ירמיהו, פרק נ״א, פסוק נ״ה

The fall of a mighty empire is often marked by a dramatic shift in the sounds echoing through its streets. The destruction of Babylon is captured through the sudden silencing of its once-deafening urban roar, replaced by the chaotic noise of conquest and ruin. God brings destruction to the city, entirely erasing the great, bustling commotion that defined it. As a heavily populated center of power, Babylon's constant noise was a symbol of its vast strength and dominance, a proud roar that God completely overthrows and brings to an end.

The imagery of crashing waters illustrates this dramatic transition, though there are different ways to understand whose voices are echoing. One perspective suggests this compares the Babylonians themselves before their fall to the surging, arrogant waves of the sea. The residents roared with immense pride and self-exaltation, creating a powerful noise that God entirely eliminates [מצודת דוד, רד"ק]. Alternatively, this roaring represents a stark contrast to Babylon's former glory. As the city's own proud voice is silenced, a new, terrifying sound takes its place. This is the noise of the invaders storming the city, roaring with the overwhelming force of crashing waters [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Ultimately, a massive commotion is heard echoing through the destruction [מצודת ציון]. The source of this final, deafening noise naturally follows how the crashing waters are understood. It is either the triumphant, booming shouts of the attackers ringing out across the conquered city [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or it is the desperate cries of the Babylonians themselves, whose screams of ruin are heard from far away [רש"י].