These include references from the Psalms mentioning Idumea and the surrounding nations, emphasizing their fate. Amos proclaims that due to Edom’s wickedness, divine judgment will not be averted, asserting that they have harmed their brother and disrupted his mercy, waging hostility against kin. The territory of Esau, identified with Dumah, namely the mountains of Seir, likely fell under the dominion of the Assyrians or Nebuchadnezzar. Remembering their lineage from Abraham and Isaac, the inhabitants sought divine intervention, driven by dire circumstances to appeal for God’s grace. The Lord conveys: those besieged in Seir, encircled by adversaries, plead for assistance, asking, “O guardian of Israel, who watches over Thy people vigilantly, why do You not protect us, who descend from the same lineage?” To these supplications, I, the watchman, whose vigilance over Israel is affirmed, respond: “Dawn is on the horizon for My people, but for Edom, night remains; I will illuminate them, yet to you, I shall leave in darkness. After the night passes, the light will emerge. If you cry out for My aid, and are of the lineage of My servant Abraham, do not seek Me only in hardship but approach Me with your entire heart; come, and I will embrace the penitent.” This is intended in a historical context. Some Hebrews, due to the similarity in letters, replace Duma with Roma, misinterpreting this prophecy as directed against the Roman Empire, under a misconception that Idumea always references them.
The burden of Duma brings shouts from Seir, calling to the watchman to inquire how long the night will last. The watchman replies that morning is nearing, but darkness persists; seek and approach me. The Hebrew elai, often translated as ‘to me,’ may also imply ‘my God’ or ‘my strong one.’ The word we interpret as shout or call may denote a summons to repentance from God, encouraging those from Seir—representing wilderness and ruggedness—to dwell with Him. Dumah signifies either silence or likeness, while Idumea suggests the temporal realm. Thus, the Lord commands the apostles to call those from Seir to serve Him, who resemble Esau in their roughness. The apostles are to safeguard the Church’s defenses against spiritual incursions, cautioning against the prowling lion that seeks to devour the flock within the Church’s embrace. The faithful within the Church respond, committing to uphold God's commandments constantly, in joy and in tribulation. God beckons them to demonstrate their earnestness in seeking Him, emphasizing that true seeking entails persistent pursuit and forsaking worldly ties. Following the translation of the Septuagint, which centers on Idumea, it indicates a calling from those who previously pursued earthly matters. According to Aquila's interpretation, Dumah, representing silence, indicates that where previously God's law was mute, now there arise proclamations of repentance, transforming the wild into the fruitful. The parable in the Gospel illustrates the invitation to the banquet, where servants summon both the good and the bad to partake in the master’s feast, as some refuse to attend. The Church hears the Lord’s summons from the earthly realm, calling her towards salvation. In response, she questions the watchman regarding his presence in darkness, despite being sinless. The guardian—the Good Samaritan from the Gospel—answers that dawn is approaching, yet night persists. The implication is that for the Gentiles, righteousness has dawned, while darkness has fallen upon the Jews, affirming, “I have come into this world for judgment, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” The Watchman assures that morning nears, urging the Gentiles to seek Him earnestly, promising healing for their wounds and inviting them to Him. These passages carry complexity and, given their historical ambiguity, prompt various interpretations through an allegorical lens.
THEOSIS