דברים, פרק כ״ח, פסוק כ״ו

A harsh picture of destruction unfolds, revealing a reality where the dead are stripped of their final dignity and left completely exposed. Following a massive disaster, many will die from sheer terror and remain unburied [רלב״ג]. However, a unique approach suggests that the abandoned bodies belong to animals rather than humans. In this view, these are dead livestock that no one wants to take or buy. They are simply tossed to the birds and wild beasts to prevent their foul smell from spreading [שפתי כהן].

This devastation breaks the normal rules of nature. While wild animals naturally consume meat, domesticated livestock and vegetarian beasts will also join in eating the remains, marking a completely supernatural event [צרור המור].

As the animals feed, they do so entirely undisturbed. The primary approach among commentators is that no one will physically chase the scavengers away. This will happen either because the land will be completely empty of people passing through [רש ר הירש, נתינה לגר], or because the few survivors will be entirely focused on running away to save their own lives [ביאור יש״ר].

Other commentators view this lack of disturbance not as a physical absence, but as a deep emotional and spiritual numbness. The burden of the tragedies will be so overwhelming that even close relatives will not be shocked by the fate of their loved ones, nor will they try to bury them [הדר זקנים, חזקוני, בכור שור]. Spiritually, the people will remain completely blocked. Despite the massive disaster and the unnatural sight of vegetarian animals eating meat, no one will be shaken enough to repent and return to God [צרור המור].

Finally, this absolute lack of fear may apply to the animals themselves. The beasts and birds will not scare each other away or fight over the food. Instead, they will feed in strange harmony, as the entire event unfolds perfectly according to a decree from God [צרור המור].