make any creature their expectation and glory, and so put it in the place of God, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of it. But disappointment in creature-confidences, instead of driving us to despair, should drive us to God, and our expectation shall not be in vain. The same lesson is in force now; and where shall we look for aid in the hour of necessity, but to the Lord our Righteousness?