יחזקאל, פרק ה׳, פסוק ט׳

The judgment handed down to Jerusalem stands as a singular, devastating event in human history. It is a moment of divine consequence so severe that it has no equal in the past and will never be matched in the future. The absolute uniqueness of this suffering means it surpasses any disaster ever inflicted upon any other nation [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The earth has never witnessed such a penalty, nor will it ever again [מצודת דוד].

This extreme response operates on a strict principle of measure for measure. Because the people engaged in terrible practices and abominations that multiplied beyond anything seen before [מצודת דוד], they brought upon themselves a level of suffering that is equally unprecedented [מלבי״ם]. This sweeping declaration of unparalleled ruin acts as a general introduction, setting the stage for three specific types of penalties that will soon fall upon the people [מלבי״ם].

There is a profound spiritual reason why the Israelites face a much harsher fate than the rest of the world. When other nations sin, the spiritual damage extends only to the specific heavenly forces appointed over them. In contrast, the sins of the Israelites reach much higher, causing a spiritual blemish directly in the highest attributes of God. Repairing such a deep spiritual fracture requires a vastly greater and more significant punishment, though even within this intense suffering, the mercy of God ultimately prevails [חומת אנך].