יחזקאל, פרק ה׳, פסוק א׳

A dramatic symbolic act serves as a visual warning to the residents of Jerusalem near the end of their grueling siege. This striking display paints a vivid picture of the total destruction and exile that awaits the nation. However, commentators note that this event likely took place entirely within a prophetic vision rather than in physical reality, as God would not instruct a prophet to violate the Torah prohibition against shaving the edges of a beard [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

The prophet is instructed to perform this task entirely on his own, without any outside assistance [אברבנאל]. He is told to take a sharp sword, which represents the destructive power of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon [רש״י]. This weapon acts as a barber's razor, a highly sharpened blade designed for swift cutting [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ], though it is also compared to the scraping tools used by leather workers [רש״י].

Using this blade, the prophet must shave both his head and his beard. The act of completely removing the hair with a razor represents absolute ruin [אברבנאל]. The hair itself serves as a powerful metaphor. Just as hair is physically attached to the body, the people of Israel were closely bound to God. Severing the hair illustrates God detaching the nation and casting them away from Him. Furthermore, there is a deep meaning in shaving both the head and the beard. The hair on the head, which is routinely cut, symbolizes the wicked. In contrast, the beard is considered a mark of honor and represents the righteous. Stripping away both at once reveals a severe decree in which both the righteous and the wicked will perish together [מלבי״ם].

After the shaving is complete, the prophet must use a set of scales to weigh the fallen hair and divide it into equal portions [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This exact division points to the tragic, varied fates awaiting the people. One third of the nation will die from starvation and disease within the besieged walls of Jerusalem. Another third will fall to the enemy's sword as they attempt to escape the city. The final third will be scattered across the globe into a bitter exile, where the threat of violence and persecution will continue to pursue them [אברבנאל].