Isaiah 21:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When we relate this to the holy Church and its faithful members, as well as the gatherings of those who stray from the truth, we observe a troubling pattern. Frequently, crowds of Hellenes launch attacks on those who strive for sound doctrine and seek to honor the Creator and the Lord. They subject such individuals to harsh persecutions and impose difficult burdens. Likewise, those who harbor heretical beliefs, despite labeling themselves as Christians and feigning brotherly compassion, often exhibit greater cruelty than their non-believing adversaries, demonstrating a severe lack of mercy and humanity. Are not their actions evidence of this tendency? Yet God will not overlook their transgressions, and He shall not forgive those who demonstrate a profound absence of love, ensuring that they will face His wrath and judgment.

As I contemplated which Arabia this prophecy addresses—whether it refers to the Moabites, Ammonites, Idumeans, or other nations now identified as Arabs—the subsequent words in this vision confirming that "All the glory of Kidar shall be taken away, and the remnant of the brave archers shall be diminished," indicate that the Ishmaelites are the subject here. The book of Genesis reveals that Ishmael is the progenitor of Kidar and the Hagarites, often misidentified as Saracens. They inhabit vast deserts, and this is what the poet seems to reference: the widely traveling Barcaeans, as seen in Virgil's Aeneid, and the scripture stating, "he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren," for the expansive desert stretches from India to Mauritania and the Atlantic Ocean.

In the context of Jeremiah, 'of Kidar and the kingdoms of Asor, which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, struck' (Jer. 49:28), God commands, "Arise, and go to Kidar, and devastate the sons of the east. They will take their tents and flocks, their coverings and all their belongings, including their camels" (Jer. 49:29). The Lord adds, “For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devised plans against you. Arise and go against the people of peace, who dwell without care, for they have neither doors nor locks; they live apart. Their camels will be plundered, and there will be a multitude of their livestock taken as spoil. I will scatter them like chaff; from all their territories, destruction will come upon them" (Jer. 49:30-33).

This reflects the experience of the people of Ishmael, or the Saracens: they reside in tents without walls, moving in the wilderness and not in cities. They experienced ruin at the hands of the Babylonians, with the city of Asor—their capital—laid waste, while their herds and possessions were seized. Yet not all the people are thereby denoted, for they could swiftly traverse great distances in the desert. The full honor of Kidar will be removed, yet the adept warriors will become fewer, and the rest who flee will remain.

Having understood what Kidar and Arabia represent, and the fate of Asor, we should reflect on Isaiah's words: "In the forest at evening, you will find rest along the paths of Dodanim." The term "Arab" signifies evening, embodying both sadness and the early darkness of sin; those immersed in sin walk in twilight, while the deeply sinful are enveloped in the pitch of night. In the account of Egypt, the firstborn were struck in the heart of the night (Ex. 12). Apostle Peter's denial of the Lord, which transpired before the crow of the rooster signifying midnight (Matthew 26), illustrates this notion. However, upon daybreak—when the shadows are lifted—he wept bitterly, recognizing his transgressions and could then declare, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

The name Arabia encompasses various meanings in scripture, and Isaiah's reference to the forest at evening aligns with the preceding vision. Those who engage in wicked ways reside not in fertile fields awaiting harvest but rather in desolate forests filled with thorns and wild beasts, echoing the Biblical narrative during Absalom's rebellion (2 Kings 18:8). The text rightly indicates that such individuals travel the paths of judgment, suffering consequences reflective of their sinful ways.

"You who encounter the weary, bring water to the thirsty; you who belong to the southern land, share bread with those fleeing," for they have escaped the swords and the multitude of casualties. Its significance is clear; those in Theman—meaning south and purity—having been illuminated by the Scriptures, should reach out with sustenance to those who escape from Arabia and the oppressive wilderness. Do not wait for them to arrive; instead, emulate the compassionate father in the Gospel who hastened out to meet his returning son (Luke 15).

These fugitives have fled from their oppressors, from pagan doctrines and Jewish blasphemies, having witnessed many fall to the arrows of deceit. Thus, your assistance is essential for their salvation. This instruction serves as a rebuke to those who, complacently focused on their own salvation, neglect to lend support to the repentant. The Lord has said that as swiftly as the hired worker sees his labor year pass, so too shall the glory of Kidar fade, and the ranks of its archers will dwindle when the fleeing find redemption, quenching their thirst with the waters of salvation and partaking of the heavenly bread. The Almighty, the God of Israel, assures that this will surely come to pass.