Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 21:8-17

"And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah: Say, A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished; it is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is furbished that it may be as lightning: shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it contemneth every tree. And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yea, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer. Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; smite therefore upon thy thigh. For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that contemneth shall be no more? saith the Lord Jehovah. Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers. I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter. Gather thee together, go to the right, set thyself in array, go to the left, whithersoever thy face is set. I will also smite my hands together, and I will cause my wrath to rest: I, Jehovah, have spoken it." — Ezekiel 21:8-17 (ASV)

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 (Ezekiel 21:10).

Terrors. Better as in the margin.

Smite upon your thigh. A token of mourning (compare the marginal reference note) (Ezekiel 21:12).

Alternatively: For it is put to the proof, and if it contemneth even the rod, What shall not be? says the Lord. That is, what horrors will not arise when the sword shall cut down without regard the ruling scepter of Judah! (Ezekiel 21:13).

Doubled the third time—that is, “thrice doubled” to express its violence and force.

The sword of the slain refers to the sword by which men are to be slain.

Of the great men... Or, The sword of the mighty slain, which presses hard upon them (Ezekiel 21:14).

The point of the sword signifies the threatening sword or terror, as in Genesis 3:24: “the flaming sword.”

And their ruins be multiplied means literally, “to the multiplication of stumblingblocks,” that is, so that the causes of their fall may be more numerous .

Made bright... Or:

Ah! It is prepared for a lightning-flash,
Drawn for slaughter (Ezekiel 21:15).

The prophet addresses the sword:

Gather yourself up, O sword, to the right or to the left.

Another rendering is: “Turn you backwards! Get you to the right! Set you forwards (?)! Get you to the left! O where is your face appointed?” (Ezekiel 21:16).

The Lord smites together His hands in anger (marginal reference), man in consternation (Ezekiel 21:17).