What a solemn description of the doom which was now to fall upon Jerusalem, the land and its inhabitants! The buyer and the seller as well as all the multitude were to be affected by it. The decree of judgment which had gone forth could not be revoked. The blowing of the trumpet, which is mentioned has generally been misunderstood by expositors. It is said to picture "the collapse of Judah's military preparations in the hour of danger, that when the siege of Jerusalem came, none responded." The blowing of the trumpets among Israel had a special significance. It carried with it the assurance that Jehovah heard and would be ready to fight for His people against their enemies. But as they knew their iniquities had separated them from God, His face being against them, none did go to the battle, for His wrath rested upon them all. Sword, pestilence and famine would devour them all and the few fugitives would be upon the mountains mourning over their iniquities. The rod mentioned which hath blossomed means Nebuchadnezzar, who executed this great judgment upon Jerusalem. The climax of the judgment prophecy is reached in the third part of the chapter. They shall cast their silver in the streets, And their gold shall be as an unclean thing; Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them In the day of Jehovah's wrath; They cannot satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowls, Because it was the stumbling block of their iniquity. And the beauty of their ornaments, they turned it to pride, And the images of their abominations, their detestable things made they of it. And I shall give it to the hands of strangers for a prey, And to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall profane it. For I will turn my face from them, And they shall defile my secret place, And robbers shall enter into it and profane it. Form a chain, For the land is full of bloody crimes, And the city full of violence. Therefore will I bring the worst of the nations, And they shall possess their houses; And I will make the pride of the mighty to cease, And their sanctuaries shall be defiled. Destruction cometh! They shall seek peace, but there shall be none. Calamity after calamity shall appear; And rumour shall be upon rumour; Then shall they seek a vision from a prophet; But the law shall perish from the priest, And counsel from the elders. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with dismay, And the hands of the people of the land shall tremble: I will do unto them according to their way, When I shall judge them according to their deserts; And they shall know that I am the Lord (verses 19-27).