מלכים ב, פרק כ״ה, פסוק ג׳

A prolonged military siege inevitably brings severe distress and starvation, slowly draining the food reserves of those trapped inside the city walls. As the events unfold, a critical breaking point is reached on the ninth day of the month. Although the specific month is left unstated here, commentators agree that the missing detail is supplied by the parallel historical record in the Book of Jeremiah. That account clarifies that this took place in the fourth month, known as Tammuz [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

By this date, the devastating effects of the extended siege had taken their full toll. A severe famine tightened its grip on the city, leaving the common people without any food. The prolonged isolation had completely emptied the grain storehouses, at least those that were accessible to the general public [ביאור שטיינזלץ].