ישעיהו, פרק נ״ג, פסוק ט׳

The tragedy of the innocent exile reaches its peak as his suffering and the cruelty of his persecutors extend into his death and burial. He is depicted as someone condemned to die in exile for no wrong of his own, standing bravely for his faith. Following his unjust execution, he is given a disgraceful burial alongside common criminals. The primary approach among commentators is that the sufferer willingly surrendered himself to death and to this humiliating burial, choosing to sacrifice his life rather than abandon his religion and deny God. Others suggest a more sinister motive from the authorities, who deliberately placed him among criminals to frame him and create the illusion that his execution was a justified punishment for actual crimes [מלבי״ם]. A unique perspective suggests that the sheer agony of exile drove the sufferer to desire death alongside his gentile persecutors, mirroring Samson's final plea to perish with the Philistines [אבן עזרא].

The involvement of wealth in the context of his passing is understood in several ways. Some view the wealthy figure as the ruler who decreed the death sentence [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון], or as an allusion to the affluent foreign nations [אבן עזרא]. Conversely, the wealth may refer to the victim himself, suggesting he was murdered out of envy or so the government could seize his assets [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective highlights a tragic contrast. Although discarded with criminals, his profound righteousness meant he truly deserved a magnificent tomb suited for a wealthy man [שד״ל]. The circumstances of his end are further explored through two distinct concepts. One approach points to the plural nature of his death, representing the cruel and varied methods of execution, such as burning or stoning, inflicted upon those who sacrificed their lives to declare the unity of God [רד״ק]. A second approach envisions a physical monument or raised platform built over a grave, emphasizing the physical resting place itself [אבן עזרא, שד״ל].

Ultimately, this immense suffering was inflicted upon someone completely innocent. Commentators agree that the victim was hunted and killed based on baseless accusations, having committed no acts of violence or exploitation. Furthermore, his absolute lack of deceit goes beyond simple honesty with his fellow man. It represents a firm spiritual resolve, as he steadfastly refused to speak words of falsehood, deny God, or embrace idol worship [רש״י, מלבי״ם].