In Isaiah, chapter twenty-one, verse thirteen, “The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.” Arabia was located between Edom and Babylon. It would experience warfare and defeat at the hands of the invaders, fulfilled as the Assyrians attacked the Arabians in the Old Testament; Sennacherib also conquered Arabia and took the title “King of Arabia.”
While God revealed to his prophet the fate of foreign nations, among others, he declares that of those Arabians who inhabited the western part of Arabia Deserta, or Petrea,” and bordered upon the Idumeans. They are here termed the companies of Dedanim, being the descendants of Dedan, the son of Jokshan, the son of Abraham by Keturah; and travelling companies, because a great number of them used to travel together the same way, as now companies travelling together in those parts are called caravans. In saying, In the forest shall ye lodge, the prophet foretells that they should be driven into flight by the Assyrians, or that that populous country should be turned into a desolate wilderness.
The Arabians lived in tents and kept cattle. A destroying army shall be brought upon them, and make them an easy prey. We will know not what straits we may be brought into before we die. Those may know the want of necessary food, who now eat bread to the full. Neither the skill of archers, nor the courage of mighty men, can protect from the judgments of God. That is poor glory, which will thus quickly come to nothing. Therefore, the Lord said to me, and no word of his shall fall to the ground. Happy are those only whose riches and glory are out of the reach of invaders; all other prosperity will speedily pass away.