Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 21:16
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
16. according to the years of a hireling ] See on Isa 16:14.
Kedar ] a tribe of pastoral nomads (Isa 60:7; Eze 27:21) in the Syrian desert (Jer 2:10), is here apparently a comprehensive designation of the north Arabian tribes (cf. Son 1:5; Psa 120:5).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Within a year – What has been said before was figurative. Here the prophet speaks without a metaphor, and fixes the time when this should be accomplished. It is not usual for the prophets to designate the exact time of the fulfillment of their prophecies in this manner.
According to the years of an hireling – Exactly; observing the precise time specified Job 7:1. See the phrase explained on Isa 16:14.
All the glory – The beauty, pride, strength, wealth, etc.
Of Kedar – Kedar was a son of Ishmael Gen 25:15. He was the father of the Kedareneans or Cedrai, mentioned by Pithy (Nat. Hist. v. 11). They dwelt in the neighborhood of the Nabatheans, in Arabia Deserta. These people lived in tents, and were a wandering tribe, and it is not possible to fix the precise place of their habitation. They resided, it is supposed, in the south part of Arabia Deserts, and the north part of Arabia Petrea. The name Kedar seems to be used sometimes to denote Arabia in general, or Arabia Deserts particularly (see Psa 120:5; Son 1:5; Isa 42:11; Isa 60:7; Jer 2:10; Jer 49:28; Eze 26:21).
Shall fail – Shall be consumed, destroyed ( kalah).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 21:16-17
Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, sad all the glory of Kedar shall fail
End of the year: a warning and a lesson
I.
A TERRIBLE THREATENING. We have here a prophecy of the fall of a nation, which had held a proud position by reason of prowess and skill in war. But glory founded on physical strength, upon wealth, or upon power, may speedily fade away. With all the study of economics we seem to know but little even now, and we have found, many times of late, how trifling a matter may lead to the overthrow of existing engagements and conditions. Much less stable is the glory of a nation built upon the strength of its arms. A nations glory is safe only when it is founded upon righteousness and obedience to God.
II. A TIME FIXED. Within a year. How different the feeling in looking back over a year and looking forward! The retrospect–bow short a time, how quickly passed, how little done, and yet what changes have taken place! How the number of the mighty have diminished! The prospect–what a long time, what hopes we have, what possibilities are in it! To us as a nation, to us in our families, to us as persons. Are we prepared for them! The fall of the glory of Kedar was announced to come within the year. Forbearance must have its limits. A boundary to life, to sin, to indulgence; but within a given period the time of reckoning must he fixed.
III. THE ATTITUDE WE SHOULD ADOPT. Standing on the threshold of a new year, let us consider our position. Certain it is that some will fall within the year. Men shall be diminished. Let our influence, by example and precept, be exerted to found our national glory, not upon our skill in arms, on our insular position, on our wealth, but upon true obedience to God. The number of those who form the glory of the Church will be diminished this year. Are the younger people preparing themselves to fill the vacant places? There is a warning here, that those who trust in aught but in Jehovah will find their glory naught but folly. There is also encouragement. The God of Israel hath spoken it. To him that walketh uprightly and serveth God humbly, shall glory be revealed from day to day, until the full glory of God is revealed to us in the life beyond. (Frank Mabin.)
According the years of an hireling
In a years time, calculated as exactly as is the custom between employers and employed, Kedars freedom, military strength, numbers, and wealth shall have vanished. (F. Delitzsch.)
The number of archers
They [the sons of Kedar] are numbered hero, not by heads, but by bows, so specifying the fighting men–a mode of numbering common, e.g., among the Indians of America. (F. Delitzsch.)
Within a year
A sensible person said he could never covet the office of chief magistrate of London, because that honour continued only one year. Might not the idea be justly extended to all the honours and enjoyments of this life? None of them are permanent. (Anon.)
.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Within a year, from the time of this prophecy.
