Jerusalem's final hours bring an unprecedented collapse, where symbols of power and honor dissolve into a desperate struggle for survival. The supreme leader, identified by commentators as King Zedekiah [מצודת דוד, חומת אנך, אברבנאל], is forced to abandon his palace. Stripped of all royal dignity, he embarks on a panicked, secret escape under the cover of darkness.
In a stark departure from normal royal behavior, where a king never carries his own load, Zedekiah carries his personal belongings on his own shoulder in the dead of night to avoid drawing attention amidst the chaos [אברבנאל, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that the burden on his shoulder actually refers to the king lifting the hem of his long garments so he can run quickly [רד״ק]. Because the enemy army has besieged the city gates, leaving through the main roads is impossible. Consequently, the king's servants must break an escape hole through a garden wall to smuggle him out [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Some connect this secret exit to a hidden cave that led from Zedekiah's home out toward the plains of Jericho [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].
During the flight, the king covers his face. While this is primarily a practical measure to disguise his identity from pursuers [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ], it also stems from a deep, overwhelming shame. He cannot bear to look his people in the eye as he abandons them and flees the city he was appointed to rule [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. His physical inability to see the land with his own eyes [מצודת ציון] serves as a tragic hint of his future. As a consequence of his sins, Nebuchadnezzar will eventually blind him, ensuring he will never see his country again [רד״ק, אברבנאל].
From a moral standpoint, the king's covered face represents a perfect measure for measure consequence. In the past, he willingly chose to turn a blind eye to the struggles of his people, failing to establish justice and order. Therefore, he is now condemned to flee in humiliation with his face hidden, and for this exact reason, he is completely unable to see the right path to safety [מלבי״ם].