In the same day shall the Lord shave with a rasor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.
In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor. The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea, just as a razor sweeps away all hair before it (Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 10:20).
Hired - alluding to Ahaz' hiring (2 Kings 16:7-8) Tiglath, pileser against Syria and Israel. Compare Ezekiel 5:1. etc.; 29:19,20.
(Namely), by them beyond the river - namely, the Euphrates, the eastern boundary of Jewish geographical knowledge (Psalms 72:8); the river which Abram crossed. Gesenius translates, 'with a razor hired in the parts beyond the river.'
The head ... feet - the whole body, including the most honoured parts.
It shall also consume the beard. To cut the "beard" is the greatest indignity to an Eastern (Isaiah 50:6; 2 Samuel 10:4-5; Ezekiel 5:1).