יחזקאל, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ל״ז

Jerusalem’s punishment for her spiritual betrayal arrives in the form of a public and deeply humiliating exposure. The very nations she eagerly allied with and whose idol worship she adopted will now become witnesses and active partners in her downfall. Her supposed achievements will transform into absolute disgrace. God declares that He will gather all the surrounding nations with whom Jerusalem formed alliances [שטיינזלץ]. These allies are divided into two distinct groups: the constant partners with whom she regularly strayed, and those she pursued only on rare occasions [מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that these nations found great pleasure and sweetness in her company, thoroughly enjoying her participation in their foreign rituals [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. Offering a different perspective, another view paints a more desperate picture, suggesting that she would sit and anxiously wait for these partners to arrive every single evening [מלבי״ם]. This great assembly, however, will not be limited to her allies. God will bring her enemies together with her lovers, uniting all these opposing nations to surround her from every side.

The climax of this punishment is portrayed through a powerful metaphor [רד״ק]. Much like the ancient practice of publicly shaming a prostitute by stripping her in front of a crowd [מצודת דוד], Jerusalem will be completely exposed. Her sins, flaws, and profound shame will be laid bare for all to see. The sight will be so disgraceful that even her former partners, invited specifically to witness her judgment, will look upon her with disgust [מלבי״ם, שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, the sheer spectacle of all these nations—friends and foes alike—gathering together to destroy her land is the true realization of her ultimate humiliation [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].