According to the years of an hireling, to wit, an exact year; for hirelings diligently observe and wait for the end of the year, when they are to receive their wages.
All the glory; their power, and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory. This was executed by the Assyrians.
Kedar; of whom see on Psa 120:5; Jer 49:28.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. years of . . . hireling(Seeon Isa 16:14).
Kedara wandering tribe(Ps 120:5). North ofArabia-Petra, and south of Arabia-Deserta; put for Arabia ingeneral.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For thus hath the Lord said unto me,…. The prophet; which confirms what is before said, as well as assures the accomplishment of what follows:
within a year, according to the years of an hireling; that is, exactly and precisely, as soon as ever the year is come to an end; for the hireling, when his year is up, instantly demands dismissal from his service, or his wages, or both. The time is to be reckoned from the delivery of this prophecy; and so the calamity predicted was brought upon them by the Assyrians, perhaps under Sennacherib, when he invaded the cities of Judah, and might take Arabia in his way; less time is allowed than was the Moabites, who suffered by the same hand; see
Isa 16:14:
and all the glory of Kedar shall fail; these were another sort of Arabians, as the Targum calls them: they descended from Kedar, a son of Ishmael, Ge 25:13 their “glory” were their multitude, their riches and substance, and which chiefly lay in their flocks; for the sake of which they moved from place to place for pasture, and dwelled in tents, which they carried with them, and pitched where it was most convenient for them; hence they were called Scenites; see Ps 120:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thus does the approaching fate of Arabia present itself in picture before the prophet’s eye, whilst it is more distinctly revealed in Isa 21:16, Isa 21:17: “For thus hath the Lord spoken to me, Within a year, as the years of a hired labourer, it is over with all the glory of Kedar. And the remnant of the number of bows of heroes of the Kedarenes will be small: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken.” The name Kedar is here the collective name of the Arabic tribes generally. In the stricter sense, Kedar, like Nebaioth, which is associated with it, as a nomadic tribe of Ishmaelites, which wandered as far as the Elanitic Gulf. Within the space of a year, measured as exactly as is generally the case where employers and labourers are concerned, Kedar’s freedom, military strength, numbers, and wealth (all these together constituting its glory), would all have disappeared. Nothing but a small remnant would be left of the heroic sons of Kedar and their bows. They are numbered here by their bows (in distinction from the numbering by heads), showing that the righting men are referred to – a mode of numbering which is customary among the Indian tribes of America, for example.
(Note: See the work of V. Martius on the Indians of Brazil, i. 395, 411, etc.)
The noun she’ar (remnant) is followed by five genitives here (just as peri is by four in Isa 10:12); and the predicate is in the plural because of the copiousness of the subject. The period of the fulfilment of the prophecy keeps us still within the Assyrian era. In Herodotus (2, 141), Sennacherib is actually called “king of Arabians and Assyrians” (compare Josephus, Ant. x. 1, 4); and both Sargon and Sennacherib, in their annalistic inscriptions, take credit to themselves for the subjugation of Arabian tribes. But in the Chaldean era Jeremiah predicted the same things against Kedar (chapter 49) as against Edom; and Jer 49:30-31 was evidently written with a retrospective allusion to this oracle of Isaiah. When the period fixed by Isaiah for the fulfilment arrived, a second period grew out of it, and one still more remote, inasmuch as a second empire, viz., the Chaldean, grew out of the Assyrian, and inaugurated a second period of judgment for the nations. After a short glimmer of morning, the night set in a second time upon Edom, and a second time upon Arabia.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
16. For thus hath the Lord said to me. He adds that this defeat of the Arabians, of which he prophesied, is close at hand; which tended greatly to comfort the godly. We are naturally fiery, and do not willingly allow the object of our desire to be delayed; and the Lord takes into account our weakness in this respect, when he says that he hastens his work. He therefore declares that he prophesies of things which shall happen, not after many ages, but immediately, that the Jews may bear more patiently their afflictions, from which they know that they will be delivered in a short time.
