Isaiah 21:16

“For thus hath the Lord said unto me, &c.] 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…”

“years of . . . hireling--(See on Isa 16:14). Kedar--a wandering tribe (Psa 120:5). North of Arabia-PetrÃ&brvbra, and south of Arabia-Deserta; put for Arabia in general.”

“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 Isaiah 16:14. All the glory - The beauty, pride, strength, wealth, etc. Of Kedar - Kedar was a son of Ishmael Genesis 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…”

“A year - From the time of this prophecy: an exact year. Glory - Their power, and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory. This was executed by the Assyrians. Next: Isaiah Chapter 22”

“21:16 Kedar was an Arabian tribe that had great wealth and possessions (see 60:7; Ezek 27:21).”

“according: Isa 16:14; Job 7:1 Kedar: Isa 42:11, Isa 60:7; Gen 25:13; Ch1 1:29; Psa 120:5; Sol 1:5; Jer 49:28; Eze 27:21 Isaiah 21:17”

“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…”