ירמיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק ט׳

The impending destruction of Moab is approaching rapidly, bringing with it an absolute exile that will uproot the nation and leave its cities entirely desolate. Commentators offer several angles to understand the poetic imagery depicting this sudden departure.

The primary approach among commentators is that the imagery evokes wings and feathers. It is a call to give Moab wings so it can fly away, escaping in panic and haste into exile. Another perspective understands the metaphor through the lens of royalty, relating it to a crown or royal diadem. According to this view, the call is to remove Moab's crown and strip away its sovereignty, as the nation is condemned to ruin and exile [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A third angle draws from the natural world of plant life and blossoming. In this context, the departure is described as a sudden bursting outward, much like a blossom breaking forth and emerging from a branch [מלבי״ם].

The end result of this rapid process is a tragic reality. The cities of Moab will be left in complete ruin, entirely empty of human life, without a single resident remaining [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].