איכה, פרק ג׳, פסוק ס״ה

In a plea for divine justice against the enemies of Israel, the lamenter asks God to deliver a double blow. This request seeks to strike the enemies both in their mental state and through direct divine punishment.

The first part of this plea focuses on the inner emotional condition of the enemies. One approach understands this as a request for God to strike them with a broken heart and deep suffering [רש"י, תורה תמימה, צאינה וראינה]. Conversely, another perspective views this as a hardening and stubbornness of the heart. In this view, their troubles act as a shield that completely blocks their emotions [רש"י, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Much like the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in Egypt, this emotional numbness is designed to prevent the enemies from realizing the true reason for their punishment, ensuring they do not repent [תורה תמימה, אלון בכות].

The plea then moves to the completion of their downfall, which commentators explain in two distinct ways. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to a divine curse. The request is for God to bring upon these enemies all the curses written in the Torah, exhausting them with continuous suffering [אבן עזרא, לחם דמעה, תורה תמימה, ביאור שטיינזלץ, צאינה וראינה]. On the other hand, a different interpretation connects this downfall to mental foolishness. According to this view, the lamenter asks God to turn the enemies' thoughts and plots against Israel into utter stupidity. Trapped in their own foolishness, they will remain completely blind to the meaning behind the disasters falling upon them [רש"י, פלגי מים, אלון בכות].