DUMAH - IS IT A PLACE OR DOES IT HAVE ANOTHER MEANING? ISAIAH 21:11-12

Isaiah 21:11 

מַשָּׂא דּוּמָה אֵלַי קֹרֵא מִשֵּׂעִיר שֹׁמֵר מַה־מִלַּיְלָה שֹׁמֵר מַה־מִלֵּיל׃

Isaiah 21:11 

אָמַר שֹׁמֵר אָתָה בֹקֶר וְגַם־לָיְלָה אִם־תִּבְעָיוּן בְּעָיוּ שֻׁבוּ אֵתָיוּ׃

It is interesting that the "Oracles against Dumah" in Isaiah 21:11 is translated as Edom in the New American Standard Bible (NASB). However, we know elsewhere in the Old Testament, Edom is spelt as אֱדוֹם.


So, what exactly is the meaning of דּוּמָה (Dumah)?

According to Barbara Lai in Eng & Fields. Devotions on the Hebrew Bible. MI: Zondervan, 2015 (pages 65-67), the root word for דּוּמָה is  דמם.
We also know that דּוּמָה means 'Silence'.
See below:-

I quote Barbara's beautiful exposition of Isaiah 21:11-12.

"This prophecy against Dumah is short and enigmatic. Understood as the imaginary of a silent question and answer, it betrays a state of subtle but deep emotion. Lacking for answers, Isaiah is frustrated and helpless. Yet in the second portion of his response -- inquired (בְּעָיוּ), return! (שֻׁבוּ), come! (אֵתָיוּ) -- he finds resolve. It is only in such inner dialogue can space be created to resolve such tensions. Isaiah 21:11-12, then, provides us an example of the prophet's inner world as he seeks to fulfill his role as God's appointed watchman."