יחזקאל, פרק כ״א, פסוק ז׳

The prophet receives an urgent command to deliver a direct and clear message of destruction, targeting the very heart of the nation and its most sacred spaces. This new message serves as an open explanation for a previous, mysterious vision that relied heavily on parables. By directing his attention straight toward Jerusalem, the prophet strips away the veil of the earlier metaphor, revealing a stark and explicit warning [מצודת דוד]. Earlier, he had spoken cryptically about looking toward the south, but now it is clear that this meant Jerusalem. In the same way, his earlier mention of a southern forest is now plainly identified as the Land of Israel [מלבי״ם, רש״י].

The instruction to speak out simply means to declare these prophetic words aloud [רש״י]. This declaration is aimed at the nation's sanctuaries. The plural nature of this target sparks different structural and historical insights. The primary approach among commentators is that the plural form reflects the complex, multi-layered architecture of the Temple itself. The structure consisted of three main sections: the entrance hall, the main sanctuary, and the Holy of Holies, along with the surrounding courtyards. Each successive area, along with its sacred vessels, held a higher degree of holiness than the last, and the impending destruction threatens all these sacred spaces equally. Alternatively, a more historical perspective suggests that referring to multiple sanctuaries is a dark glimpse into the future, hinting at two separate tragedies: the eventual destruction of both the First and Second Temples [רש״י, רד״ק].