ירמיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק מ״א

The sudden collapse of Moab's military defenses brings about a complete and paralyzing terror, breaking the spirits of even the strongest warriors. As the invasion sweeps through the land, it targets both the ordinary towns located in the flat plains and the heavily guarded fortresses built high up in the mountains [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. Alternatively, the destruction may be aimed at a specific, well-known major city in Moab, rather than just towns in general [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The capture of these strongholds happens in a striking manner. The enemy forces systematically take down every single city and tower, conquering them one by one [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective suggests that the invasion is so rapid and overwhelming that the entire network of numerous cities falls all at once, collapsing as quickly as if it were just a single town [רד״ק].

This total military failure triggers a deep psychological breakdown among the defending army. The mighty soldiers of Moab, who are expected to show great bravery, are instead overcome with intense sorrow, pressure, and pain [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their courage completely shatters from fear [מצודת דוד]. Left entirely helpless, these once-powerful warriors are compared to a woman enduring the agonizing pains of childbirth, paralyzed by a distress they cannot escape [רד״ק].