ישעיהו, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ז׳

The downfall of a proud nation often leaves it in total isolation, without friends or allies to share in its grief. Following its complete destruction, the nation of Moab is forced to weep for its dead entirely alone. Because of their immense pride and past refusal to show mercy to Israelite refugees, all compassion has been withdrawn from them. With no other nation willing to share in their sorrow, the Moabites are left to wail and mourn only for themselves [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. This profound grief sweeps through the entire population without exception, as the survivors cry over the fallen and the total loss of their state [רד״ק, שד״ל]. The focal point of this intense mourning is a large, central city in Moab, which now lies in ruin [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Commentators offer different perspectives on exactly what the people are mourning within this devastated city. The primary approach among commentators is that the grief centers on the city's physical destruction, specifically its foundations, walls, and strong fortresses that have completely collapsed [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Metaphorically, these ruined foundations represent the nobles, leaders, and mighty warriors of Moab who have perished [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Conversely, another approach connects the mourning to the loss of agricultural abundance. In this view, the grief focuses on the loss of fine raisin cakes or luxurious, golden glass jugs used for expensive wine, products for which the central city was famous. Therefore, the weeping is not for fallen walls, but for the destruction of fertile vineyards and the loss of past pleasures [אבן עזרא, שד״ל, אברבנאל].

The nation is left in a state of deep physical and emotional brokenness [שד״ל, מצודת ציון]. The people are reduced to making soft, mourning sounds, much like the sad cooing of a dove [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. Together, these ideas paint a picture of a brokenhearted nation, moaning in immense pain as they remember the joyful days they have lost [אבן עזרא]. Following the interpretation of the wine vessels, this mourning is specifically over those precious items that have been shattered into pieces [אברבנאל]. Offering a unique military perspective, [מלבי״ם] explains that the final imagery highlights the sheer helplessness of the city's walls. Instead of the fortresses sending out mighty warriors to fight the enemy, they can only bring out the wounded and disabled who are desperately searching for shelter and healing.