The fall of Jerusalem is met not with quiet victory, but with an explosion of unbridled, malicious joy from the surrounding nations. The physical act of the enemies opening their mouths wide represents a sudden release of deep-seated hatred that had long been hidden in their hearts [לחם דמעה]. This also signifies a profound spiritual shift. When the Israelites cast off the responsibilities of the Torah, their spiritual voice weakens, allowing the voice of the nations to rise up and take its place [אלון בכות].
The primary approach among commentators notes a structural anomaly in the text, where the concept of the mouth precedes the eye. This indicates that the enemies eagerly spoke of Jerusalem's ruin before they even saw it happen [רש״י, תורה תמימה, צאינה וראינה]. Another perspective suggests this order reveals that the enemies spoke out and acted against the Israelites even before God had fully executed His plan of destruction [לחם דמעה].
The enemies express their hostility through sounds of anger and mockery, hissing and gnashing their teeth [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While there is a traditional promise that the teeth of the wicked will ultimately be broken, the reality of exile turns this upside down, allowing the wicked to bare their teeth at a vulnerable Israel [אלון בכות]. Their triumphant cry of destruction reflects the absolute severity of the punishment. This devastation occurred in the month of Av, a time traditionally associated with the astrological sign of the lion, an animal known for swallowing its prey [פלגי מים, אלון בכות].
The underlying motivation for this boastful cry is a subject of discussion. One view suggests the enemies proudly claim full credit for the city's ruin, completely ignoring that God was the true architect of the destruction [לחם דמעה]. Conversely, others argue that their gnashing teeth actually reveal deep frustration. The enemies desperately wanted to destroy the Temple themselves to satisfy their rage, but God preempted them by destroying it first. They publicly claim the victory to save face, yet they grind their teeth in disappointment because they were denied the satisfaction of doing it with their own hands [נחל אשכול].
Taking a different angle, some explain that the enemies acknowledge they suffered severe casualties while fighting Israel's mighty warriors. They swallowed a bitter pill of their own losses, yet their joy over the ultimate victory overshadows their pain [לחם דמעה]. Alternatively, the gnashing of teeth signifies an insatiable hatred; even after causing such massive destruction, the enemies remain unsatisfied and immediately begin plotting to wipe out the Israelites completely [לחם דמעה].
The nations cap off their celebration by declaring that this specific day is the exact moment they had always hoped for. While they had conquered many other nations in the past, the fall of Jerusalem was their ultimate, most anticipated prize [לחם דמעה]. They were well aware that this specific time of year was historically prone to disaster for the Israelites. Their declaration of finding and seeing this ruin spans across history, referring to the destruction of both the First and Second Temples [אלון בכות]. Ultimately, even though the enemies know that God will eventually punish them for their malicious celebration, they choose to completely ignore the future, intoxicating themselves solely with the triumph of the present moment [לחם דמעה].