ירמיהו, פרק ז׳, פסוק ל״ד

The impending destruction is destined to completely paralyze daily life, silencing the natural sounds that define a living, breathing human society. The primary approach among commentators is that God will bring absolute ruin upon the cities of Judah and Israel. The devastation will be so complete that no inhabitants will remain, bringing an abrupt end to all sounds of joy and vitality [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This sudden absence of joy, however, does not leave behind an empty void. Instead, the happy voices of brides and grooms will be replaced by a different reality. Throughout the land, only wailing, crying, and screaming will be heard [רד״ק].

The severity of this ruin is further highlighted by how sharply it contrasts with typical human behavior following a war. Usually, after massive conflicts and widespread death, marriages among surviving widows and widowers tend to increase. People naturally seek to rebuild their families and resettle a devastated land. Under normal circumstances, one would expect the sounds of weddings to return shortly after such a disaster. Yet, the prophecy emphasizes that this particular destruction will be so absolute that even this basic, natural recovery process will not take place, leaving the land completely desolate [מלבי״ם].