[1] In the same year that the Assyrian field marshal sent by Sargon II, who was king in Assyria at that time, attacked and successfully defeated Ashdod, [2] Isaiah (Amoz's son) was told by the Eternal to deliver a message by acting it out. Eternal One: Take off all your clothes of mourning, and take off your shoes too. Of course, Isaiah did that, which left him utterly naked, head to toe. [3] Eternal One: My servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign that Egypt and Ethiopia will be stripped of everything. [4] Assyria will take away Egypt's captives and Ethiopia's exiles, young and old alike, naked and barefoot as slaves. The Egyptians' shameful impotence and their bare behinds will be on display for all to see as they are driven away by the Assyrians. [5] They will be mortified and humiliated, for they depended on each other, confident that Egypt and Ethiopia could withstand Assyrian assault. [6] In the face of it, people along the coastland, like Ashdod, will say, "If countries like those that we counted on for support and security are falling to the might of Assyria's king, we don't have a chance!"
