Isaiah 21

Isaiah 21:11 Isaiah 21:12 . A PROPHECY TO THE IDUMEANS WHO TAUNTED THE AFFLICTED JEWS IN THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY.

One out of Seir asks, What of the night? Is there a hope of the dawn of deliverance? Isaiah replies, The morning is beginning to dawn (to us); but night is also coming (to you). Compare Psalms 137:7 . The Hebrew captives would be delivered, and taunting Edom punished. If the Idumean wish to ask again, he may do so; if he wishes an answer of peace for his country, then let him "return (repent), come" [BARNES].

11. Dumah--a tribe and region of Ishmael in Arabia ( Genesis 25:14 , 1 Chronicles 1:30 ); now called Dumah the Stony, situated on the confines of Arabia and the Syrian desert; a part put for the whole of Edom. VITRINGA thinks "Dumah," Hebrew, "silence," is here used for Idumea, to imply that it was soon to be reduced to silence or destruction.
Seir--the principal mountain in Idumea, south of the Dead Sea, in Arabia-Petræa. "He calleth" ought to be rather, "There is a call from Seir."
to me--Isaiah. So the heathen Balak and Ahaziah received oracles from a Hebrew prophet.
Watchman--the prophet ( Isaiah 62:6 , Jeremiah 6:17 ), so called, because, like a watchman on the lookout from a tower, he announces future events which he sees in prophetic vision ( Habakkuk 2:1 Habakkuk 2:2 ).
what of the night--What tidings have you to give as to the state of the night? Rather, "What remains of the night?" How much of it is past? [MAURER]. "Night" means calamity ( Job 35:10 , Micah 3:6 ), which, then, in the wars between Egypt and Assyria, pressed sore on Edom; or on Judah (if, as BARNES thinks, the question is asked in mockery of the suffering Jews in Babylon). The repetition of the question marks, in the former view, the anxiety of the Idumeans.

12. Reply of the prophet, The morning (prosperity) cometh, and (soon after follows) the night (adversity). Though you, Idumeans, may have a gleam of prosperity, it will soon be followed by adversity again. Otherwise, as BARNES, "Prosperity cometh (to the Jews) to be quickly followed by adversity (to you, Idumeans, who exult in the fall of Jerusalem, have seized on the southern part of their land in their absence during the captivity, and now deride them by your question)" ( Isaiah 34:5-7 ). This view is favored by Obadiah 1:10-21 .
if ye will inquire, inquire--If ye choose to consult me again, do so (similar phrases occur in Genesis 43:14 , 2 Kings 7:4 , Esther 4:16 ).
return, come--"Be converted to God (and then), come" [GESENIUS]; you will then receive a more favorable answer.

Isaiah 21:13-17 . PROPHECY THAT ARABIA WOULD BE OVERRUN BY A FOREIGN FOE WITHIN A YEAR.

Probably in the wars between Assyria and Egypt; Idumea and Arabia lay somewhat on the intermediate line of march.

13. upon--that is, respecting.
forest--not a grove of trees, but a region of thick underwood, rugged and inaccessible; for Arabia has no forest of trees.
travelling companies--caravans: ye shall be driven through fear of the foe to unfrequented routes ( Isaiah 33:8 , Judges 5:6 , Jeremiah 49:8 is parallel to this passage).
Dedanim--In North Arabia ( Genesis 25:3 , Jeremiah 25:23 , Ezekiel 25:13 , 27:20 ; a different "Dedan" occurs Genesis 10:7 ).

14. Tema--a kindred tribe: an oasis in that region ( Jeremiah 25:23 ). The Temeans give water to the faint and thirsting Dedanites; the greatest act of hospitality in the burning lands of the East, where water is so scarce.
prevented--that is, anticipated the wants of the fugitive Dedanites by supplying bread ( Genesis 14:18 ).
their bread--rather, "his (the fugitive's) bread"; the bread due to him, necessary for his support; so "thy grave" ( Isaiah 14:19 ), [MAURER].

15. they--the fugitive Dedanites and other Arabs.

16. years of . . .
Kedar--a wandering tribe ( Psalms 120:5 ). North of Arabia-Petræa, and south of Arabia-Deserta; put for Arabia in general.

17. residue . . . diminished--The remnant of Arab warriors, famous in the bow, left after the invasion, shall be small.