Isaiah 21:13-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-16

The tribes of Arabia. I. THE FATE OF THE DEDANITES . Their caravans must hide in the thorn-bushes away from the beaten track. These Dedanites belong to Edom ( Jeremiah 49:8 ; Ezekiel 25:13 ). They were merchants, and among others traded with wealthy Tyre ( Ezekiel 27:15 ). And probably the meaning is that when on their way from Tyre they would be compelled to camp in the desert, because of the wide spreading war from north to south. II. THE SYMPATHY OF THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-17

THE BURDEN OF ARABIA . Edom will have companions in misfortune among the Arab tribes upon her borders, Dedan, Tema, and Kedar. War will enter their territory, derange their commerce ( Isaiah 21:13 ), cause flight and privation ( Isaiah 21:14 , Isaiah 21:15 ), and within a year greatly diminish the number of their fighting men ( Isaiah 21:16 , Isaiah 21:17 ). The date of the prophecy is uncertain, but can scarcely be earlier than B.C. 715, when Sargon made an expedition into... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-17

Our ills and their remedies. In this "burden" upon Arabia we may detect a picture or, at least, find a suggestion of— I. THE ILLS TO WHICH FLESH IS HEIR . 1. Being turned out of our course . The caravans of Dedan are obliged to forsake their track and find refuge in the forests or stony retreats of the desert ( Isaiah 21:13 ). Continually are we compelled to change our route as travelers along the road of life. We mark out our course and set out on our way, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:14

The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water ; rather, bring? water , O inhabitants . Tema is reasonably identified with the modern Taima , a village of the Hauran, on the caravan route between Palmyra and Peira. Its inhabitants are exhorted to bring water to the thirsty Dedanites, as they pass along this route with their "travelling companies." (For other mentions of Tome, which must not be confounded with Teman, see Job 6:19 and Jeremiah 25:23 .) They prevented with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:15

For they fled ; rather, they have fled . The Dedanites have been attacked with sword and bow, and have fled from their assailants. Probably the enemy was Assyria, but no trace of the war has been found on the Assyrian monuments. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:15

The grievousness of war. The grievousness of war is especially felt in defeat. Kedar was the most turbulent of the sons of Ishmael ( Genesis 25:13 ). "His hand" like that of his father, "was against every man, and every man's hand against him" ( Genesis 16:12 ). So long as his "mighty men," armed with their formidable bows, could ravage and plunder the inhabitants of more peaceable districts at their pleasure, and carry off plenty of spoil to their fastnesses in the rocky parts of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:15

The grievousness of war. "For before the swords have they fled, before the drawn sword, and before the bent bow, and before the pressure of war." The figures imply that the people are conquered, their camp or city taken, and they pursued and cut down by a relentless, blood-thirsty enemy. As this subject is a familiar one, and illustrations lie ready to hand, only divisions need be given. The grievousness of war may be shown. I. IN THE SACRIFICES IT DEMANDS . II. IN THE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:16

Within a year, according to the years of an hireling (see the comment on Isaiah 16:14 ). All the glory of Kedar shall fail . "Kedar" is a name of greater note than either Dedan or Tome. It seems to be used here as inclusive of Dedan, perhaps as a designation of the northern Arabians generally. The people of Kedar, like those of Dedan, carried on trade with Tyro ( Ezekiel 27:21 ). They dwelt partly in tents ( Psalms 120:5 ; Jeremiah 49:29 ), partly in villages ( Isaiah 42:11 ),... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:17

The security of the Divine Word. "They shall, for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it." This sentence intimates that God, as the God of Israel, has a quarrel with Kedar, and at; the same time that his power and omniscience will secure the fulfillment of the threatening. I. THE DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE . "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do;" "He knoweth the end from the beginning." God may be pleased to leave man his freedom, and yet he may so... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 21:13

Analysis of Isaiah 21:13-17. - Vision 18. “Arabia.”The remainder of this chapter is occupied with a single prophecy respecting Arabia. It was “probably” delivered about the time that the former was uttered - during the reign of Hezekiah, and before the invasion of Sennacherib. It had reference, I suppose, to Sennacherib; and was designed to foretell the fact that, either in his march to attack Judea, or on his return from Egypt, he would pass through Arabia, and perhaps oppress and overthrow... read more

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