Isaiah 21:16

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹³This is an oracle concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. ¹⁴Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema, meet the refugees with food. ¹⁵For they flee from the sword, the sword that is drawn, from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle. ¹⁶For this is what the Lord says to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.¹⁷The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

according: Isaiah 16:14, Job 7:1

Kedar: Isaiah 42:11, Isaiah 60:7, Genesis 25:13, 1 Chronicles 1:29, Psalms 120:5, Song of Solomon 1:5, Jeremiah 49:28, Ezekiel 27:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:14 - Dumah Leviticus 25:50 - according to the time Deuteronomy 15:18 - a double

Cross-References

Genesis 27:38
Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!" Then Esau wept aloud.

Genesis 29:11
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

Genesis 44:34
For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him."

Judges 2:4
When the Angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.

Ruth 1:9
May the LORD enable each of you to find security in the home of your new husband." And she kissed them as they wept aloud

1 Samuel 24:16
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud

1 Samuel 30:4
So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.

1 Kings 3:26
Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. "My lord," she said, "give her the living baby. Please do not kill him!" But the other woman said, "He will not be mine or yours. Cut him in two!"

Esther 8:6
For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?"

Isaiah 49:15
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 upon them by the Assyrians, perhaps under Sennacherib, when he invaded the cities of Judah, and might take Arabia in his way; less time is allowed than was the Moabites, who suffered by the same hand; see

Isaiah 16:14:

and all the glory of Kedar shall fail; these were another sort of Arabians, as the Targum calls them: they descended from Kedar, a son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13 their "glory" were their multitude, their riches and substance, and which chiefly lay in their flocks; for the sake of which they moved from place to place for pasture, and dwelled in tents, which they carried with them, and pitched where it was most convenient for them; hence they were called Scenites; see Psalms 120:5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 Ishmael Genesis 25:15. He was the father of the Kedareneans or “Cedrai,” mentioned by Pithy (“Nat. Hist.” v. 11). They dwelt in the neighborhood of the Nabatheans, in Arabia Deserta. These people lived in tents, and were a wandering tribe, and it is not possible to fix the precise place of their habitation. They resided, it is supposed, in the south part of Arabia Deserts, and the north part of Arabia Petrea. The name ‘Kedar’ seems to be used sometimes to denote Arabia in general, or Arabia Deserts particularly (see Psalms 120:5; Song of Solomon 1:5; Isaiah 42:11; Isaiah 60:7; Jeremiah 2:10; Jeremiah 49:28; Ezekiel 26:21).

Shall fail - Shall be consumed, destroyed (כלה kâlâh).