Isaiah 21:14

14 meet the thirsty with water; inhabitants of the land of Tema greet the refugees with bread.

Isaiah 21:14 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 21:14

The inhabitants of the land of Tema
This country had its name from Tema, one of the sons of Ishmael, ( Genesis 25:15 ) . The Targum calls it the land of the south, as if it was Teman. These people were Arabians, and are here said to assist their countrymen, the Dedanites, in distress: brought water to him that was thirsty;
as travellers are wont to be, especially in a desert land, and when fleeing from an enemy; in which circumstances the travelling companies of Dedanim now were: they prevented with their bread him that fled;
gave it to him, being hungry and necessitous, without asking for it. Now all this seems to show what calamities should come upon the inhabitants of some parts of Arabia; that they should lodge in a forest, be hungry and thirsty, and flee before their enemy, as follows.

Isaiah 21:14 In-Context

12 The guard said, "Morning has come, but it is still night. If you must inquire, inquire; come back again."

13 An oracle about the desert. In the woods, in the desert where you camp, caravans of the Dedanites

14 meet the thirsty with water; inhabitants of the land of Tema greet the refugees with bread.

15 They have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the intensity of battle.

16 So the Lord said to me: Within a year, according to the number of years for which a laborer is hired, all the glory of Kedar will end;