I shall now only touch briefly on the extreme ones in a corner, or those bounded by a corner, who were almost unknown to the Jews on account of their distance. [1] After having spoken of nations so very remote, that he might not by prolixity be tedious, he mentions all the extreme ones in a corner, that is, those who were bounded by the farthest limits. As to Dedan, Tema, and Buz, we know that these countries derived their names from their founders. Who Dedan was, we learn from Moses, and also who Tema and Buz were. (Genesis 25:3,15; 1 Chronicles 5:14.) Two of them were descendants of Abraham by Keturah. [2] There is no need of saying more of these countries, for they are not known by us at this day, and we cannot learn from geographers the extent of any of these countries; for there was hardly a place at the time when heathen writers began their records, which had not long before changed its name. We however conclude that these were eastern countries. It follows --

Footnotes

1 - See Note in [6]vol. 1, p. 506.

2 - This is not quite correct. Dedan -- there are two of this name mentioned, Genesis 10:7, and Genesis 25:3; the latter is probably meant here. Tema was one of Ishmael's race, Genesis 25:15. See also Job 6:19, and Isaiah 21:14. -- Buz was one of Nachor's posterity, Genesis 22:21; and of this family was Elihu, the most remarkable of Job's friends; he was a Buzite. Job 32:1-6. -- Ed.

Dedan - See the Isaiah 21:13 note.
Buz - See Job 32:2 note.
All that are - See the marginal reference note.

Dedan - Was son of Abraham, by Keturah, Genesis 25:3.
Tema - Was one of the sons of Ishmael, in the north of Arabia, Genesis 36:15.
Buz - Brother of Uz, descendants of Nahor, brother of Abraham, settled in Arabia Deserta, Genesis 22:21.

(s) Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all [that are] in the utmost corners,
(s) These were people of Arabia which came of Dedan the son of Abraham and Keturah.

Dedan, and Tema, and Buz,.... These seem to be places in Edom or Idumea, of whose destruction Jeremiah prophesies in Jeremiah 49:7; or rather in Arabia and Mesopotamia. Jerom reckons them among the Ishmaelites and Saracens, The persons from whom they descended are mentioned in Genesis 22:21;
and all that are in the utmost corners; that is, either of the above countries, or of the whole earth: or "all that had their hair shorn" (m); or the corners of their beards; which Jerom says is applicable to the Saracens.
(m) "universis qui attonsi sunt in comam", V. L. "barbitonsis", Syr.

Dedan--north of Arabia (Genesis 25:3-4).
Tema . . . Buz--neighboring tribes north of Arabia (Job 32:2).
all . . . in . . . utmost corners--rather, "having the hair cut in angles," a heathenish custom (see on Jeremiah 9:26).

Tema - Tema descended from Ishmael, Genesis 25:15, his posterity inhabited in Arabia, Isaiah 21:13-14, where they are joined with those of Dedan. Buz - Buz was one of the posterity of Nahor, Genesis 22:21. These were people mixed with the Saracens or Arabians.