The prophecy of disaster drops its metaphorical disguise, transforming into an open, severe warning of total destruction that spares no one. God declares that He is turning directly against the land of Israel to wage war and deliver a providential punishment [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. To execute this judgment, a sword is drawn from its scabbard [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Unsheathing this weapon reveals the reality behind a previous prophetic metaphor; just as a fierce fire consumes an entire forest, this sword will wipe out the people with equal devastation [מלבי״ם].
The most shocking aspect of this decree is that the slaughter will encompass everyone together, sweeping away both the righteous and the wicked [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that these two groups directly parallel the moist tree and the dry tree from the earlier metaphor [רש״י, מלבי״ם].
The inclusion of the righteous in this punishment leads to several explanations. One approach suggests that the innocent simply perish because of the sins of the wicked people surrounding them [רד״ק]. However, other commentators offer a deeper perspective, explaining that the righteous are actually exiled and removed first. This early removal serves a dual purpose: it spares them from witnessing the agonizing suffering of their generation, and it strips away the spiritual protection they provide. As long as the righteous remain, their merit delays disaster from striking the wicked. Therefore, to carry out His absolute judgment, God must remove them from the land beforehand [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, חומת אנך].
In contrast to these views, a completely unique interpretation redefines the basic meaning of the groups being destroyed. According to this perspective, the term describing the righteous actually refers to a person who worships idols with deep devotion and consistency, while the term for the wicked describes someone who only engages in idolatry occasionally. These labels reflect the internal values of the idolaters themselves. In God's eyes, however, both types are entirely wicked and equally deserving of destruction [רד״ק].