ישעיהו, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ט׳

A deep cry of mourning echoes through the prophecy, capturing a bitter lament over the destruction of Moab's once bustling agricultural centers. The devastation is so profound that the natural joy of the harvest gives way to heavy grief, and the lively sounds of labor are replaced either by the violence of war or a chilling silence. The primary approach among commentators is that the prophet adopts the voice of the Moabite people, speaking in their manner to mourn their ruin [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Alternatively, this cry belongs to a dedicated mourner weeping over the immense disaster [אברבנאל].

The lament begins by intertwining the grief over the ruined city of Jazer with the loss of the famous vineyards of Sibmah. The prophet weeps alongside Jazer over the destruction of its vines [שד״ל]. Another perspective highlights a tragic military alliance, explaining that when Jazer was attacked, the warriors of Sibmah who came to its defense also met their end and fell in battle [מלבי״ם].

Turning his attention to the great cities of Heshbon and Elealeh, the mourner promises to drench them in tears. Commentators view this as a vivid exaggeration, where the mourner's tears will soak the cities like heavy rain nourishing the earth [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. A particularly sorrowful contrast is drawn here. In the past, these cities were saturated with fine wine, but now they will be watered only by tears of grief [שד״ל].

The core reason for this weeping is the sudden ruin of the harvest and the loss of the summer fruits, specifically the fresh, moist figs that were destroyed prematurely [רש״י, שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. A striking dispute arises regarding the sound that marks this end. One approach suggests that this is the terrifying battle cry of looters and enemies who unexpectedly descended upon the cities during the harvest season [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. In this tragic reversal, the familiar, joyous singing of those treading grapes is violently replaced by the shouts of an invading army [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, another approach interprets the sound as the rhythmic, happy singing of the agricultural workers themselves. Accordingly, the falling of this sound does not signify an enemy ambush, but rather a complete cessation. The joyful noises of summer celebrations and vineyard labor have simply died out, leaving behind absolute silence [שד״ל, שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא].