יחזקאל, פרק כ״ב, פסוק י״ד

A piercing question is presented to the people, challenging whether they possess the emotional endurance and physical strength to survive the approaching Divine disaster. The inquiry probes whether their courage will hold steady in the face of overwhelming troubles, and if they will retain the physical power to fight bravely in battle [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This period is identified as the time of vengeance that God is actively preparing for them [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. During these days, God will deal with the people by repaying them exactly according to their own actions [רש״י].

The absolute certainty of this punishment is heavily emphasized. The primary approach among commentators is that God will fulfill His word because the power to do so rests entirely in His hands. The execution of this judgment is so guaranteed that it is viewed as though it has already happened. Furthermore, prayers and desperate pleas will be completely useless in trying to reverse this reality [אברבנאל].

The fundamental reason this judgment cannot be canceled lies in the specific nature of the people's sins. If their offenses had been strictly between humanity and God, standard repentance would have been effective. However, because this severe decree was sealed due to crimes committed against fellow human beings, repentance is meaningless as long as the stolen property and exploited goods are not returned to the victims. Consequently, the moment God issued the decree, it became a final, irreversible reality [מלבי״ם].