Isaiah 20:1

¶ In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

In the year {H8141} that Tartan {H8661} came {H935} unto Ashdod {H795},(when Sargon {H5623} the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} sent {H7971} him,) and fought {H3898} against Ashdod {H795}, and took {H3920} it;

In the year that Sargon the king of Ashur sent his commander-in-chief to attack Ashdod, he captured it.

Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it,

In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;

Isaiah 20:1 serves as a precise historical marker, anchoring the dramatic prophecy that follows in this chapter within a verifiable historical event. It details the conquest of Ashdod by the Assyrian Empire, a significant geopolitical event in the late 8th century BC.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse pinpoints the time of Isaiah's vision to "the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod." Tartan was not a personal name but a high-ranking military title in the Assyrian army, equivalent to a commander-in-chief, second only to the king. The king mentioned, Sargon II of Assyria (reigned c. 722-705 BC), was a formidable ruler who significantly expanded the Assyrian Empire. His campaigns are well-documented in extra-biblical historical records, lending strong archaeological support to the biblical narrative.

Ashdod was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, located on the Mediterranean coast. Its capture by Assyria was a strategic victory, consolidating Assyrian control over the coastal trade routes and further demonstrating their overwhelming power in the ancient Near East. This event would have sent shockwaves through the region, particularly impacting Judah, which was under constant pressure from Assyrian expansion and often tempted to form alliances with other powers like Egypt and Ethiopia for protection, a theme Isaiah frequently addresses (e.g., Isaiah 30:1-7).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Historical Veracity: The specific details of this verse—the names of the Assyrian king and his general, and the city conquered—underscore the Bible's grounding in actual historical events. This precise dating validates the prophetic message that follows.
  • Divine Sovereignty over Nations: Although Sargon and Tartan acted according to their own ambitions, the Bible consistently presents God as ultimately sovereign over the rise and fall of empires, using nations like Assyria as instruments for His purposes (see Isaiah 10:5-7).
  • A Warning to Judah: The fall of Ashdod served as a stark reminder of Assyria's unstoppable might. This context is crucial for understanding the prophetic "sign" in the rest of chapter 20, which warns Judah against relying on unreliable human alliances (specifically with Egypt and Ethiopia), and instead encourages them to trust in the Lord alone.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Tartan" (תַּרְתָּן, tartān) is an Assyrian loanword, specifically a military title, not a personal name. This detail highlights the accuracy of the biblical text in reflecting the political and military structures of the time. The mention of "Sargon the king of Assyria" is particularly noteworthy as Sargon II's name was once absent from secular historical records until the discovery of his palace and annals in Khorsabad in the 19th century, which then confirmed the biblical account.

Practical Application

Isaiah 20:1 reminds us that God's word is rooted in reality. The historical precision gives weight to the spiritual truths presented. For us today, it serves as a powerful reminder that while world powers rise and fall, God remains eternally sovereign. Our ultimate trust should never be placed in human strength, political alliances, or worldly security, but solely in the unchanging power and faithfulness of God, who orchestrates all events according to His divine plan. This lesson is echoed throughout Scripture, urging us to trust in the Lord above all else.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 18:17

    ¶ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field.

  • Jeremiah 25:29

    For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 25:30

    ¶ Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth.

  • Jeremiah 25:20

    And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

  • Amos 1:8

    And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

  • 1 Samuel 5:1

    ¶ And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

  • 1 Samuel 6:17

    And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

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