ירמיהו, פרק כ״ה, פסוק ט״ז

The sheer terror of Divine punishment produces an extreme reaction, stripping people of their self-control and causing them to act like those who are deeply intoxicated. When God sends His sword of judgment directly into their midst, the resulting panic is so profound that it triggers both a physical and mental collapse [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators is to view this reaction as a violent physical shaking, akin to the tremors of an earthquake [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. However, others understand this intense agitation more broadly as a descent into madness and wild behavior [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alongside this physical chaos, the people suffer from a complete loss of reason and intellectual stability, acting out of pure foolishness [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. A careful distinction reveals that they are struck by two distinct forces: their bodies quake from external physical shock, while their minds are overcome by deep internal confusion [מלבי״ם]. Driven by the dread of the destruction placed right among them, they are reduced to a state of frantic, uncontrollable wandering and total irrationality.