Isaiah 21:13

13 The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!

Isaiah 21:13 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 21:13

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 Ezekiel 27:20 ) and who, because of the ravages of the enemy, would be glad of a lodging in the woods for security.

Isaiah 21:13 In-Context

11 The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?

12 The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.

13 The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!

14 Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.

15 For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.