Commentators unanimously explain that the final destruction of Judah was not merely an external attack but a fire that came from within. They identify the 'rod' that ignited the blaze as Judah's own king, Zedekiah. His rebellion and sin, as scholars note, provoked God's judgment, making the nation's own leadership the direct cause of its downfall. This serves as a sober reminder of how a people's sin can lead to their own ruin.