The Apostle Paul and the people of Kedar

Paul claimed that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. What was his connection to the people of Kedar, who were Gentiles and would enter God's fold as predicted in Isaiah 42 verse 11 and Isaiah 60 verse 7?

Kedar was the son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Arab people.

This is a very interesting question. Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, meaning that he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the non-Jewish nations. He traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, visiting places such as Cyprus, Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia, and Rome.

He also wrote many letters to the churches he founded or visited, which are part of the New Testament.
While Paul's ministry was mainly directed towards the Gentiles in various regions, there is no specific mention or connection between Paul and the people of Kedar in the New Testament.

The people of Kedar were a nomadic tribe of Arabs, descended from Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. They are mentioned several times in the Old Testament as examples of the distant nations that would worship the true God. Isaiah 42 verse 11 and Isaiah 60 verse 7 are two of the prophecies that foretell the inclusion of the people of Kedar in God’s salvation plan.

The references to Kedar in Isaiah are prophecies that speak about the inclusion of Gentiles into God's fold. These prophecies imply that people from various nations, including the descendants of Kedar, would come to worship and acknowledge God.

Although Paul's mission was to bring the message of salvation to the Gentiles, his primary interactions were with the Greco-Roman world rather than specific Arab or Ishmaelite communities. However, there is no specific mention of Paul having a direct connection to the people of Kedar mentioned in those specific verses of Isaiah.

Connecting the Dots: Isaiah 60:7, the Hajj Ritual, and the Prophecy of Ishmael’s Descendants

Some believe that Isaiah 60, verse 7, is related to the Hajj ritual, and is the fulfillment of Hagar’s prophecy regarding Ishmael in Genesis 21, verse 18. How is this interpretation presented?

This is an interesting question. The interpretation that Isaiah 60, verse 7, is related to the Hajj ritual and the fulfillment of Hagar's prophecy regarding Ishmael is based on the following assumptions:

The verse reads:

“All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you, The rams of Nebaioth will serve you; They will go up on My altar with acceptance, And I will glorify My glorious house.”

The flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth in Isaiah 60, verse 7, refer to the descendants of Ishmael, who was the son of Abraham and Hagar, and the ancestor of the Arabs. Kedar and Nebaioth were two of Ishmael's sons (Genesis 25, verse 13).

The altar and the glorious house mentioned in Isaiah 60, verse 7, refer to the Kaaba. The Kaaba is a sacred building in Mecca that has a cube shape. Muslims believe it was constructed by Abraham and Ishmael. It serves as the direction of prayer and is also the destination for the Hajj pilgrimage.

The acceptance of the offerings on the altar and the glorification of the house in Isaiah 60, verse 7, refer to Muslims performing their Hajj, known as the Feast of Sacrifice. This sacrifice is performed in remembrance of Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael and as a demonstration of submission to Allah's will.

Furthermore, it is a prophecy of God's acceptance and blessing of the Ishmaelites, who worship Him at the Kaaba in sincerity and submission, as He promised Hagar in Genesis 21, verse 18, "I will make him into a great nation."

This interpretation is presented by some Muslim scholars and commentators, who see it as a proof of the truth and validity of Islam and the Hajj ritual.

Significance of Kedar in the Bible

1. Kedar was the second son of Ishmael and grandson of Abraham (Genesis 25:13, 1 Chronicles 1:29). The name Kedar is used to refer to his descendants, a nomadic Arab tribe that lived in the northwest part of the Arabian peninsula.

2. The people of Kedar were known for their black goat hair tents, reflecting their nomadic lifestyle (Song of Songs 1:5). They were also skilled warriors and archers (Isaiah 21:16-17).

3. Kedar is mentioned several times in prophetic passages:

Isaiah uses Kedar as an example of a distant eastern country in contrast to Israel (Jeremiah 2:10).

Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesy the downfall and destruction of Kedar at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and the Assyrians (Jeremiah 49:28-29, Isaiah 21:16-17).

Ezekiel notes that Kedar, along with Arabia, supplied lambs, rams and goats to the merchants of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:21).

4. In some passages, Kedar serves as a symbol:

Dwelling in the tents of Kedar represents living among hostile people far from the worship of God (Psalm 120:5).

The dark tents of Kedar are a metaphor for the beauty of Solomon's bride (Song of Songs 1:5).

5. Prophetically, Isaiah looks forward to a time when Kedar will worship God and be included in His kingdom (Isaiah 42:11, 60:7), signifying the universal scope of God's salvation plan.

6. In later times, the name Kedar came to be used more broadly for Arab peoples in general. Islamic genealogies trace Mohammed's lineage back to Ishmael through Kedar.

So in summary, Kedar was a prominent ancient Arabian tribe that had interactions with Israel and its neighbors. They are featured in prophecies of judgment as well as future blessing, and symbolically represent foreign peoples who will one day be brought into the worship of the true God. The references to Kedar give insight into the nomadic Arab cultures of Old Testament times.