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Selected Verse: Isaiah 21:14 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Isa 21:14 |
Strong Concordance |
The inhabitants [03427] of the land [0776] of Tema [08485] brought [0857] water [04325] to him [07125] that was thirsty [06771], they prevented [06923] with their bread [03899] him that fled [05074]. |
| |
King James |
The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Tema--a kindred tribe: an oasis in that region (Jer 25:23). The Temeans give water to the faint and thirsting Dedanites; the greatest act of hospitality in the burning lands of the East, where water is so scarce.
prevented--that is, anticipated the wants of the fugitive Dedanites by supplying bread (Gen 14:18).
their bread--rather, "his (the fugitive's) bread"; the bread due to him, necessary for his support; so "thy grave" (Isa 14:19), [MAURER]. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Of the land of Tema - Tema was one of the sons of Ishmael Gen 25:15, and is supposed to have populated the city of Thema in Arabia Deserta. The word denotes hero one of the tribes of Ishmael, or of the Arabians. Job speaks Job 6:19 of 'the troops of Tema,' and Jeremiah Jer 25:23 connects Tema and Dedan together. Jerome and Eusebius say that the village of Theman (Θαιμάν Thaiman) existed in their time. It was, according to Jerome, five, and according to Eusebius, fifteen miles from Petra, and was then occupied as a Roman garrison (Onomas Urb. et Locor). Ptolemy speaks of a city called Themme (Θαιμάν Themmē) in Arabia Deserta. This city lies, according to D'Anville, in longitude 57 degrees East, and in latitude 27 degrees North. According to Seetsen, it is on the road usually pursued by caravans from Mecca to Damascus. Lowth renders it 'The southern country,' but without authority. The Septuagint renders it, Θαιμάν Thaiman - 'Thaiman.'
Brought water - Margin, 'Bring ye.' This might be rendered in the imperative, but the connection seems rather to require that it be read as a declaration that they did so. To bring water to the thirsty was an act of hospitality, and especially in eastern countries, where water was so scarce, and where it was of so much consequence to the traveler in the burning sands and deserts. The idea is, that the inhabitants of the land would be oppressed and pursued by an enemy; and that the Arabians, referred to by the prophet Isa 21:13, would be driven from their homes; and be dependent on others; that they would wander through the vast deserts, deprived of the necessaries of life; and that they would be dependent on the charity of the people of Tema for the supply of their needs. The following illustration of this passage has been kindly furnished me by the Rev. Eli Smith, missionary to Syria, showing that Isaiah, in mentioning "hospitality" as one of the virtues of the inhabitants of Tema, drew from the life. 'Even in Hebrew prophecy hospitality is distinctly recognized as a trait in the Arab character. Isaiah says, "the inhabitants of Tema," etc. Tema is known as an oasis in the heart of Arabia, between Syria and Mecca. And among the scraps of ante-Mahometan poetry that have reached us, is one by Samaciel, a prince of this same Tema. In extolling the virtues of his tribe he says -
"No fire of ours was ever extinguished at night without a guest, and of our guests never did one disparage us."
'In the passage quoted from Isaiah, it is to the thirsty and hungry in flight, that the inhabitants of Tema are represented as bringing water and bread, as if hastening to afford them protection. The extent to which this protection is sometimes carried, is finely illustrated by a traditionary anecdote in the life of Samaciel, the prince and poet of Tema just mentioned. In some feud among the tribes in his neighborhood, a prince (Amru el-Keis) fled to Samaciel, left with him his treasures, and was conducted by him beyond the reach of his enemies. They assembled their forces, and marched upon Tema. On their way Samaciel's son fell into their hands. Presenting the young man before his castle, they proposed to the father the dreadful alternative, of delivering up to them what his guest had left, or seeing his son massacred. Samaciel's sense of honor dictated the reply -
"He honored me, and I'll honor him ... Treachery is a chain to the neck that never wears out." So he defended the rights of his guest, and his son was slain.'
