ירמיהו, פרק מ״ז, פסוק ז׳

War often seems like an uncontrollable force, sweeping across lands and refusing to quiet down until its devastating work is done. The prophet addresses the relentless nature of battle, explaining why the sword of war cannot simply stop its destruction. It is impossible for the weapon to rest before it fully completes its assigned mission [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. This is because God has specifically commanded it to continue its path of ruin. In this context, the sword acts as a direct messenger from God, sent with the precise purpose of destroying kingdoms [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The specific destination for this violence is the city of Ashkelon and the surrounding seacoast, targeting the Philistines who inhabit the coastal borders [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. God has actively prepared and designated the sword for these exact locations, marking them as the ultimate target for the coming slaughter [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The sword's inability to find peace stems from two intertwined motives. Beyond the overarching divine command, there is also a practical, political reality driving the conflict. The invading conqueror is already waging war against the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon. Because the Philistines living along the coast provided assistance to Tyre, the conqueror directs his forces against them as well, aiming to wipe them out and cut off any further support [מלבי״ם].