A dramatic summons is issued to the nations of the world, inviting them to witness the moral collapse and impending destruction of the Kingdom of Israel. Instead of hiding the nation's shame, God explicitly commands that neighboring empires be called to look upon the capital city. This stands in stark contrast to King David's famous lament to keep Israel's tragedies hidden from foreign enemies; here, God Himself demands that the disgrace be publicized [רד״ק]. The announcement is directed at the kings, ministers, and nobles residing in the bordering Philistine palaces of Ashdod and the more distant land of Egypt [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. It is declared from the high palace roofs, the traditional vantage point where criers would stand to project their voices to the masses [מלבי״ם].
The foreign powers are instructed to gather on the mountains surrounding Samaria. Because the capital city was built on a mountain and encircled by other peaks, assembling on these surrounding heights would allow the enemies to look directly down into the city and clearly observe everything happening within its walls [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל].
The primary approach among commentators is that this gathering is a military invitation. God is granting foreign armies permission to enter His land, assemble for war, and execute judgment upon the people of Samaria [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. The instruction to look into the city is meant to encourage the invading forces. By gazing inside, they will see a fractured society and divided hearts, realizing that the city is easy prey and will fall into their hands without difficulty [מצודת דוד]. In this context, the oppressed individuals within the city are the residents of Samaria who are destined to be plundered and conquered by the advancing enemy armies [אברבנאל].
Other commentators, however, view the gathering not as a call to war, but as a summons to witness Israel's deep moral decay. The nations are invited to observe the internal chaos, which reflects a complete breakdown of proper order and rampant sins against God [מלבי״ם]. They are also called to see the vulnerable citizens being exploited by their own leaders [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. This creates a shocking comparison. Ashdod and Egypt were historically notorious for robbery, adultery, and idolatry. Yet, they are invited to look upon Samaria and simply be amazed. The violence, murder, and exploitation in Israel have grown so severe that even the most corrupt foreign nations will see their own crimes dwarfed by the wickedness taking place in Samaria [אברבנאל].
Beyond the historical context, a symbolic interpretation suggests that the names of these foreign lands serve as a direct warning to the Israelites themselves rather than a literal call to other nations. The name Ashdod is linguistically linked to the concept of robbery, while Egypt is associated with trouble and siege. According to this approach, the message warns the Israelites that because they have filled their palaces in Samaria with violence, they will face a strict measure-for-measure punishment, bringing robbery and ruin upon their own homes [אברבנאל].