ישעיהו, פרק י״ח, פסוק ו׳

A grim aftermath settles over an abandoned battlefield, where the casualties of a crushing defeat lie exposed and unburied. Transitioning from a metaphor of severed branches to a harsh reality, the prophecy reveals that the fallen are cast aside entirely, left to the mercy of predators [רש״י, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The exact identity of these fallen soldiers is a matter of discussion. Some identify them as the Assyrian army, which met a miraculous end at the hands of an angel [אבן עזרא, שד״ל]. Others view this as a vision of the distant future, predicting the ultimate downfall of the armies of Gog and Magog at the end of days [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Regardless of their identity, the bodies are left exposed for birds of prey [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם, אבן עזרא] and wild beasts to consume their flesh and blood [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. The primary approach among commentators is that this grisly aftermath will span an entire year, divided by the seasons [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, שד״ל]. Because of the staggering number of dead, the bodies will sustain the scavengers for twelve full months [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Birds of prey, which are more visible and active in the warmer months, will feed upon them throughout the summer. When the cold sets in and the birds retreat, the wild beasts that roam during the winter will take their place [רד״ק, שד״ל].

This year-long feast parallels a tradition that the future judgment of Gog will last exactly twelve months [רש״י]. While another prophetic tradition states that the Israelites will spend seven months burying these same casualties, the sheer volume of the dead ensures that birds and beasts will continue to feed on the remains even as the burial efforts are underway [רד״ק].

In sharp contrast to this seasonal timeline, another perspective suggests the aftermath is defined not by time, but by profound disgrace. According to this view, the wickedness of the defeated army is so severe that a curse falls upon their remains. Rather than serving as food for a full year, their bodies will emit such a foul and repulsive stench that even the wild beasts and scavenging birds will be disgusted. Ultimately, the animals will flee from the corpses, refusing to consume them out of sheer revulsion [אברבנאל].