Isaiah 21:11-12

The Burden of Dumah (Edom) - (Isaiah 21:11).

In her fear at the news of the downfall of Babylon Edom cries to the only one who seems to be able to proclaim the future reliably, Isaiah, the prophet of Judah, and his reply is that if she would enquire of Yahweh, she must first turn from her old ways and come to Him.

Analysis.

a The Burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir (Isaiah 21:11 a)

b “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman what of the night?” (Isaiah 21:11 b).

b The watchman said, “The morning comes and also the night” (Isaiah 21:12 a).

a “If you will enquire, enquire. Turn, come” (Isaiah 21:12 b).

In ‘a' the cry comes to him from Edom for his help, and in the parallel if they would enquire, they must first turn and then come. In ‘b' he is asked as Yahweh's watchman what the night will bring, and in the parallel he warns that morning comes and the comes the night.

Isaiah 21:11

‘The Burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman what of the night?”. The watchman said, “The morning comes and also the night. If you will enquire, enquire. Turn, come.”

That Dumah here represents a section of Edom (note the similar consonants d-m. There is a play on words) comes out in the mention of Seir. The word dumah means ‘silence'. The idea seems to be that Edom is waiting in silence for what is coming, as she cowers in her stronghold Seir (see Genesis 32:3; Genesis 36:20; Genesis 36:30; Numbers 24:18). Here is not a nation to depend on but one that is fearful and waiting with nothing to offer but questions and doubts.

In her fear she calls on Yahweh's watchman (compare Isaiah 21:6; Isaiah 21:8), the only one whom she thinks can offer enlightenment in the circumstances. She recognises that he alone can prophesy the truth and wants to know what the gathering darkness will bring. This call may have been by a special messenger sent to Jerusalem. Isaiah's fame as a prophet was clearly spreading. So with the twilight of judgment that Isaiah 21:4 has in mind she asks Yahweh's watchman what the night is going to bring. The doom of Babylon threatens all her erstwhile allies. So what is going to happen to them all, and especially to her? She is basically admitting that her own gods can tell her nothing, and that is why she seeks to Yahweh.

Isaiah's reply is that morning comes, but then further night. They are right to be concerned about the night. He knew what it meant to watch both morning and night (Isaiah 21:8). So let Edom also watch and wait. But she had enquired of Yahweh through His servant. Well, if she really wanted to know Yahweh's way, if she would find safety, if she would prosper in the future, if she would find confidence and trust, let her turn from her ways and her gods and let her come to Yahweh (‘Turn, come.') For if she desires to enquire of Yahweh, that is what is required. It is an offer for her to join the people of God. But we discover later that she refuses it, resulting finally in terminal judgment (34; Isaiah 63:1). ‘And also the night' turns out to be final.