יחזקאל, פרק כ״ז, פסוק ל״ב

The dramatic collapse of the great city of Tyre brings about a moment of profound devastation and heavy mourning. This deep grief is expressed through intense, bitter crying and loud wailing. The sorrow follows a traditional mourning custom where a single individual leads the dirge, and the surrounding crowd answers back with echoing cries of sorrow and howling [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

At the heart of this bitter lament is a profound sense of shock at the sharp contrast between the city's past glory and its present ruin. The mourners cry out, asking who was ever as important, secure, and peaceful as Tyre during its peak. Now, that same city is completely cut off and lost in the heart of the sea. There is simply no other city that can be compared to Tyre, neither in the heights of its past peace nor in the absolute depths of its current downfall [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

When describing the specific nature of Tyre's tragic end, three distinct perspectives emerge. The primary approach among commentators is that the city has been reduced to total silence and destruction. Tyre has become completely still, resembling the absolute silence of the grave and the realm of death [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective focuses on the sheer uniqueness of the tragedy, suggesting that the lament challenges anyone to find a city that can even be compared to Tyre, as her situation is entirely without equal [רש״י, רד״ק]. Finally, a third line of thought connects the city's fate to a historical leader of Edom, using his name as a powerful symbol for a heavy, prophetic burden of destruction [רש״י].