The editor is basically deferring to people with expertise who can put the paper into context better than they could. The editor might be an expert in the field

The editor is basically deferring to people with expertise who can put the paper into context better than they could. The editor might be an expert in the field, but they can’ speak for every aspect of it like someone working day to day in that specific aspect of the field could. Sometimes the authors themselves even recommend potentially relevant reviewers for the editor to contact for peer reviewing.