תהלים, פרק ק״ב, פסוק ט׳

The true depth of suffering in exile is measured not only by physical hardship but by the profound loneliness and social ruin that accompany it. Rather than receiving the compassion normally shown to a grief-stricken person, the sufferer becomes the target of cruel, relentless mockery. In fact, all other troubles begin to seem minor compared to the sheer disgrace inflicted by the enemy [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם].

This humiliation is constant [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The enemies' anger and insults are triggered specifically because the sufferer remains trapped in endless tears over the destruction, refusing to let go of the mourning [מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that these attackers act with a mocking, foolish madness. However, there are different ways to understand the nature of this madness. Many explain that the enemies themselves are the foolish and crazed ones, driven by burning hatred or corrupt beliefs [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מאירי]. A different perspective suggests that the madness is inflicted upon the sufferer. In this view, the enemies drive the victim crazy with twisted arguments, such as taunting that their current state in exile is actually better than the famines God punished them with in the past [אלשיך].

The absolute peak of this humiliation occurs when the sufferer's condition becomes so miserable from agony and starvation [מלבי״ם] that their very identity is turned into a curse word and a symbol of ultimate disgrace [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. When the enemies want to make an oath or place a curse upon themselves, they point to the victim as the ultimate example of wretchedness. They declare that if they break their word, they should be cursed to become as miserable and doomed as this Jew [רש״י, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מאירי].