Translation: The NIV renders this verse:
“I will turn her into a place for owls
and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,
Declares the Lord Almighty.”
This is the final image of reversal for Babylon. After noting that the children have no inheritance in its former glory, the Lord of Hosts declares the nature of the remains of this once great and fearsome city: it has become wild (a “place for owls…into swampland” being a direct contrast to civilization) and it will be swept out. The image of sweeping is both of cleansing and removal. The broom of destruction therefore removes from the land the glory that once was there.
This verse ends the taunt-song against Babylon.
2 Ne. 24:24
24 The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand—
2 Ne. 24:25
25 That I will bring the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
Verse 24 begins a new “burden” or prophecy against a nation. Where the earlier verses focused on Babylon, both as a historical nation and as a symbol for the reign of evil, verses 24-27 will focus on Assyria, followed by verses 28-32 that focus on the Philistines, both historic enemies of Israel.
Verse 24 declares the power and effectiveness of the Lord of Hosts. He thinks, and it becomes real. He intends, and it becomes. This is a statement of the inevitability and surety of his word, not a description of his creative method.
The Lord notes that he will bring Assyria into his land, and then be victorious. Indeed, the historical record shows that the withdrawal of Assyria from Judah after the failed siege of Jerusalem turned the tide in the relationship between the two countries, and Judah thereafter enjoyed a period of peace.
Historical: The historical fulfillment of this prophecy might be the “destruction of Sennacherib’s Assyrian army in 701 BC”. (Ludlow, 1982, p. 189.)
Variant: Verse 25 in the Book of Mormon reads: “That I will bring the Assyrian in my land…” The KJV has “That I will break the Assyrian in my land….” The clear meaning is the destruction of the Assyrians, and “break” fits this context better. The word “bring” may be a case of the scribe mis-hearing the word. The Book of Mormon reading is not an improvement upon the KJV reading.