ויקרא, פרק כ״ו, פסוק י״ט

When divine rebuke strikes, it systematically removes the false pillars of security upon which the nation relies, hitting exactly where the people feel most protected, proud, and invincible. The primary approach among commentators is that the shattering of the nation's pride and power refers to the destruction of its core sources of strength. A large group of commentators, including [רש״י], [אור החיים], [שפתי כהן], and [מלבי״ם], identifies this ultimate source of confidence as the Temple. Even as the people sinned, they maintained a false sense of security, believing that God's presence among them and the offering of sacrifices would automatically atone for their misdeeds. The shattering of this pride takes the form of the Temple's destruction, or historically, the ruin of the Tabernacle in Shiloh ([ספורנו]). Alternatively, commentators such as [רשב״ם], [אבן עזרא], [רש״ר הירש], and [ביאור יש״ר] suggest that the target is national wealth and agricultural abundance. The people placed their trust in their fertile land; thus, the punishment dismantles their economic pride, serving as a direct counterweight to the blessings of prosperity promised earlier. A third perspective views this blow as a strike against human leadership ([תורה תמימה], [שפתי כהן], [אדרת אליהו], [מלבי״ם]). This involves the downfall of mighty warriors, wealthy philanthropists who generously supported the public, or devoted spiritual leaders. When these towering figures fall, the spirit of the entire nation is broken, leaving the people entirely unable to cope with their mounting troubles.

Following the breaking of the nation's pride, a devastating period of drought and famine is introduced, standing in stark contrast to the earlier blessings of rain ([בכור שור], [חזקוני]). The sky is described as turning to iron and the earth to copper, utilizing a poetic synonym for the metal ([חזקוני], [רד״צ הופמן]). Commentators note that a similar curse appears later in the Book of Deuteronomy, but with the metals reversed: the sky is compared to copper and the earth to iron. To explain this discrepancy, [רש״י] and [שפתי חכמים] argue that the curse presented here is far more severe. Iron does not sweat or produce condensation, meaning the sky will not release a single drop of rain, resulting in absolute dryness. Copper, however, does sweat, meaning the earth will retain an unhealthy dampness that causes any planted seeds or fruits to completely rot. Conversely, [מלבי״ם] suggests that the curse here is actually lighter and is tempered by divine mercy. Furthermore, [שפתי כהן] notes that God specifically targets the sky over the Israelites. He will alter the laws of nature to withhold rain only over the Land of Israel, while the rest of the world will continue to receive rain, leaving a small window of hope for survival.

The reversal of the metals also invites profound historical and social interpretations. [כלי יקר] offers a striking historical distinction between the two curses. The curse in the Book of Leviticus is directed at the destruction of the First Temple, where the primary sin was idolatry, a transgression directed toward heaven. Therefore, the sky is depicted as iron, the harder and more impenetrable metal. In contrast, the curse in Deuteronomy is aimed at the era of the Second Temple, where the fatal flaw was baseless hatred between people, a sin committed on earth. Accordingly, the earth is compared to unyielding iron in that context. Offering a different approach, [העמק דבר] interprets the imagery as a powerful social metaphor. The sky represents the great leaders of the generation, while the earth symbolizes the general public. The sky becoming like iron means that the leadership will grow cold, sealed, and entirely insensitive to the suffering of the masses. Meanwhile, the earth turning to copper reflects the common people, who will suffer and decay like sweating metal, completely powerless to improve their dire situation without compassionate leadership to guide them.