The prophets
Prophecy concerning Dumah and Arabia
Prophecy concerning Dumah: Someone calls to the watchman from Seir, asking how far the night has gone. The watchman answers that morning is coming, but also night. Then follows the prophecy concerning Arabia: Caravans from Dedan must spend the night in the forest, and the people of Tema are urged to meet the fugitives with water and bread, for they flee from sword and bow. The Lord says that within one year all the glory of Kedar will end, and the archers, the mighty men of Kedar, will be few.
Isaiah 21,11-17
11An oracle concerning Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"
מַשָּׂ֖א דּוּמָ֑ה אֵלַי֙ קֹרֵ֣א מִשֵּׂעִ֔יר שֹׁמֵר֙ מַה־מִלַּ֔יְלָה שֹׁמֵ֖ר מַה־מִלֵּֽיל׃
12The watchman answers, "Morning is coming, and night as well. If you must inquire, then inquire; come back again."
אָמַ֣ר שֹׁמֵ֔ר אָתָ֥ה בֹ֖קֶר וְגַם־לָ֑יְלָה אִם־תִּבְעָי֥וּן בְּעָ֖יוּ שֻׁ֥בוּ אֵתָֽיוּ׃ ס
13An oracle concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must camp for the night, you caravans of Dedan.
מַשָּׂ֖א בַּעְרָ֑ב בַּיַּ֤עַר בַּעְרַב֙ תָּלִ֔ינוּ אֹֽרְח֖וֹת דְּדָנִֽים׃
14Bring water to the thirsty, you who live in the land of Tema; meet the fugitive with bread.
לִקְרַ֥את צָמֵ֖א הֵתָ֣יוּ מָ֑יִם יֹשְׁבֵי֙ אֶ֣רֶץ תֵּימָ֔א בְּלַחְמ֖וֹ קִדְּמ֥וּ נֹדֵֽד׃
15For they flee from the swords—from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, from the weight of battle.
כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵ֥י חֲרָב֖וֹת נָדָ֑דוּ מִפְּנֵ֣י ׀ חֶ֣רֶב נְטוּשָׁ֗ה וּמִפְּנֵי֙ קֶ֣שֶׁת דְּרוּכָ֔ה וּמִפְּנֵ֖י כֹּ֥בֶד מִלְחָמָֽה׃ ס
16For this is what the Lord said to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts the years, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.
כִּי־כֹ֛ה אָמַ֥ר אֲדֹנָ֖י אֵלָ֑י בְּע֤וֹד שָׁנָה֙ כִּשְׁנֵ֣י שָׂכִ֔יר וְכָלָ֖ה כָּל־כְּב֥וֹד קֵדָֽר׃
17And the remnant of the bowmen, the warriors of the sons of Kedar, will be few." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
וּשְׁאָ֧ר מִסְפַּר־קֶ֛שֶׁת גִּבּוֹרֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־קֵדָ֖ר יִמְעָ֑טוּ כִּ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל דִּבֵּֽר׃ ס