Yet a year according to the years of the hireling. Of the metaphor of “the year of the hireling,” which he adds for the purpose of stating the matter more fully, we have already spoken. (75) It means that the time will not be delayed. The same comparison is used by heathen authors, where they intend to describe a day appointed and desired; as appears from that passage in Horace, “The day appears long to those who must render an account of their work.” (76)
(75) Bogus footnote
(76) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) According to the years of an hireling . . . The prophet uses, as in Isa. 16:14, the formula which expressed the most precise measurement, and so gives a test as to his forecast of the future.
And all the glory of Kedar shall fail.Kedar is used, as in Psa. 120:5, Son. 1:5, generically for the nomadic tribes of Arabia, including Dedan.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Years of a hireling The desert carriers had probably become rich, and plunder was the object of assaults upon them. The prophet sees that God is to permit them, that is,
Kedar the representative term for all Arabian carriers to be impoverished. These, and all their glory of wealth and protective guards are to be ruined within a year, as the hireling figure runs hired for one year.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 21:16-17. For thus hath the Lord said, &c. Hitherto the prophet had spoken figuratively: he now ceases to do so. This period contains, first, the circumstance of the time connected with the execution of this judgment, and the greatness of the judgment itself. Nothing can be more clear than the former: With respect to the latter, the meaning is, that the Arabians should suffer a grievous slaughter, in which the greater part of their heroes and principal men should fall; while they, deprived of their flocks, tents, furniture, and wealth, should be obliged to save themselves by flight into the interior parts of the desart. The deficiency of history, sacred and prophane, renders the completion of this prophesy more difficult to be ascertained. See Vitringa; who renders the former part of the 17th verse, And the remaining number of bows of the mighty men of Kedar.
REFLECTIONS.1st, As Babylon was appointed for a house of bondage to God’s people, her destruction is repeatedly foretold, to comfort them in their low estate; and that, when captives there, they may confidently expect to see her ruin, and their deliverance. This prophesy is intitled, The burden of the desart, or plain, of the sea, as lying in a flat country, surrounded with rivers and lakes; and a burden, because of the heavy doom denounced.
1. The invasion of the Medes is described, swift and resistless as the whirlwind from the south, sweeping all before it. From the desert it, or he, cometh; Cyrus marching his troops through a desert in his way to Babylon, from a terrible land, such as Media was, producing fierce warriors, terrible to their enemies. A grievous vision is declared unto me, full of wrath against the Chaldeans. The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously; and the spoiler spoilethBelshazzar, whose wickedness and oppression of God’s people brought destruction upon him. Or, as some render the words, the treacherous dealer hath found a treacherous dealer, and the spoiler one that spoileth; the Babylonians being repaid in kind by the Persians for their former ravages in Judaea. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media: all the sighing thereof have I made to cease; either that of the Medes and Persians, fatigued with the length of their march, and the labour of draining the river, in order to open a way into the city; or the sighing of the captive Jews and others in Babylon, who, when the city was taken, regained their liberty.
2. The distress of the king of Babylon is set forth under the image of a travailing woman. Amid the revels of that fatal night, when, rioting with his princes, the sacred vessels of the sanctuary were profaned, the hand-writing on the wall struck with sudden pangs the impious king, and spoke his approaching doom, which is scarcely sooner pronounced than executed, the city that very night being taken, and Belshazzar slain. Note; Though the midnight revels of pleasure, and the board of drunkenness, may not be interrupted by such a miraculous hand-writing on the wall, and sinners, joyous and thoughtless, to dance and song devote the day, did they but see what is written in God’s book, how quickly would their mirth, like Belshazzar’s, be turned into mourning, and their joy into heaviness?
3. The entertainment is made ready at command, and while they sit around the festal board, the watch is set to prevent surprise, and in security they carouse. Note; The security of sinners hastens their ruin.
4. In that critical moment the besiegers are preparing for the assault. The princes arise, the shields are ready, and sudden destruction approaches.
5. The prophet is appointed of God, as a watchman posted on the walls, to declare what he sees. On looking he beholds a chariot with two horsemen, perhaps alluding to Cyrus and Darius, and a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels, representing the two nations of Medes and Persians, and, on hearkening diligently, he perceived the sound of the army rushing on the city, and he cried, a lion; Cyrus, for strength and courage compared to that king of beasts, hasting to seize the prey of Babylon. Thus with unwearied vigilance, day and night, the prophet discharged his trust; and now perceiving the chariot and horsemen above described, the Persian and Median army under their generals, entering the city, he cries, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
In the state and ruin of this proud city we have a figure of Babylon mystical, which shall thus be surprised and destroyed; and many of the expressions in the Revelations are borrowed from this description, Rev 17:1-14; Rev 18:2; Rev 18:7-8; Rev 14:8.
6. The prophet addresses the people of God, assuring them of the certainty of the events that he foretold. He calls them, My threshing, either as being smitten with God’s word, or afflicted by his providences; and the corn of my floor, as dear and valuable to him, and carefully preserved, as the choicest wheat, when the chaff is winnowed away. Note; (1.) God’s dearest children have frequently the sharpest trials; but it is only to purify and cleanse them. (2.) The church is God’s floor, where the faithful, his corn, are collected; whilst all false professors and careless sinners are the chaff, which will be burnt with unquenchable fire. (3.) What ministers receive from God they must carefully and diligently deliver, keeping back from the people nothing of the whole counsel of God.
2nd, We have,
1. The burden of Dumah, which some suppose a part of Arabia, see Gen 25:14 but more generally, and, I believe, justly, it is interpreted Idumaea. See the Notes. What temporal judgment it referred to is uncertain; probably they suffered with their neighbours from the Assyrian army.
2. A question put by one of mount Seir, Watchman, what of the night? watchman, what of the night? what hour, how much remains; or what from the night? what tidings? what danger? The question is repeated, as from a person eager to be resolved; or from several coming quickly after each other; so great is their anxiety, that a second calls before the watchman can answer the first. Note; (1.) Every minister is a watchman; he is to spread the alarm, and the people are to inquire at his mouth. (2.) It is a mercy when a sense of danger drives us to a solicitous inquiry how to escape. (3.) Every soul is by nature in darkness, till Christ, the Sun of righteousness, arises with healing in his wings.
3. The watchman said, The morning cometh: some respite from the calamity. Or, if we suppose the question put by a proselyte Idumaean, waiting for the consolation of Israel under the darkness of the Mosaic dispensation, the answer is, that the morning cometh, when Christ, the day-star, should arise, and light and joy be diffused by his gospel. But he adds, and also the night; their ruin by the army of the Assyrians. Or, taken more generally, it may imply a state of persecution succeeding the first propagation of the gospel; or a state of darkness in the church, when the prevalence of Mahometanism and Popery should almost utterly extinguish the light of truth. If ye will inquire, inquire ye diligently and earnestly, by prayer, meditation, reading God’s word, and consulting his ministers, in order to return and come to him; either to God, by repentance, under the affliction; or to the watchman, for constant information and advice. Note; (1.) In the day of prosperity we must not forget to prepare for the night of adversity. (2.) If the morning of our life be lost in vanity, the night of age and death will surprise us unprepared for eternity. (3.) The soul that is inquiring after Christ, is already near to the dawning of the day. (4.) The gospel preaches free grace to all; whosoever will, let him come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ. (5.) Since our time is so short, it should quicken our diligence to improve it: we have no moment to spare.
3rdly, Arabia lying in the way of the Assyrian army, it is probable that their detachments ravaged the country, or subdued it, as they advanced towards Judaea.
1. The miserable case of the travelling companies of Dedanim is set forth (they were descendants of Abraham by Keturah). See the Notes. Terrified by the sword of the Assyrians, they fled to the forests to save themselves from the grievousness of war. They are called travelling companies, because their traffic was carried on by large caravans; or, alluding to their wandering life, in tents and with herds, without any settled abode. In their distress their friendly neighbours supplied them, fainting and famished, with bread and water; or, as the margin of our English Bibles reads it, they are commanded to do so, such kind compassion being ever due to the afflicted.
2. Kedar shares the same fate: all their glory, their riches, their flocks and herds plundered; and their mighty warriors, who stood to defend their country, diminished by the sword of the Assyrians, and few men left. So poor and uncertain a thing is this world’s glory, so easily tarnished; and our abundance often proving our ruin, and exposing us to dangers that we otherwise might have escaped.
3. The time is fixed for their ruin: within a year, according to the years of an hireling, who precisely marks the day when his contract expires. And since Israel’s God affirms it as sure, his people are warned not to rely on the Arabians as friends, or to fear them as foes.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 21:16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
Ver. 16. Within a year, after the years of an hireling. ] See on Isa 16:14 ; before the year be come about.
All the glory of Kedar.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isa 21:16-17
16For thus the Lord said to me, In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate; 17and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken.
Isa 21:16 In a year, as a hired man would count it This same idiom of precise timing is found earlier in Isa 16:14.
Kedar This is another large city of Arabia. It, and by implication all of Arabia’s army, will be defeated. Sargon II attacked this area in 715 B.C.
Again the theological phrase for the LORD God of Israel has spoken. It was not the power of ancient armies that directed ANE events, but the God of Israel! This is a claim to monotheism.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Within a year. Later afflictions were foretold in Jer 49:28.
Kedar. Another descendant of Abraham by Hagar through Ishmael (Gen 25:13).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
according: Isa 16:14, Job 7:1
Kedar: Isa 42:11, Isa 60:7, Gen 25:13, 1Ch 1:29, Psa 120:5, Son 1:5, Jer 49:28, Eze 27:21
Reciprocal: Gen 25:14 – Dumah Lev 25:50 – according to the time Deu 15:18 – a double
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 21:16-17. For thus hath the Lord said Hitherto the prophet had spoken figuratively: now he ceases to do so; within a year From the time of the delivery of this prophecy, according to the years of a hireling Namely, an exact year: for hirelings diligently observe and wait for the end of the year, when they are to receive their wages. And this prophecy was probably delivered about the same time with the rest in this part of the book, that is, soon before or after the 14th of Hezekiah, the year of Sennacheribs invasion. In his first march into Judea, or in his return from the Egyptian expedition, he might, perhaps, overrun these several clans of Arabians, whose distress, on some such occasion, is the subject of this prophecy. Bishop Lowth. And all the glory of Kedar shall fail Their power and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory The Kedarenes were another division of the Arabians, descended from Kedar, Ishmaels son, (Gen 25:13,) who were famous for the use of the bow, as is intimated in Isa 21:17, at which weapon their ancestor Ishmael was very expert, Gen 21:20. The same people are said to dwell in the tents of Kedar, (Psa 120:5; Son 1:5,) and were remarkable for their swarthiness, the word Kedar signifying black or tawny. It is here foretold that they should suffer a grievous slaughter, whereby their mighty men should be diminished, and that they should be deprived of their flocks, tents, furniture, and wealth, and be obliged to save themselves by fleeing into the interior parts of the desert.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:16 For thus hath the Lord said to me, Within a year, {t} according to the years of an {u} hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
(t) He appoints them respite for one year only, and then they would be destroyed.
(u) Read Isa 16:14 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Within precisely a year, however, these Arabians would suffer destruction and their army would dissolve. Their end would be due to the sovereign Lord, not to the force of opposing armies. The Lord Himself assured the prophet of this.
The place that refugees from advancing Gentile armies would seek security, Arabia, would soon prove insecure. Israel should not trust in this neighbor but in her Lord.