Here the prophet gives further details concerning the siege of Jerusalem. The soldiers of Elam and Kir attacked it together.

And Elam bore the quiver refers to soldiers from the country of Elam who came equipped with bows and arrows as their weapons. For Elam see the comments on 21.2. A quiver is the container in which arrows are kept. The verb bore means “to carry.” Good News Translation renders this line as “The soldiers from the land of Elam … armed with bows and arrows.”

With chariots and horsemen echoes the language in the first lines of 21.7, 9. Masoretic Text is unclear here since it is literally “with a chariot of a man horsemen.” Revised English Bible and New American Bible change the Hebrew word for “man” (ʾadam) slightly, so that it reads “Aram” (that is, Syria). Others say “Edom.” Both Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and de~Waard recommend keeping Masoretic Text since there is no evidence of a textual problem. New Jerusalem Bible provides a helpful model for this line, saying “with manned chariots and horsemen.” New International Version translates “with her charioteers and horses.” Bible en français courant is similar with “there are men on the chariots, there are horses.” Another possible model is “with men riding chariots and horsemen.” Good News Translation does not mention “chariots” or “charioteers,” so it is inaccurate here.

And Kir uncovered the shield: Kir is either a city in Moab (15.1), or the area from which the Syrians (Arameans) originated (Amos 9.7). It is possible that Kir is a country in Mesopotamia but we have no solid evidence for it. Kir uncovered the shield means the soldiers of Kir held their shields in front of themselves as they advanced. It describes an army prepared to attack and defend itself. Bible en français courant has “the soldiers of Kir prepare their shield.”

Translation suggestions for this verse are:

• Warriors from Elam carried their quivers; they came with manned chariots and horsemen.
Soldiers from Kir presented/prepared their shields.

• Elamites came bearing their quivers, their men drove chariots and rode horses.
Soldiers from Kir held their shields at the ready.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .