(15) The point.--The Hebrew word occurs only here. The marginal rendering comes nearer its sense, but the exact meaning is the glance or the whirl of the sword. The glancing or the whirling motion of the sword was to be everywhere, "against all their gates."
Their ruins be multiplied.--Literally, their stumbling blocks be multiplied. The thought is that in the coming desolation trouble shall be on every side and, in their perplexity, occasions for ill-advised action shall arise all around. "Bright" means "glittering." (Comp. Deuteronomy 32:41; Job 20:25; Nahum 3:3.)
It is wrapped.--The margin has sharpened, but the exact sense is drawn, "drawn out for the slaughter."
21:1-17 Here is an explanation of the parable in the last chapter. It is declared that the Lord was about to cut off Jerusalem and the whole land, that all might know it was his decree against a wicked and rebellious people. It behoves those who denounce the awful wrath of God against sinners, to show that they do not desire the woful day. The example of Christ teaches us to lament over those whose ruin we declare. Whatever instruments God uses in executing his judgments, he will strengthen them according to the service they are employed in. The sword glitters to the terror of those against whom it is drawn. It is a sword to others, a rod to the people of the Lord. God is in earnest in pronouncing this sentence, and the prophet must show himself in earnest in publishing it.
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates,.... The word rendered "point" is nowhere else used, and is differently translated: by some the "fear" of the sword (z), as Menachem and Kimchi; by others the "cry" of the sword, or of those that are slain with it, as Jarchi; and the Targum paraphrases it,
"those that slay with the sword:''
some, as both Jarchi and Kimchi, observe, by an inversion of the letters of the alphabet, called "athbash", render it, the "slaughter" of the sword; and De Dieu and Dr. Castel, from the use of the word in the Ethiopic language, the "destruction" of it, or, the power of it. The meaning is, that the enemy, with their swords drawn, should be placed at every gate of the city of Jerusalem, or of their houses, pointed towards them; which would be very terrible, and sore destruction to them.
That their hearts may faint; seeing nothing but death before their eyes, and no way to escape it:
and their ruins be multiplied; of their families, and of their houses.
Ah! it is made bright; to terrify the more, as in Ezekiel 21:10, appearing as a flaming sword, and so causing fear; the prophet expresses his sorrow and concern for it. The Targum is,
"woe! the sword is drawn out to kill.''
It is wrapped up for slaughter; in its sheath or scabbard, that it might not rust or be blunted, it being furbished and brightened; but this seems contrary to its being drawn out of its sheath, as in Ezekiel 21:3. Kimchi renders it, therefore, "sharpened", as in Ezekiel 21:10 and so the Targum,
Their ruins be multiplied.--Literally, their stumbling blocks be multiplied. The thought is that in the coming desolation trouble shall be on every side and, in their perplexity, occasions for ill-advised action shall arise all around. "Bright" means "glittering." (Comp. Deuteronomy 32:41; Job 20:25; Nahum 3:3.)
It is wrapped.--The margin has sharpened, but the exact sense is drawn, "drawn out for the slaughter."
"those that slay with the sword:''
some, as both Jarchi and Kimchi, observe, by an inversion of the letters of the alphabet, called "athbash", render it, the "slaughter" of the sword; and De Dieu and Dr. Castel, from the use of the word in the Ethiopic language, the "destruction" of it, or, the power of it. The meaning is, that the enemy, with their swords drawn, should be placed at every gate of the city of Jerusalem, or of their houses, pointed towards them; which would be very terrible, and sore destruction to them.
That their hearts may faint; seeing nothing but death before their eyes, and no way to escape it:
and their ruins be multiplied; of their families, and of their houses.
Ah! it is made bright; to terrify the more, as in Ezekiel 21:10, appearing as a flaming sword, and so causing fear; the prophet expresses his sorrow and concern for it. The Targum is,
"woe! the sword is drawn out to kill.''
It is wrapped up for slaughter; in its sheath or scabbard, that it might not rust or be blunted, it being furbished and brightened; but this seems contrary to its being drawn out of its sheath, as in Ezekiel 21:3. Kimchi renders it, therefore, "sharpened", as in Ezekiel 21:10 and so the Targum,
"it is sharpened to destroy;''
the more easily and speedily.
(z) "terrorem gladii", Munster, Pagninus, Montanus.