ישעיהו, פרק כ״א, פסוק י״ז

A divine decree seals the fate of the sons of Kedar, signaling the total collapse and steady decline of their military power. A devastating war will sweep through the nation, ensuring that the vast majority of the people will perish. The primary approach among commentators is that the survival of a mere remnant highlights the sheer scale of this destruction [אבן עזרא, רש״י].

The military strength of Kedar relies heavily on their mighty warriors, who are highly skilled archers. This mastery of the bow is a legacy passed down directly from their ancestor Ishmael [רש״י]. However, even these elite fighters will face absolute ruin. The few archers who manage to escape the initial slaughter will find no lasting safety, as their numbers will continue to steadily decrease over time [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Even if the conquering enemy intentionally spares some of these skilled warriors to draft them into their own ranks, these captured fighters are also doomed to dwindle and eventually perish [מלבי״ם].

The ultimate cause behind this unavoidable destruction is a direct command from God, who determines the fate of all nations [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Once He has spoken, the outcome is absolute, as He holds the power to fulfill His word [מצודת דוד]. The specific identification of God as the God of Israel in this context reveals the underlying reason for the harsh punishment. The sons of Kedar are facing this ruin because of their past cruelty toward the Israelites. During the Assyrian exile of Israel, the people of Kedar either joined the invading forces or took advantage of the vulnerable exiles passing through their territory. Their current destruction serves as direct retribution for the harm they inflicted upon those weak and defenseless refugees [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].