21:1–32 The oracles of this chapter all use the figure of a sword (21:1–7, 8–27, 28–32). The Old Testament frequently describes God as a warrior. His sword was ordinarily wielded against Israel’s enemies (Deut. 32:41; Is. 31:8; 34:5–8; 66:16; Jer. 25:31; 50:35–37; Zeph. 2:12). But now the sword was given to the Babylonians and would be wielded against Judah and Jerusalem (vv. 2, 12).