ירמיהו, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ט׳

A harsh prophecy of destruction foretells the complete erasure of everyday life and all signs of happiness from the land. God declares that He will bring an absolute end to the normal routines and celebrations that once filled the area [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

The timeline of this impending doom carries a heavy weight. Some understand the warning as a deliberate repetition meant to emphasize just how severe and imminent the disaster truly is [מצודת דוד]. Others find distinct meanings in the timing, explaining that the tragedy is not a distant threat but a reality the people are already beginning to witness and experience, much like the visible struggles in the prophet Jeremiah's own life. At the same time, the decree is bound to a long duration, destined to last throughout their entire generation until the completion of a seventy-year exile [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

As the destruction unfolds, specific elements of human happiness will vanish. A careful distinction is made between the inner emotion of joy and its outward expression. While joy remains a quiet feeling hidden deep within the heart, its outward counterpart involves the physical, visible acts of celebration, such as dressing in festive garments [מלבי״ם]. Both the internal feelings and their outward displays will be completely wiped away.

The silence will grow so deep that it will ultimately swallow the voices of grooms and brides. This goes beyond merely stripping away the lively music and loud celebrations that usually accompany a wedding [מצודת דוד]. The desolation will be so absolute that the very presence of a groom and bride will disappear. Their voices will not be heard at all, even if they were to attempt a quiet marriage completely stripped of any festivity [מלבי״ם].