For the purpose of organizing a slaughter it has been sharpened; for the purpose of its getting a glitter it has been polished.’ . . . ‘Is it rejecting the scepter of my own son, as it does every tree?

Jehovah’s “sword” would reject even the royal scepter of the Kingdom of Judah just like any other national scepter or “tree.” One persisting in stubborn rebellion would not be spared because of being like a “son” to Jehovah on the royal throne at Jerusalem.