John Gill Commentary Isaiah 21:13

John Gill Commentary

Isaiah 21:13

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Isaiah 21:13

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites." — Isaiah 21:13 (ASV)

The burden upon Arabia Which lay heavy upon it, as a burden upon a beast; or "concerning" it, or "against" it, as Kimchi notes; which Arabia, or what part thereof, is meant, may be gathered from the names after mentioned. The Targum is, "the burden of the cup of cursing, to give the Arabians to drink." Ben Melech says, these are the Arabians that dwell in the wilderness:

in the forest in Arabia shall you lodge; not in their tents and huts, which they had used to carry with them, and set up where they pleased; since now in their fright and flight they would leave them behind them, and so be obliged to take up their lodging in woods and forests; perhaps the desert of Arabia Petraea is meant:

O you travelling companies of Dedanim; or Dedanites; these were Arabians that descended from Jokshan, a son of Abraham by Keturah, (Genesis 25:3) who were either shepherds, who went in companies together with their flocks, and moved from place to place for the sake of pasture; or rather were merchants, who went in caravans and troops with their merchandise from one country to another; see (Ezekiel 27:15Ezekiel 27:20) and who, because of the ravages of the enemy, would be glad of a lodging in the woods for security.