A profound shock overtakes the king as he listens to the horrifying testimony of a woman who innocently asks for his help in securing her portion of her friend's child to eat [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Heartbroken by this gruesome reality, the king tears his garments. Because he is walking along the city wall in full view of the public, this dramatic display of absolute despair has a devastating effect, instantly demoralizing the soldiers and citizens defending the city [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
The tearing of his royal robes exposes a hidden secret. Through the freshly torn fabric, the onlookers suddenly notice that the king is wearing sackcloth [רש״י, מצודת דוד], positioned directly against his skin underneath his regular clothing [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Until this moment, he had worn the sackcloth in secret to maintain his royal dignity, ensuring the public remained unaware of his personal suffering [אברבנאל].
The commentators explore the spiritual implications of this hidden sackcloth. The primary approach among commentators views it as a genuine expression of mourning and solidarity with the sorrow of his people. It represents his acceptance of suffering for his sins and an attempt at repentance, driven by the hope of awakening the mercy of God [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אלשיך, אברבנאל]. In contrast, others criticize the king's spiritual state, arguing that his heart was not fully committed. According to this view, the king mistakenly believed that the mere physical act of wearing sackcloth was sufficient, ignoring the essential requirement to truly abandon sin and accept the yoke of Heaven and the commandments of God [חומת אנך].
Regardless of his inner sincerity, the public tearing of his clothes and the exposure of the sackcloth mark a tragic turning point. The king, who had previously held onto hope for the mercy of God through private repentance, now reaches a breaking point of utter ruin and abandons all hope. This complete despair is what immediately drives him to direct his fury at the prophet, demanding his death for failing to pray and remove the divine wrath from the people [מלבי״ם].