(טז) וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְמׇרְטָ֖הֿ לִתְפֹּ֣שׂ בַּכָּ֑ף הִֽיא־הוּחַ֤דָּה חֶ֙רֶב֙ וְהִ֣יא מֹרָ֔טָּה לָתֵ֥ת אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּיַד־הוֹרֵֽג׃
(16) It has been given to be polished and then grasped in the hand; for this has the sword been whetted, for this polished—to be put into the hand of a slayer.
Questions:
- Who is wielding the sword throughout ch. 21? Is the identity of the wielder important? Why or why not?
- Consider v. 16 and the phrases "grasped in the hand" and "in the hand of a slayer." Who is this slayer? Is their identity important? Why or why not?
- Is the prophecy of destruction any more or less devastating without an explicitly named antagonist?