Isaiah 21:13

WEB

The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.

KJV

The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

Commentary

Commentary

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 i s, "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 ye 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 ye travelling companies of Dedanim; or Dedanites; these were Arabians that descended from Jokshan, a son of Abraham by Keturah, Gen 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 Eze 27:15 and who, because of the ravages of the enemy, would be glad of a lodging in the woods for security.