ירמיהו, פרק ל׳, פסוק י״ג

A profound medical metaphor captures the devastating reality of a nation and its land following severe destruction. The people are compared to a critically ill patient whose condition is so dire that all hope for recovery has been abandoned [רד״ק].

The sickness is so severe and desperate that no physician is even willing to evaluate the wound to prescribe a treatment. Medical experts have completely given up [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. In this state of total despair, no one believes salvation is possible [רש״י], and there is no one left to advocate for a positive outcome [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The concept of healing draws on ancient medical practices used to treat severe physical trauma. These treatments included sprinkling medicinal powders directly onto the injury [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם], pressing the wound to drain it of infection [מלבי״ם], or carefully applying a bandage [רד״ק].

To emphasize the gravity of the situation, the message is repeated using similar concepts [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. It highlights a complete lack of effective, beneficial medicines [רש״י]. Another perspective views this missing cure as a deep, internal healing—much like a channel of water that nourishes the bones and restores youth and vitality to the body [מלבי״ם]. Tragically, the harsh reality remains that these life-giving and restorative treatments are simply nowhere to be found [ביאור שטיינזלץ].