ישעיהו, פרק ט״ו, פסוק ד׳

A sudden, sweeping wave of destruction brings a proud nation to its knees, breaking both civilian life and military might. The cities of Heshbon and Elealeh, which once stood as the glorious pride of Moab [מלבי״ם] and carried a long history of changing hands between the Amorites, Israelites, and Moabites [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ], are now overwhelmed by ruin. The agonizing cry of their residents is so powerful that it echoes across the land, shaking the earth all the way to Jahaz, a city situated either at the very border of Moab [רד״ק] or deep within its territory [מלבי״ם].

This widespread devastation completely breaks the nation's armed forces. The primary approach among commentators is that upon witnessing the tears of their people, the battle-ready warriors lose all will and ability to fight. Instead of sounding a brave call to war, they join the wailing of the masses. However, another perspective suggests that the soldiers do initially let out a standard battle cry in an attempt to frighten the enemy, but this display of courage quickly dissolves into sheer anxiety [רש״י, שד״ל].

A deep internal shattering takes hold of the nation, blending a loud, desperate shout with a profound sense of disaster [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The soul of Moab mourns for itself, as if the hearts of the warriors already foresee their unavoidable doom [מלבי״ם]. Soldiers who once cheered happily at the prospect of war are now overwhelmed by such severe fear that they abandon the defense of their country, caring only about saving their own lives [שד״ל]. This agonizing despair consumes every single person in Moab [אבן עזרא], and some explain that it reaches all the way to the heavens, where even the spiritual guardian of Moab weeps and cries out over the collapse of his people [חומת אנך].