Isaiah 21:13-17 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Oracle on the Dedanites. Date and authorship are unknown. If by Isaiah it may refer to an expected invasion in 720 or 711. Probably Isaiah 21:16 f, is an appendix, the original oracle, Isaiah 21:13-15. being from the same hand as Isaiah 21:1-10 and Isaiah 21:11 f. The title should probably be rendered oracle in the wilderness. If RV is correct, Arabia is not used in its modern significance, but as the home of an Arabian tribe.

The prophet addresses the Dedanites, an Arabian tribe engaged in the caravan trade. Their caravans, fleeing from the sword, have to leave the ordinary routes and take refuge in the bush of the desert. They cannot get fresh supplies of food and water, so the people of Tema, a tribe about 250 miles S.E. of Edom, are bidden (mg.) show them hospitality. The appendix (cf. Isaiah 16:13 f.) says that in a year exactly measured Kedar will be decimated. Kedar (Psalms 12:05 *) was a pastoral tribe of nomads, but seems to be used here for the North Arabian tribes generally.

Related Commentaries of Isaiah 21:13

Isaiah 21:13-17

13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema broughtd water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

15 For they fled from the swords,e from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

17 And the residue of the number of archers,f the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.