ירמיהו, פרק ז׳, פסוק כ״ט

A harsh prophetic call is directed at the congregation of Israel and Zion, who are compared to a woman told to adopt extreme mourning practices due to destruction and Divine rejection. The nation is commanded to shear off her hair and cast it away. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to the hair of the head, specifically long hair similar to that grown by a Nazirite [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. The act of cutting, tearing out, and throwing the hair into the dust serves as a profound expression of sorrow, mourning, degradation, and distress [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, צאינה וראינה].

Beyond this physical act, some commentators offer a symbolic layer. Drawing a comparison to a Nazirite who shaves his head upon becoming defiled, faith is viewed as the holy crown upon Israel's head. When that faith is lost, the spiritual ornament is stripped away [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective views this lost crown as a symbol of greatness, hinting at the nation's leaders and ministers who are destined for exile, over whom the people must tear their hair in mourning [רש״י, רד״ק].

Following this, the nation is instructed to raise a loud voice of crying and lamentation upon the hills and high places. This ensures that their cry of ruin will echo and be heard from afar [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The reason for this heavy mourning is God's complete abandonment of the people [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He left them because they did evil in His eyes, shamed Him, and defiled His house [צאינה וראינה]. The specific generation facing this rejection is understood in two complementary ways. On one hand, it is the generation that actively angered God and transgressed His word [ביאור שטיינזלץ, רד״ק]. Consequently, it is the generation upon which God has poured out His full anger and wrath [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה].