ירמיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק ל״ח

The downfall of Moab is an absolute collapse that leaves the nation beyond repair. The resulting grief is not kept behind closed doors. Instead, mourning takes place out in the open, specifically on the rooftops and in the public streets. Eulogies are delivered from the highest, most visible places so that everyone can witness the sorrow, while the streets below fill with the same grief [רד״ק]. A continuous sound of crying echoes everywhere, completely consuming the land in lamentation [מצודת דוד].

This overwhelming wave of sadness is the direct result of God shattering the nation into pieces. Because Moab is a relatively small country, this fracture is fatal; it will never again be able to rebuild itself into a functioning state [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The ruined nation is compared to a useless vessel. Stripped of any value, purpose, or practical need [מצודת ציון], Moab becomes like a shattered piece of pottery that is simply thrown away and permanently abandoned [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].