זכריה, פרק י״א, פסוק ו׳

A dark period descends upon the Land of Israel as divine mercy is withdrawn, leaving the people entirely exposed. Like an abandoned flock, the nation faces a devastating reality where protection vanishes, making way for destruction from both within and without. The era of grace comes to an absolute end, with the inhabitants of the land marked for ruin. However, this harsh decree remains conditional, hanging entirely on the people's refusal to mend their ways [רד״ק]. The total withdrawal of compassion is specifically directed at those dwelling in the Land of Israel [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

God sets the stage for disaster, delivering the people to their demise through two parallel forces. First, the nation is torn apart by civil war, as neighbors turn against one another in a vicious cycle of harassment and bloodshed [ביאור שטיינזלץ, רד״ק]. This internal collapse is deeply tied to the era of the Second Temple's destruction, a time characterized by baseless hatred where extreme factions and rival sects fiercely fought and ruined one another [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

Second, devastation comes from the very leadership meant to provide security. The ruling power transforms into a brutal oppressor, actively destroying the people it was supposed to protect. This tyranny is understood either as the cruel leadership of Israel's own kings during the final days of the Second Temple, or as the harsh dominion of Roman rulers and foreign empires [רד״ק, אברבנאל, מלבי״ם].

This deadly combination of violent internal factions and oppressive rule ultimately shatters the land, breaking it into pieces and leaving it utterly trapped [מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא]. The warring sects, hostile kings, and foreign enemies completely ruin the Land of Israel, scattering the nation and devastating its inhabitants [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. In the face of this absolute collapse, God chooses not to intervene. Because of the people's sins, He will not step in to save them [רד״ק]. Ultimately, since the nation as a whole is already destined for ruin, there is no longer any reason for Him to rescue one faction from the hands of another [מצודת דוד].