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The Lord Will Judge Arabia

13 This is an oracle about Arabia:
In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night,
you Dedanite caravans.
14 Bring out some water for the thirsty.
You who live in the land of Tema,
bring some food for the fugitives.
15 For they flee from the swords—
from the drawn sword,
and from the battle-ready bow,
and from the severity of the battle.

16 For this is what the Lord[a] has told me: “Within exactly one year[b] all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end. 17 Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.”[c] Indeed,[d] the Lord God of Israel has spoken.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 21:16 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here is אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonay).
  2. Isaiah 21:16 tn Heb “in still a year, like the years of a hired worker.” See the note at 16:14.
  3. Isaiah 21:17 tn Heb “and the remnant of the number of the bow, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few.”
  4. Isaiah 21:17 tn Or “for” (KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB, NRSV).

13 The [mournful, inspired] oracle ([a]a burden to be carried) concerning Arabia:

In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night,
Caravans of Dedanites.
14 
Bring water for the thirsty [Dedanites],
O inhabitants of the land of Tema [in Arabia];
Meet the fugitive with bread.
15 
For they have fled from the swords,
From the drawn sword, from the bent bow
And from the press of battle and grief of war.

16 For the Lord has said this to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired man [who will work no longer than was agreed], all the splendor of [the tribe of] Kedar will end; 17 and the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 21:13 I.e. an urgent message the prophet is under compulsion to proclaim.