ירמיהו, פרק נ׳, פסוק ל״ז

The crushing blow falling upon Babylon dismantles every foundation of its power, tearing down its military might, its alliances, and its vast economy. The assault first cripples the military forces, specifically targeting the horses prepared for battle [מלבי״ם] and the specialized groups of chariot warriors [מצודת דוד].

Beyond the core military, Babylon relied on a diverse population within its borders. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to a human mixture of foreigners from various nations who settled in the empire [רד״ק, מצודות, ביאור שטיינזלץ], along with the auxiliary troops and foreign allies who provided military support [רש״י]. Another perspective connects this diverse group to the world of commerce, identifying them as the multitude of merchants operating within the bustling city [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Yet, despite this combined military and economic strength, when the ultimate test arrives, these forces will completely lose their courage. The once-mighty warriors will be drained of their strength, rendered weak and entirely unable to defend themselves against the invading enemies [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Finally, the devastation reaches the very core of Babylonian wealth, bringing violence directly to its treasuries. The weapon brought against these storehouses can be understood in two ways. It may represent actual armed men violently invading the vaults to rob them [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Alternatively, it serves as a metaphor for the destructive tools used by the enemies to smash through the defenses and break into the vaults [רד״ק]. In either scenario, the inevitable result is the absolute and total plundering of all the city's accumulated riches [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].