Isaiah 21:14

14 To meet the thirsty brought water have Inhabitants of the land of Tema, With his bread they came before a fugitive.

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 watchman hath said, `Come hath morning, and also night, If ye inquire, inquire ye, turn back, come.'

13 The burden on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.

14 To meet the thirsty brought water have Inhabitants of the land of Tema, With his bread they came before a fugitive.

15 For from the face of destructions they fled, From the face of a stretched-out sword, And from the face of a trodden bow, And from the face of the grievousness of battle.

16 For thus said the Lord unto me: `Within a year, as years of a hireling, Consumed hath been all the honour of Kedar.