They prevented - Our word 'prevent' usually means at present, to hinder, to obstruct. But in the Scriptures, and in the Old English sense of the word, it means to anticipate, to go before. That is the sense of the word קדמוּ qidemû here. They "anticipated" their needs by bread; that is, they supplied them. This was an ancient and an honorable rite of hospitality. Thus Melchizedek Gen 14:17-18 is said to have come out and met Abraham, when returning victorious from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, with bread and wine.
Him that fled - The inhabitant of the land of Arabia that fled before the invader, perhaps the inhabitants of Kedar Isa 21:16, or of some other part of Arabia. It is not meant that the "whole" land of Arabia would be desolate, but that the invasion would come upon certain parts of it; and the inhabitants of other portions - as of Tema - would supply the needs of the fugitives. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Tema - A part of Arabia. Fled - Whereby he implies, that those other Arabians, against whom this prophecy is principally directed, should be reduced to great scarcity, and forced to flee for their lives, from a bloody enemy. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| The land of Tema "The southern country" - Θαιμαν, Sept.; Austri, Vulg. They read תימן teiman, which seems to be right; for probably the inhabitants of Tema might be involved in the same calamity with their brethren and neighbors of Kedar, and not in a condition to give them assistance, and to relieve them, in their flight before the enemy, with bread and water. To bring forth bread and water is an instance of common humanity in such cases of distress; especially in those desert countries in which the common necessaries of life, more particularly water, are not easily to be met with or procured. Moses forbids the Ammonite and Moabite to be admitted into the congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation. One reason which he gives for this reprobation is their omission of the common offices of humanity towards the Israelites; "because they met them not with bread and water in the way, when they came forth out of Egypt," Deu 23:4. |
19 But thou art cast out [07993] of thy grave [06913] like an abominable [08581] branch [05342], and as the raiment [03830] of those that are slain [02026], thrust through [02944] with a sword [02719], that go down [03381] to the stones [068] of the pit [0953]; as a carcase [06297] trodden under feet [0947].
18 And Melchizedek [04442] king [04428] of Salem [08004] brought forth [03318] bread [03899] and wine [03196]: and he was the priest [03548] of the most high [05945] God [0410].
23 Dedan [01719], and Tema [08485], and Buz [0938], and all that are in the utmost [07112] corners [06285],
16 For thus hath the Lord [0136] said [0559] unto me, Within a year [08141], according to the years [08141] of an hireling [07916], and all the glory [03519] of Kedar [06938] shall fail [03615]:
17 And the king [04428] of Sodom [05467] went out [03318] to meet [07125] him after [0310] his return [07725] from the slaughter [05221] of Chedorlaomer [03540], and of the kings [04428] that were with him, at the valley [06010] of Shaveh [07740], which [01931] is the king's [04428] dale [06010].
18 And Melchizedek [04442] king [04428] of Salem [08004] brought forth [03318] bread [03899] and wine [03196]: and he was the priest [03548] of the most high [05945] God [0410].
13 The burden [04853] upon Arabia [06152]. In the forest [03293] in Arabia [06152] shall ye lodge [03885], O ye travelling companies [0736] of Dedanim [01720].
23 Dedan [01719], and Tema [08485], and Buz [0938], and all that are in the utmost [07112] corners [06285],
19 The troops [0734] of Tema [08485] looked [05027], the companies [01979] of Sheba [07614] waited [06960] for them.
15 Hadar [02316], and Tema [08485], Jetur [03195], Naphish [05305], and Kedemah [06929]:
4 Because [01697] they met [06923] you not with bread [03899] and with water [04325] in the way [01870], when ye came forth [03318] out of Egypt [04714]; and because they hired [07936] against thee Balaam [01109] the son [01121] of Beor [01160] of Pethor [06604] of Mesopotamia [0763], to curse [07043] thee.