KJV ORIGINAL
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The traveling merchants from Tema searched for water, and the trading caravans from Sheba hoped to find it there.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes how merchant caravans desperately searched for water in the desert, only to be disappointed when they couldn't find any.
📚 Historical Context
Tema and Sheba were ancient trading centers in Arabia known for their wealthy merchant caravans that traveled desert trade routes. These merchants depended completely on finding water at expected oasis locations to survive their journeys. Job is using this image as part of his metaphor comparing his friends to unreliable streams that dry up when needed most.
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