Isaiah 60:6

6 And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of God.

Isaiah 60:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 60:6

The multitudes of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of
Midian and Ephah
That is, multitudes of people riding on these creatures from the parts mentioned, which, abounded with them, should come and cover or fill Jerusalem, and the places about it. Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah, and a son of Midian, ( Genesis 25:4 ) these and their posterity inhabit Arabia; and so this is a prophecy of the conversion of the Arabians that dwell in Arabia Felix, Petraea, and Deserts; and so the Targum,

``a multitude of Arabians shall cover thee round about.''

A dromedary is a lesser camel, and swifter than the others; and both are very frequent in these countries, and used in travelling. Strabo

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 calls the Arabian Scenites feeders of camels. All they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense;
Sheba was another of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah, ( Genesis 25:3 ) and lived near the others; the queen of this country came to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but the people of it in the latter, day will come to a greater than he; even to Christ and to his church, and bring their gold and incense, as the wise men did to Christ, and shall honour the Lord with their substance; see ( Psalms 72:10 Psalms 72:15 ) : and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord;
who has called them by his grace out of Mahometan darkness, into the marvellous light of the Gospel. These were the things the Sabaeans abounded with. Strabo
F26 says, that frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon, grew with them; and that they have such an abundance of spices, that they use the branches of cinnamon, cassia, and other things, for fuel; and that some of them are so rich through merchandise, that they have very sumptuous houses, and much furniture of gold and silver, as vessels, beds, tripods, cups with covers; and even that their gates, and walls, and roofs, are adorned with ivory, gold and silver, and precious stones. And so Pliny
F1 observes: that the Sabaeans are very rich in fruitful and odoriferous woods, and in mines of gold, and other things; see ( Ezekiel 27:22 ) . Vitringa understands both these clauses of the camels bringing gold and incense, and praising the Lord in their way, or being the occasion of it.
F25 Geograph. l. 16. p. 528. Ed. Casaub.
F26 Geograph. I. 16. p. 535.
F1 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28.

Isaiah 60:6 In-Context

4 Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies.

5 When you see them coming you'll smile - big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst! All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!

6 And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of God.

7 And yes, a great roundup of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth, Welcome gifts for worship at my altar as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor. What's That We See in the Distance?

8 "What's that we see in the distance, a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky?