Prophecy about Egypt and Cush (Ancient Ethiopia)
1 In the year that the Tartan [the Assyrian commander in chief] came to Ashdod [in Philistia], when Sargon king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it,
2 at that time the Lordspoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, untie thesackcloth from your hips and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking aroundstripped [to his loincloth] and barefoot.
3 And the Lordsaid, “Even as My servant Isaiah has walkedstripped and barefoot for three years as a sign and forewarning concerning Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia),
4 in the same way the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, young and old, stripped and barefoot, even with buttocks uncovered–to theshame of Egypt.
5 Then they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast.
6 So the inhabitants of this coastland [the Israelites and their neighbors] will say in that day, ‘Look what has happened to those in whom we hopedandtrusted and to whom we fled for help to be spared from the king of Assyria! But we, how will we escape [captivity and exile]?’”