ירמיהו, פרק כ״ב, פסוק כ״ו

A devastating prophecy seals a harsh and final exile for the king and his mother, tearing them away from their homeland and condemning them to Babylon, a foreign destination from which they will never return [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. God forcefully throws them out of the land [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. This violent expulsion completes a tragic image: the king is compared to a bird that had built its nest high in the cedar trees, only to be violently hurled from its nest to the ground, and then tossed once more into an unfamiliar country [מלבי״ם].

The prophecy places a deliberate focus on the king's biological mother, specifically excluding a wet nurse or caregiver to highlight a deep, destructive bond [מלבי״ם]. Her inclusion points to a profound negative influence, as she is the one who raised and guided the king down an evil path [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. Ultimately, the king merely mirrors his mother in his corrupt actions and idolatrous practices [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Being banished to a foreign land brings a double burden. First, as total strangers, they will find no family or allies to offer them mercy or support [רד״ק]. Second, the very nature of this unfamiliar environment will clash with their own physical constitution, hastening their death [אברבנאל]. The ultimate tragedy is sealed with the decree of their death in exile. Their lives will end in an impure land, completely crushing any lingering hope of ever seeing their home again [רד״ק, אברבנאל].