ישעיהו, פרק י״ד, פסוק ט״ז

The sudden fall from absolute power to the silent lowliness of death leaves onlookers in a state of profound shock. As people gather around the fallen tyrant, either viewing his lifeless corpse or watching his descent into the underworld [רד״ק, מצודת דוד], they simply cannot believe what they are seeing.

The reaction of the crowd is not a passing glance, but a highly focused and intense scrutiny. At first, they peer closely and carefully, as if trying to look through a narrow window or crack [רש״י, מלבי״ם, רד״ק], putting their full mental focus and heart into the effort [מצודת ציון]. Following this initial inspection, they stare even deeper, studying the features of the body to clearly confirm his identity [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. Another perspective suggests that this deep observation is not just about physical recognition, but about drawing a moral lesson; the crowds are absorbing a profound truth from the ruler's ultimate collapse [אבן עזרא].

The driving force behind this piercing stare is sheer doubt. Even those who interacted with him daily during his reign now struggle to recognize him. They ask themselves in disbelief if this is truly the man who once unsettled the earth and shook empires [מלבי״ם]. They are completely amazed that this motionless figure belongs to the exact same person who previously made the entire world tremble and overturned kingdoms [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The terror he once inspired, literally causing the earth to vibrate and shake with fear [מצודת ציון], stands in unimaginable contrast to the quiet reality of his end.