מלכים ב, פרק כ״א, פסוק י״ב

A terrible disaster is destined to strike Jerusalem and Judah, bringing devastation so severe that the mere news of it will provoke an intense physical and emotional reaction in anyone who hears it. The horror of these reports stems both from the specific evil of the decree and from the sheer magnitude of the unfolding event itself [רד״ק, מנחת שי].

When people receive this horrifying update, their deep anxiety will manifest as a direct physical reaction in their ears. Commentators offer two complementary ways to understand this response. One perspective suggests a literal trembling and shaking. Just as a person's lips might quiver in moments of deep fear, the ears of the listener will actually tremble from the terror of the report [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. Another approach connects this reaction to the clashing of cymbals. The emotional shock and the heavy burden of the news will be so powerful that it will cause a ringing or echoing sensation in the listener's ears, exactly as if they had just been exposed to a massive, terrifying noise [רש״י, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ].