War plunges the land into a state of absolute paralysis and devastation. The paved highways and local paths alike become completely desolate, emptied of all traffic by the sheer terror of the advancing enemy. The fear is so overwhelming that people cease traveling entirely, not even daring to walk along the sides of the roads [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some commentators interpret this grim depiction as the voices of angels observing the ruin [שד״ל]. Others suggest that the profound humiliation and despair the Israelites experience in this moment are exactly what is needed to awaken God to redeem them [אברבנאל].
This desolate reality stems from shattered agreements. The primary approach among commentators is that the enemy, King Sennacherib of Assyria, has broken the treaties he made with the Israelites and other nations. Acting with deceit, he proves that his word is worthless and he cannot be trusted [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Driven by this ruthless ambition, the conqueror views the cities with utter contempt. Rather than leaving them intact to collect taxes, he chooses to level them to the ground [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. He scoffs at even the largest and most heavily fortified cities, entirely confident that none can withstand his power [שד״ל]. Conversely, another perspective views this destruction through the lens of a lament by the Israelites. In this reading, the people cry out in anguish that it is actually God who has broken His covenant with them, contrary to His promises, and that God Himself has rejected His holy cities [רד ק בשם אביו, שד ל בשם ר' יוסף קמחי, אברבנאל].
Amidst this total destruction, the conqueror assigns absolutely no value to human life, treating people as if they are nothing [רש״י, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. His cruelty knows no bounds. He does not even consider sparing the common people to serve as laborers or work the land. Instead, he crushes and annihilates everyone in his path without distinction [מלבי״ם].