The second word of judgment: the glittering and destroying sword. The passage may be called the “Lay of the Sword;” it is written in the form of Hebrew poetry, with its characteristic parallelism.
It contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree - The rod is the scepter of dominion, assigned to Judah Genesis 49:10. The destroying sword of Babylon despises the scepter of Judah; it despises every tree. Others render the verse, “Shall we make mirth” (saying), “the rod of my son,” (the rod which corrects my people) “contemneth” (treats with scorn, utterly confounds) “every tree” (every other nation); or, the scepter of my people “contemneth” (proudly despises) every other nation. Proud as the people are, they shall be brought to sorrow.
Terrors - Better as in the margin.
Smite upon thy thigh - A token of mourning (compare the marginal reference note).
Or,
For it is put to the proof, and if it contemneth even the rod, What shall not be? saith the Lord
i. e., What horrors will not arise when the sword shall cut down without regard the ruling scepter of Judah!
Doubled the third time - i. e., “thrice doubled” to express its violence and force.
The sword of the slain - The sword whereby men are to be slain.
Of the great men ... - Or, The sword of the mighty slain, which presseth hard upon them.
The point of the sword - The threatening sword or terror; as in Genesis 3:24, “the flaming sword.”
And their ruins be multiplied - literally, “to the multiplication of stumblingblocks,” that is, so that the causes of their fall may be more numerous. Compare Jeremiah 46:16.
Made bright ... - Or,
Ah! It is prepared for a lightning-flash, Drawn for slaughter.
The prophet addresses the sword,
Gather thyself up, O sword, to the right or to the left.
Another rendering is: “Turn thee backwards! get thee to the right! Set thee forwards (?)!get thee to the left! O whither is thy face appointed?
The Lord smites together His hands in anger (marginal reference), man in consternation.