Ezekiel 21 Footnotes

21:8-17 Interpreters who consider this passage a wanton celebration of slaughter are taking a superficial view. This “sword song” is not a song of delight but a warning of certain judgment. The sword was sharpened and made ready for slaughter (vv. 8-11). Like the Lord, the prophet was visibly moved and grieved by the carnage of judgment (v. 12). The sword was instructed to strike three times to emphasize the extent of judgment (vv. 13-15). Finally, the sword was instructed to strike and do its work (vv. 16-17). Some interpreters try to connect this passage with the sword song of Lamech (Gn 4:23-24), but there is no clear correlation.