Isaiah 21:11 - Exposition

Dumah . There were at least two towns of this name; but neither of them is in the district of Seir. It is best, therefore, to regard " Dumah " here as representing Edom, or Iaumaea (so the LXX ; Jarchi, Rosenmüller, Kay , Cheyne, and others). He calleth to me ; rather, one calleth to me ; i.e. I seem to hear a call from Mount Seir, as of one making inquiry of me. There is no need to suppose that the inquiry was actually made. Mount Self, or the district south-south-east of the Dead Sea, was the heart of the Idumaean country, which thence extended vaguely eastward and westward. What of the night ? i.e. what hour, or, rather, perhaps, what watch of the night is it? May we consider that " the night is far spent, and the day at hand? Edom had offended Sargon by joining with Ashdod, and was probably at tiffs time oppressed by Sargon in consequence.