the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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English Standard Version
Isaiah 21:13
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This is a message about Arabia: A caravan from Dedan spent the night near some trees in the Arabian Desert.
This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.
The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you shall lodge, O you caravans of Dedanites.
This is a message about Arabia: A group of traders from Dedan spent the night near some trees in Arabia.
Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim.
The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall you lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, Caravans of Dedanites.
The birthun in Arabie. In the forest at euentid ye schulen slepe, in the pathis of Dodanym.
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanites.
This is an oracle concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
This is a message for Arabs who live in the barren desert in the region of Dedan: You must order your caravans
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
A prophecy about Arabia: You caravans of D'danim will camp in the desert growth of Arabia.
The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, [ye] caravans of Dedanites.
The burden upon Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
The burden vpon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall yee lodge, O yee trauelling companies of Dedanim.
The special word about Arabia: You must stay the night among the trees of Arabia, O traveling people of Dedanim.
The oracle concerning the desert plain. In the scrub of the desert plain you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall yee tarie all night, euen in the waies of Dedanim.
The prophecy concerning Arabia. In the evening you shall lodge in the forest, in the highway of Dornim.
The oracle on Arabia, - Among the shrubs in Arabia, must ye lodge, Ye caravans of Dedanites.
The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.
The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of De'danites.
The burthen concernyng Arabia. In the wooddes of Arabia shall ye tary all nyght, euen in the streetes of Dedanim.
Thou mayest lodge in the forest in the evening, or in the way of Daedan.
This is a message about Arabia. People of Dedan, you whose caravans camp in the barren country of Arabia,
A pronouncement concerning Arabia:
The burden on `Arav. In the forest in `Arav shall you lodge, you caravans of Dedanim.
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
An oracle concerning Arabia: You will spend the night in the thicket in a desert-plateau, caravans of Dedanites.
The burden of Arabia: You shall stay in the forest of Arabia, travelers of Dedanites.
The burden on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.
The heuy burthen vpon Arabia. At euen ye shal abyde in the wod, in the waye toward Dedanim.
A Message concerning Arabia: You'll have to camp out in the desert badlands, you caravans of Dedanites. Haul water to the thirsty, greet fugitives with bread. Show your desert hospitality, you who live in Tema. The desert's swarming with refugees escaping the horrors of war.
The pronouncement about Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, You caravans of Dedanites.
The burden against Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanites.
The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.
The oracle about Arabia.In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night,O caravans of Dedanites.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Arabia: 1 Kings 10:15, Jeremiah 25:23, Jeremiah 25:24, Jeremiah 49:28-33, Galatians 4:25
O ye: Isaiah 13:20, Genesis 25:3, 1 Chronicles 1:9, 1 Chronicles 1:32, Ezekiel 27:15, Ezekiel 27:20, Ezekiel 27:21
Reciprocal: Genesis 10:7 - Dedan Isaiah 13:1 - burden Jeremiah 49:8 - Dedan Acts 2:11 - Arabians
Cross-References
The angel of the Lord also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude."
As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.
But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
The burden upon Arabia,.... Which lay heavy upon it, as a burden upon a beast; or "concerning" it, or "against" it, as Kimchi notes; which Arabia, or what part thereof, is meant, may be gathered from the names after mentioned. The Targum is,
"the burden of the cup of cursing, to give the Arabians to drink.''
Ben Melech says, these are the Arabians that dwell in the wilderness:
in the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge; not in their tents and huts, which they had used to carry with them, and set up where they pleased; since now in their fright and flight they would leave them behind them, and so be obliged to take up their lodging in woods and forests; perhaps the desert of Arabia Petraea is meant:
O ye travelling companies of Dedanim; or Dedanites; these were Arabians that descended from Jokshan, a son of Abraham by Keturah,
Genesis 25:3 who were either shepherds, who went in companies together with their flocks, and moved from place to place for the sake of pasture; or rather were merchants, who went in caravans and troops with their merchandise from one country to another; see Ezekiel 27:15 and who, because of the ravages of the enemy, would be glad of a lodging in the woods for security.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
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 some of their clans. At all events, it was to be fulfilled within a year after it was uttered Isaiah 21:16, and refers to “some” foreign invasion that was to conic upon their land. Rosenmuller supposes that it relates to the same period as the prophecy in Jeremiah 49:28, following, and refers to the time when Nebuchadnezzar sent Nebuzaradan to overran the lands of the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Philistines, the Arabians, the Idumeans, and others who had revolted from him, and who had formed an alliance with Zedekiah.
The sentiment of the prophecy is simple - that within a year the country of Arabia would be overrun by a foreign enemy. The form and manner of the prophecy is highly poetic and beautiful. The images are drawn from customs and habits which pertain to the Arabians, and which characterize them to this day. In Isaiah 21:13, the prophecy opens with a declaration that the caravans that were accustomed to pass peacefully through Arabia would be arrested by the apprehension of war. They would seek a place of refuge in the forests and fastnesses of the land. Thither also the prophet sees the Arabians flocking, as if to exercise the rites of hospitality, and to minister to the needs of the oppressed and weary travelers. But the reasons why “they” are there, the prophet sees to be that “they” are oppressed and driven out of their land by a foreign invader, and “they” also seek the same places of security and of refuge Isaiah 21:14-15. All this would be accomplished within a year Isaiah 21:16; and the result would be, that the inhabitants of Arabia would be greatly diminished Isaiah 21:17.
Isaiah 21:13
The burden - (see the note at Isaiah 13:1).
Upon Arabia - (בערב ba‛ărâb). This is an unusual form. The title of the prophecies is usually without the ב (b) rendered ‘upon.’ Lowth supposes this whole title to be of doubtful authority, chiefly because it is missing in most MSS. of the Septuagint. The Septuagint connects it with the preceding prophecy respecting Dumab, and makes this a continuance of that. The preposition ב (b) - ‘upon,’ means here “respecting, concerning,” and is used instead of על ‛al as in Zechariah 9:1. Arabia is a well-known country of western Asia, lying south and southeast of Judea. It was divided into three parts, Arabia Deserta, on the east; Arabia Petrea, lying south of Judea; and Arabia Felix, lying still further south. What part of Arabia is here denoted it may not be easy to determine. It is probable that it was Arabia Petrea, because this lay between Judea and Egypt, and would be exposed to invasion by the Assyrians should they invade Egypt; and because this part of Arabia furnished, more than the others, such retreats and fastnesses as are mentioned in Isaiah 21:13-15.
In the forest - (ביער baya‛ar). The word (יער ya‛ar) ‘forest’ usually denotes a grove, a collection of trees. But it may mean here, any place of refuge from a pursuing foe; a region of thick underwood; an uncultivated, inaccessible place, where they would be concealed from an invading enemy. The word rendered ‘forest’ is commonly supposed to mean a forest in the sense in which that word is now used by us, meaning an extensive wood - large tract of land covered with trees. It is doubtful, however, whether the word is so used in the Bible. The Rev. Eli Smith stated to me that he had visited several of the places in Palestine to which the word (יער ya‛ar) ‘forest’ or ‘grove’ is given, and that he was satisfied that there never was a forest there in our use of the word. The same word יער ya‛ar - the י (y) not being used to begin a word in Arabic, but the ו (v) being used instead of it - occurs often in Arabic. It means, as used by the Arabs, a rough, stony, impassable place; a place where there are no roads; which is inaccessible; and which is a safe retreat for robbers - and it is not improbable that the word is so used here.
In Arabia - (בערב ba‛ărâb). The Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the Chaldee, understand this of the “evening” - ‘In the evening.’ The word ערב ‛ereb, with different points from those which the Masorites have used here, means “evening,” but there is no necessity of departing from the translation in our English version. The sense would not be materially affected whichever rendering should be preferred.
Shall ye lodge - Shall you pass the night. This is the usual signification of the word. But here it may be taken in a larger sense, as denoting that they would pitch their tents there, or that they would seek a refuge there. The sense I suppose to be this: ‘O ye traveling caravans of Dedan! Ye were accustomed to pass through Arabia, and to find a safe and hospitable entertainment there. But now, the Arabians shall be overrun by a foreign enemy; they shall be unable to show you hospitality, and to insure your safety in their tents, and for fear of the enemy still in the land you will be obliged to seek a lodging in the inaccessible thickets of the forests.’ The passage is intended to denote the “change” that had taken place, and to show the “insecurity” for caravans.
O ye traveling companies - Ye “caravans” (ארחות 'orechôt). This word usually signifies “ways, paths, cross roads.” But it is used here evidently to denote those who “traveled” in such ways or paths; that is, caravans of merchants. So it is used in Job 6:19 : ‘The caravans of Tema.’ It is well known that in the East it is usual for large companies to travel together, called “caravans.” Arabia Petrea was a great thoroughfare for such companies.
Of Dedanim - Descendants of “Dedan.” There are two men of this name mentioned in the Old Testament - the son of Raamah, the son of Cush, mentioned in Genesis 10:7; and the son of Jokshan, the son of Abraham by Keturah Genesis 25:3. The descendants of the latter settled in Arabia Petrea, and the descendants of the former near the Persian Gulf. It is not easy to determine which is here intended, though most probably those who dwelt near the Persian Gulf, because they are often mentioned as merchants. They dealt in ivory, ebony, etc., and traded much with Tyre Ezekiel 27:21, and doubtless also with Egypt. They are here represented as passing through Arabia Petrea on their way to Egypt, and as compelled by the calamities in the country to find a refuge in its fastnesses and inaccessible places.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Isaiah 21:13. The burden upon Arabia - "The oracle concerning Arabia"] This title is of doubtful authority. In the first place, because it is not in many of the MSS. of the Septuagint; it is in MSS. Pachom. and I. D. II. only, as far as I can find with certainty. Secondly, from the singularity of the phraseology; for משא massa is generally prefixed to its object without a preposition, as משא בבל massa babel; and never but in this place with the preposition ב beth. Besides, as the word בערב baarab occurs at the very beginning of the prophecy itself, the first word but one, it is much to be suspected that some one, taking it for a proper name and the object of the prophecy, might note it as such by the words משא בערב massa baarab written in the margin, which he might easily transfer to the text. The Septuagint did not take it for a proper name, but render it εν τῳ δρυμῳ ἑσπερας, "in the forest, in the evening," and so the Chaldee, which I follow; for otherwise, the forest in Arabia is so indeterminate and vague a description, that in effect it means nothing at all. This observation might have been of good use in clearing up the foregoing very obscure prophecy, if any light had arisen from joining the two together by removing the separating title; but I see no connexion between them. The Arabic Version has, "The prophecy concerning the Arabians, and the children of Chedar."
This prophecy was to have been fulfilled within a year of the time of its delivery, see Isaiah 21:16; and it was probably delivered about the same time with the rest in this part of the book, that is, soon before or after the 14th of Hezekiah, the year of Sennacherib's invasion. In his first march into Judea, or in his return from the Egyptian expedition, he might perhaps overrun these several clans of Arabians; their distress on some such occasion is the subject of this prophecy. - L.
