Isaiah 21:16-17 NIV

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 21:16

For thus hath the Lord said unto me ,.... The prophet; which confirms what is before said, as well as assures the accomplishment of what follows: within a year, according to the years of an hireling ; that is, exactly and precisely, as soon as ever the year is come to an end; for the hireling, when his year is up, instantly demands dismissal from his service, or his wages, or both. The time is to be reckoned from the delivery of this prophecy; and so the calamity predicted was brought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 21:17

And the residue of the number of archers ,.... Or of "bow" F7 מספר קשת "numeri arcus", Montanus, Cocceius. , for "bows": that is, of men that use the bow, or are expert at it, as the Kedarenes were, both for taking wild beasts, and fighting with men, in which they followed their original ancestor Ishmael, Genesis 21:20 the number of these archers it seems had been great, but would be lessened by the calamity threatened; and those that would escape that, and be preserved from it,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 21:17

The archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar "The mighty bowmen of the sons of Kedar" - Sagittariorum fortium , Vulg.; transposing the two words, and reading קשה גבורי gibborey kesheth ; which seems to be right. The strong men of the bow, the most excellent archers. For the Lord - hath spoken it "For Jehovah hath spoken it" - The prophetic Carmina of Marcius, foretelling the battle of Cannae, lib. 25:12, conclude with the same kind of solemn form: Nam mihi ita Jupiter... 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 21:16

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 21:16

Within a year - What has been said before was figurative. Here the prophet speaks without a metaphor, and fixes the time when this should be accomplished. It is not usual for the prophets to designate the exact “time” of the fulfillment of their prophecies in this manner.According to the years of an hireling - Exactly; observing the precise time specified Job 7:1. See the phrase explained on Isaiah 16:14.All the glory - The beauty, pride, strength, wealth, etc.Of Kedar - Kedar was a son of... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 21:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 21:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 21:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:13-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 21:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 21:16

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