דברים, פרק כ״ח, פסוק ל״ד

Facing a relentless sequence of disasters eventually leads to a profound psychological breakdown. The loss of sanity is a direct result of the harsh, incomprehensible reality unfolding before a person's eyes. While there are different perspectives on the exact nature of these traumatic sights, they all share a core theme of complete helplessness.

The primary approach among commentators links this mental collapse to a total systemic failure surrounding the individual. Madness takes hold when a person experiences how absolutely everything is working against them in every possible direction [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Everywhere they turn, they encounter only violence, injustice, tragedy, death, and captivity [ביאור יש״ר], alongside the crushing weight of severe oppression [רלב״ג]. This profound frustration is further fueled by a sense of shock and paralysis. A person is driven out of their mind when they watch a small group of attackers cause massive destruction, and even though they objectively possess the strength to fight back, they find themselves completely powerless to save themselves [העמק דבר].

Beyond the external sights of ruin, another perspective suggests that the horrifying sights actually refer to the person's own physical condition, as their body becomes covered in severe boils [אבן עזרא]. These distressing sights increase the loss of sanity day by day, triggering a destructive physical cycle. The internal chaos and madness drive the person to scratch their skin violently until it bleeds. Through this desperate action, they end up inflicting the very boils and wounds that cover their own body [צרור המור].