A prophecy of ultimate ruin calls upon the chosen destroyer of the Babylonian empire to launch an uncompromising attack. The command to rise up and strike is directed at the destined conqueror. Some identify this leader as Cyrus, king of Persia [רש"י], while others suggest it is Darius [רד"ק]. Alternatively, the call is a poetic address to the very concept of rebellion itself, which is commanded to rise and consume the land [מלבי"ם].
The prophecy outlines the targets of this invasion using terms that carry a dual meaning, blending physical geography with spiritual reality. On one level, these names represent specific provinces and cities either under Babylonian control or located near its borders [רש"י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that these names act as a wordplay reflecting both Babylon's crimes and its impending penalty. The land is referred to by a term denoting rebellion, pointing to the fact that Babylon sinned, rebelled, and angered God more than any other nation in the world [רש"י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד"ק]. Similarly, the inhabitants are called by a name signifying accountability, signaling that the time has finally arrived to judge their sins and punish them for their actions [מצודת דוד, רד"ק, מלבי"ם].
The nature of the required warfare is absolute. The attacker is ordered to spread total ruin and destruction [מצודת ציון], with some commentators specifying that the enemy must be struck down directly by the sword [רד"ק, מלבי"ם]. This destruction must be complete. The conqueror is instructed not to settle for a localized victory, but to actively pursue anyone who attempts to flee the battlefield, or to completely wipe out any surviving remnants and their descendants [מצודת דוד, רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Finally, the attacker is urged to carry out everything exactly as commanded, ensuring that Babylon and its affiliates are eradicated without a trace [מצודת דוד, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This divine mandate to destroy the empire was actually delivered to Cyrus long in advance by the prophet Isaiah [רש"י].