יחזקאל, פרק ז׳, פסוק כ״ב

The tragic climax of Jerusalem's fall occurs when God withdraws His divine presence from the Temple. This marks the absolute final stage in the process of destruction, following the prolonged siege, the breaching of the city walls, and the widespread looting of property [מלבי״ם].

The devastation begins with God turning His back and hiding His face from the people [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. By hiding His face, God removes His presence from the Temple, stripping the sacred site of its divine protection and leaving it completely vulnerable [מצודת דוד]. With the divine shield gone, enemies are free to invade and ruin God's hidden sanctuary, the space where His presence was once concealed among the people [רש״י]. The primary approach among commentators is that this signifies the areas completely hidden from human eyes, specifically the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant rested, as well as the secret chambers holding the Temple treasures [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Cruel and lawless individuals, who reject all boundaries of truth and justice, violently break into this most sacred space [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their goal is to steal the sacred Temple vessels. Yet, the mere intrusion of these wicked men into the holy area immediately damages the vessels, stripping away their sacred status and reducing them to ordinary, everyday objects [מלבי״ם].

The target of this desecration is described in feminine terms, which commentators understand as a reference to either the Divine Presence that rested upon the Ark, or to the city of Jerusalem itself [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Additionally, the narrative repeats the act of desecration. This repetition is not accidental; it captures the natural rhythm of a person mourning and lamenting, repeating their words out of deep and overwhelming sadness [מצודת דוד].