Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 34:12

"They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing." — Isaiah 34:12 (ASV)

They shall call the nobles thereof ... —The monarchy of Edom seems to have been elective, its rulers being known, not as kings, but by the title that the English version renders as “dukes” (Genesis 36:15–43). It will be noticed that no chief in the list of dukes is the son of his predecessor. Isaiah foretells as part of the utter collapse of Edom that there will be neither electors nor any to be elected.