Kedar is a figure mentioned several times in the Old Testament of the Bible. He was the second son of Ishmael, who was the elder son of Abraham through Hagar (Genesis 25:13). The name Kedar means “dark-skinned” or “powerful” in Hebrew. Here is an overview of the significance of Kedar in the Bible:
Kedar and the Ishmaelites
As a son of Ishmael, Kedar was considered an ancestor of the Ishmaelites, who were a nomadic tribal nation living in the deserts of the Middle East. The Ishmaelites were viewed as outsiders and were often in conflict with the Israelites in the Old Testament. Kedar and his descendants inhabited parts of the Arabian peninsula and northern Arabia.
Genesis 25:13 states: “These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam.” This establishes Kedar’s lineage from Abraham and significance as a progenitor of the Ishmaelites.
Prophecies Concerning Kedar
The Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah both made several prophecies concerning Kedar and the people descended from him. These prophecies cast Kedar as representative of the nomadic Arab tribes living in the deserts to the east of Canaan.
Isaiah 42:11 predicts: “Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains.” This depicts Kedar’s domain as being the desert wilderness.
Jeremiah 2:10 says: “For pass over to the coasts of Chittim and see, and send unto Kedar and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.” Here, Kedar is invoked as a faraway place at the edge of the known world.
Isaiah 60:7 prophesies: “All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house.” This predicts the eventual turning of the Kedarites to worship the God of Israel.
Kedar’s Skills and Resources
The Old Testament references to Kedar paint a picture of the Ishmaelites descended from him being gifted archers and warriors. They were also known for their livestock, particularly sheep and goats. As nomads dwelling in tents, they moved from place to place seeking new pastures and water sources.
Isaiah 21:16-17 describes: “For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.”” This depicts the skilled archers Kedar was known for.
Psalm 120:5 also mentions Kedar’s skill with the bow: “Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!”
The livestock and tents of Kedar are referenced in Song of Solomon 1:5 – “I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.” This analogy draws on Kedar’s numerous black goat-hair tents.
Kedar in Judgment Oracles
The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel incorporate references to Kedar in their oracles proclaiming judgment on the nations surrounding Israel. Kedar and the nomadic tribes associated with his name served as a representation of the remote desert peoples.
Isaiah 21:13-17 contains an oracle proclaiming judgment on Arabia and Kedar. It warns of the destruction coming upon the warlike Kedarites within a year. This serves as a warning that even powerful nations like Kedar are not beyond God’s reach and judgment.
Jeremiah 49:28-33 similarly warns of the coming judgment on Kedar, stating in verse 28: “Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.” The Babylonian king’s conquest is thus predicted.
Ezekiel 27:21 laments: “Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you.” This mentions how Kedar’s livestock trading will come to an end.
Kedar Referenced in Post-Exilic Texts
Kedar is also referenced in some of the latest Old Testament texts written after the Babylonian exile, showing the continued familiarity of his name to the biblical authors. These texts invoke Kedar as a far-off foreign place.
Ezra 2:45 mentions Kedarites present among those returning from exile in Babylon: “The sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub.”
Nehemiah 3:5 states: “And next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.” This mentions the “house of Kedar” being rebuilt.
Esther 1:6 describes a luxurious curtain: “There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.” This mentions “green cushions on which were embroidered Paradise scenes, done by Babylonian artists in dyed and threaded silks.” Kedar’s dwelling in tents may have inspired such embroidery.
Psalm 120, likely written after the exile, still references the alien nature of living among the tents of Kedar.
Kedar and Arabia in the New Testament
Although Kedar himself is not mentioned by name, several references to Arabia in the New Testament likely evoke the memory of Old Testament Kedar and his Ishmaelite descendants. The region of Arabia continued to be inhabited by nomadic desert tribes.
Galatians 1:17 states: “Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.” The apostle Paul travelled to Arabia shortly after his conversion.
Galatians 4:25 states: “Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.” This allegorically connects Hagar, the mother of Ishmael and Kedar, with Mount Sinai located in the region associated with Kedar’s descendants.
Summary of Kedar’s Significance
In summary, Kedar was significant in the Bible as:
- The ancestor of major nomadic Arab tribes
- The object of numerous prophecies in Isaiah and Jeremiah
- Representative of distant desert peoples and places
- Known for archery skills and livestock wealth
- Invoked in judgment oracles against surrounding nations
- Mentioned in post-exilic texts as a faraway foreign place
So while Kedar himself does not physically appear in any biblical narratives, his symbolic importance resonated throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament period as well. His name became a byword for the remote desert wilderness inhabited by wandering Arab tribes. The prophecies and judgments concerning Kedar allowed biblical authors to weave this obscure figure into God’s unfolding redemptive plan for Israel and the nations.