תהלים, פרק ס״ט, פסוק י״ב

The psalmist's deep personal pain and sincere attempts at self-reflection are met with intense hostility from those around him. In an expression of profound sadness, deep concern, or a desire for repentance, he dresses himself in rough sackcloth [מאירי, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This physical act of humility is carried out in complete silence [אלשיך], reflecting a quiet, internal struggle.

Rather than responding with sympathy, his enemies react with cruelty. The primary approach among commentators is that this display of vulnerability turns him into a target for widespread mockery. His suffering becomes so well-known that his situation turns into a common figure of speech. Whenever people want to describe something terribly low or miserable, they use him as the ultimate example [רד״ק].

While most understand this reaction as pure ridicule, another perspective suggests that the enemies actually view the mourning clothes as a genuine threat. In this view, they interpret his actions as a bad omen directed at them. They worry that a servant only mourns in such a way when disaster strikes his master, or they fear his behavior is a dark hint that they, too, will eventually fall to the same miserable depths. Driven by this fear, they go so far as to forcefully prevent him from continuing to wear the sackcloth [אלשיך].