And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
The inhabitant of this isle - i:e., coast on the Mediterranean-Philistia, perhaps Phoenicia (cf. Isaiah 23:2; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 13:22; Psalms 72:10).
Shall say ... Behold, such is our expectation, where we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape? "We," emphatic. If Egypt, in which we trusted, was overcome-if such has been the fate of that strong empire, whence we had our expectation of deliverance from Assyria, how shall we, a small weak state, escape?
Remarks: The minister's aspect and bearing ought to be a living commentary and exemplification of that which he preaches. Whatever the Lord wills concerning him, however the world may charge him with singularity, should be his will. The dress is often the index of the character; and it is true wisdom, while avoiding the ostentation of spurious humility, to cultivate real simplicity and humility in externals, as well as in the heart.