Isaiah 21:14-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-17

Arabia was a large country, that lay eastward and southward of the land of Canaan. Much of it was possessed by the posterity of Abraham. The Dedanim, here mentioned (Isa. 21:13), descended from Dedan, Abraham's son by Keturah; the inhabitants of Tema and Kedar descended from Ishmael, Gen. 25:3, 13, 15. The Arabians generally lived in tents, and kept cattle, were a hardy people, inured to labour; probably the Jews depended upon them as a sort of a wall between them and the more warlike eastern... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 21:14

The inhabitants of the land of Tema ,.... This country had its name from Tema, one of the sons of Ishmael, Genesis 25:15 . The Targum calls it the land of the south, as if it was Teman. These people were Arabians, and are here said to assist their countrymen, the Dedanites, in distress: brought water to him that was thirsty ; as travellers are wont to be, especially in a desert land, and when fleeing from an enemy; in which circumstances the travelling companies of Dedanim now were: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 21:15

For they fled from the swords ,.... Of their enemy, whom they could not withstand; perhaps the Assyrian army: from the drawn sword ; just ready to be sheathed in them: and from the bent bow ; just going to let the arrow fly at them: and from the grievousness of war : too heavy for them to bear. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 21:14

The land of Tema "The southern country" - Θαιμαν , Sept.; Austri, Vulg. They read תימן teiman , which seems to be right; for probably the inhabitants of Tema might be involved in the same calamity with their brethren and neighbors of Kedar, and not in a condition to give them assistance, and to relieve them, in their flight before the enemy, with bread and water. To bring forth bread and water is an instance of common humanity in such cases of distress; especially in those desert... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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