יחזקאל, פרק כ״א, פסוק כ״ה

The king of Babylon sets out from his land at the head of his army, launching a campaign of conquest. As his forces advance, he arrives at a critical strategic crossroads, forcing him to choose between two capital cities for his next attack. The prophet is instructed to map out the two potential paths along which the sword of war might travel. One route leads east toward Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, while the other heads west toward the kingdom of Judah [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Standing at this fork in the road, the Babylonian king will rely on magic and the casting of lots to determine which nation will face his wrath [רש״י].

As the prophet details the western route, attention turns to the people of Judah living in Jerusalem. The primary approach among commentators views the city as a heavily fortified stronghold. This highlights the deep yet misplaced sense of security held by its residents, who firmly believe their strong protective walls will keep them safe from the approaching enemy [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

A different perspective suggests that the prophet's command goes beyond merely marking the routes. Instead, he is told to draw a physical picture of the roads leading to both Ammon and Jerusalem. In this vivid illustration, the end of each path must show the ultimate fate of these once-great cities, depicting them as completely destroyed, desolate, and entirely emptied of their inhabitants [מלבי״ם].