דניאל, פרק ב׳, פסוק ל״ה

The complete shattering of the massive statue symbolizes the sudden collapse of mighty empires, clearing the way for an entirely new reality to take their place. In a single moment, all the materials making up the figure lose their form and substance. The iron, clay, copper, silver, and gold are simultaneously ground down, crushed, and pressed together.

Once shattered, the remnants of the statue are reduced to tiny particles. The primary approach among commentators is that these fragments become as light as chaff swirling from a summer threshing floor. Alternatively, the description may refer to the discarded remnants of flax, illustrating something violently shaken off and thrown away [מצודת ציון]. Following this thorough crushing, a wind sweeps in to carry and scatter the dust.

The ultimate fate of these scattered remains presents an interesting discussion. The widely accepted view is that the particles vanish completely, leaving absolutely no trace or memory of where the mighty statue once stood [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, another perspective understands the scattering as a deliberate exaggeration. In this interpretation, the wind spreads the dust so widely across the globe that no single location is large enough to contain all the debris [מצודת דוד]. In stark contrast to the total destruction and disappearance of the statue, the stone that struck the final blow undergoes a profound transformation. It grows into a massive mountain, continuously expanding until it completely fills the earth.