polished to flash like lightning
The phrase "polished to flash like lightning" uses the Hebrew word "בָּרָק" (barak), meaning "lightning" or "to gleam." This vivid imagery suggests not only the readiness of the sword but also its terrifying and awe-inspiring nature. Lightning is often associated with divine presence and power in the Bible, as seen in the theophany at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16). The polished sword reflects the purity and righteousness of God's judgment, which is both swift and unstoppable. It serves as a reminder of the power and majesty of God, who executes His will with precision and authority.

Should we rejoice in the scepter of My son?
The "scepter" symbolizes authority and kingship, often associated with the Davidic line in Israel. The rhetorical question "Should we rejoice" implies a sense of irony or misplaced confidence. The "scepter of My son" could refer to the ruling authority in Jerusalem, possibly King Zedekiah, who was seen as a son of David. However, the impending judgment suggests that there is no cause for rejoicing, as the earthly authority will be humbled before God's divine judgment. This serves as a sobering reminder that human power and authority are ultimately subject to God's sovereign will.

The sword despises every tree
The word "despises" comes from the Hebrew "מָאַס" (ma'as), meaning to reject or disdain. "Every tree" can be understood metaphorically, representing people or nations, as trees often symbolize strength and stability in biblical literature (e.g., Psalm 1:3). The sword's disdain for "every tree" indicates the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, sparing none who stand in opposition to His will. This phrase emphasizes the futility of relying on earthly strength or alliances when faced with divine judgment. It calls believers to place their trust in God alone, who is the ultimate arbiter of justice and righteousness.

Contemneth the rod of my son.--This refers to Genesis 49:9-10, in which Jacob addresses Judah as "my son," and foretells that "the sceptre shall not depart from" him until Shiloh come. There is another allusion to the same passage in Ezekiel 21:27. Comp, also Ezekiel 17:22-23. There is, however, serious difficulty as to the construction and meaning of the clause. The ancient versions and many commentators have more or less changed the text without improvement. The original is obscure in its extreme brevity, and allows "the rod of my son" to be either the object (as it is taken in the text) or the subject (as in the margin). The true sense is probably that which makes the clause into an objection offered by the Jew to the prophet's denunciation: "But 'the rod of my son' despiseth every tree;" i.e., the Divine promise of old to Judah is sure, and his sceptre must remain whatever power arises against it. The objection was in a certain sense true, but the objectors had little idea of the means by which its truth should be established, and vainly imagined that it gave a temporal security to the kingdom of Judah, whatever might be its sins. The prophet does not notice the objection further than to go on with his prediction of the approaching desolation. . . .

(1) Taking the received text, the most probable explanation is that given by Keil and Kliefoth: Shall we rejoice (saying), The sceptre of my son despiseth all woods. Here the "rod" is the "sceptre" of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and the words are supposed to be spoken by those who hear of the destroying sword. They need not dread the sword, they say, because the sceptre of the house of David, whom Jehovah recognizes as his son, despises all wood, looks on every other rod that is the symbol of sovereignty, with scorn. It is urged, in favour of this interpretation, that ver. 27 contains an unmistakable refer, nee to the prophetic words of Genesis 49:10.

(2) Ewald: It is no weak rod of my son, the softest of all wood; i.e. the sword of Jehovah is no weak weapon such as might be used for the chastisement of a child (Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 13:24).

(3) Hengstenberg: Shall we rejoice over the rod of my son, despising every tree? There is no cause for anything but the reverse of joy in the rod, the punishment which God appoints for Israel as his son, and which surpasses all others in its severity. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...