Lexical Summary Dedani: Dedanites Original Word: דְּדָנִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Dedanim Plural of Ddan (as patrial); Dedanites, the descendants or inhabitants of Dedan -- Dedanim. see HEBREW Ddan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originpl. of Dedan Definition desc. or inhab. of Dedan NASB Translation Dedanites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [דְּדָנִי] adjective, of a people only plural as substantive אֹרְחוֺת דְּדָנִים Isaiah 21:3. Topical Lexicon Identification and Lineage Dedanites were a caravan-trading people whose name is preserved in the plural form דְּדָנִים. They are most naturally linked to Dedan, a descendant both of Cush (Genesis 10:7) and of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:3), suggesting either two related clans or a later merging of branches. The biblical portrait presents them as merchants, nomads, and desert dwellers whose livelihood depended on the trans-Arabian trade routes. Geographical and Cultural Setting Archaeology places ancient Dedan at modern-day Al-ʿUla in north-western Arabia, a strategic oasis on the incense road between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean world. Oasis gardens, rock-cut tombs, and monumental inscriptions testify to a prosperous society sustained by long-distance commerce in frankincense, myrrh, precious stones, and exotic textiles. Their itinerant lifestyle fostered constant interaction with neighboring tribes such as Tema, Kedar, and the Nabateans. Biblical Occurrence Isaiah 21:13 contains the lone attestable use of the specific plural. “This is an oracle concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.” (Berean Standard Bible) Role in Isaiah’s Oracle 1. Immediate context: Isaiah 21:11-17 forms a trilogy of burdens against Edom, Arabia, and Kedar. The Dedanites appear as caravaners compelled to seek nightly refuge in the “thickets” or scrub of the desert, indicating sudden disruption of their normal trade. Connections with the Broader Dedan Tradition Ezekiel 27:15, 20 and Ezekiel 38:13 describe Dedan as a maritime and overland trading partner of Tyre, dealing in ivory, ebony, saddle blankets, and livestock. This enlarges the picture given by Isaiah, showing a well-established mercantile network vulnerable to political upheaval. Jeremiah 25:23 mentions Dedan alongside Tema and Buz in a list of nations to drink the cup of God’s wrath. Together these passages portray Dedan as economically significant yet spiritually accountable. Historical Aftermath Classical writers such as Agatharchides and later the Roman geographer Pliny describe Dedan’s region as part of the kingdom of Lihyan and then Nabatea. The prophetic warnings of Isaiah and Ezekiel foreshadow the eclipse of these trade centers when sea routes and imperial borders shifted, vindicating the divine word spoken centuries earlier. Theological Insights • Sovereignty of God: The disruption of an entire caravan economy underscores that no human enterprise is beyond the Lord’s reach (Psalm 24:1). Implications for Modern Ministry 1. Marketplace outreach: Like the ancient caravans, today’s global trade hubs offer strategic avenues for gospel witness. See Also Dedan (Genesis 10:7; Genesis 25:3), Tema (Isaiah 21:14), Kedar (Isaiah 21:16-17), Tyre’s trading partners (Ezekiel 27). Forms and Transliterations דְּדָנִֽים׃ דדנים׃ də·ḏā·nîm dedaNim dəḏānîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 21:13 HEB: תָּלִ֔ינוּ אֹֽרְח֖וֹת דְּדָנִֽים׃ NAS: O caravans of Dedanites. KJV: O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. INT: spend caravans of Dedanites 1 Occurrence |
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