Isai. xxi. 11, \2. The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night ? Watchman, what of the night ? The nmtchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night. If ye tvill inquire, inquire ye : return, come.
THIS portion of holy writ is justly considered as very obscure ; and the more so, because we are not aware of any records of history that will reflect light upon it. The learned Vitringa conceives the scope of the prophecy to be this : that, on occasion of some heavy calamity inflicted either on the Assyrians or Chaldeans in common with the Jews, an inhabitant of Edom inquired of the prophet what the duration of the trouble should be : and then he supposes the prophet to answer, that, as far as respected the Jews, a morning of relief was at hand : but that to Edom there was coming a night of long and heavy affliction. But on such an interpretation, the severe answer of the prophet seems uncalled for. I should rather confine the whole subject to Idumea : and then the question of the Edomite, and the answer of the pro- phet, will be natural, and perfectly consistent. It is well known that the Prophet Isaiah foretold the fate of Edom, as well as of all the other nations around Judea ; and that he predicted the heaviest calamities to them all. Now, I suppose an Edomite unbelievingly and contemptuously to ask, " Watchman, what of the night ? Watchman, what of the night ? " that is, ' You, as placed on a watch-tower, presume to declare what shall befall our nation : tell me how long is it before these calamities, which you predict, shall come upon us?' To this question the prophet answers, ' You will have yet a " morning" of prosperity: but, I can assure you, it shall be succeeded by a long " night" of heavy adversity. If you really desire to be informed, in order to avert, by penitence, the threatened calamity, follow up your inquiries in a becoming spirit : " re- turn" to God, whom you have forsaken; and " come"