יחזקאל, פרק ל״ב, פסוק כ״ג

A once-powerful empire that previously terrified the world finds itself humiliated, powerless, and buried in a mass grave. Rather than receiving an individual resting place near the surface, like a person who dies peacefully in bed, these masses of war casualties are thrown together into the dark depths of a deep trench [מצודת דוד]. Being cast into the very bottom or outer edges of this pit [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ] is not a random detail. It highlights their total and eternal destruction as they descend into the lowest levels of the underworld [רד״ק].

In this dark realm, different nations are brought together in death. Some explain that this does not mean they are physically buried in the exact same location, but rather that they share a common, tragic fate. The masses of Egyptian and Assyrian casualties suffer the same downfall, falling by the sword in a similar way [רד״ק]. Others describe a more direct meeting in the underworld, where the newly killed Egyptian masses gather around the ancient graves of the Assyrian soldiers who fell long ago during the days of Hezekiah. Together, these fallen empires share their punishment in the depths [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

The severe consequence these empires face is a direct result of the destruction, ruin, and deep fear they caused while they were in power [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this terror was specifically directed at the Land of Israel. Assyria receives its full punishment for harming the Israelites and exiling the Ten Tribes. The Land of Israel is uniquely recognized as the land of the living because it is the future site where the dead will be resurrected [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Another perspective offers a broader, more universal understanding. Those who abused their power to terrify people while they were alive now find themselves completely despised and powerless in the land of the dead [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].