וַיְהִי דְבַר יְיָ אֵלַי לֵאמֹר:
(יד) בֶּן אָדָם הִנָּבֵא וְאָמַרְתָּ כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי אֱמֹר חֶרֶב חֶרֶב הוּחַדָּה וְגַם מְרוּטָה:
(טו) לְמַעַן טְבֹחַ טֶבַח הוּחַדָּה לְמַעַן הֱיֵה לָהּ בָּרָק מֹרָטָּה אוֹ נָשִׂישׂ שֵׁבֶט בְּנִי מֹאֶסֶת כָּל עֵץ:
The word of Adonai came to me: O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said Adonai: A sword! A sword has been whetted and polished. It has been whetted to wreak slaughter; [therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish. How can we rejoice? My child, it scorns the rod and every stick.
[JPS translation, edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What is the connection between potential violence and celebration?
2. Are there examples of this behavior today?
3. How should one respond in such a situation?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)