זכריה, פרק י״ב, פסוק ג׳

In the end of days, the city of Jerusalem will become a dangerous and heavy burden for any power attempting to control it. God compares the city to a massive, heavy stone [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Much like people who try to test their strength by lifting an enormous rock, only to suffer harm and fall under its crushing weight, those who challenge Jerusalem will bring ruin upon themselves [אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. This heavy load can also be understood as a burden forcefully imposed upon people by a ruling power [רש״י]. Ultimately, the physical act of trying to lift this sharp, heavy rock results in deeply scratched hands and torn flesh [מצודת ציון, רד״ק].

The primary approach among commentators is that this imagery represents the downfall of any military force that dares to besiege Jerusalem. The enemies will be severely struck and harmed simply by their effort to attack the city, turning it into a fatal stumbling block for them. Eventually, all the nations of the earth will unite and surround Jerusalem with the shared goal of removing it entirely [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The ultimate outcome of this massive gathering is understood in different ways. Some explain that the gathering itself signifies destruction and death; the nations will assemble near the city only to meet their end and be wiped off the earth [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. A different perspective presents a more complex picture of a war between superpowers. In this scenario, nations that already control Jerusalem will try to carry the heavy burden of holding onto it. However, masses of other nations—the armies of Gog and Magog—will gather against them to conquer the city from their hands, leading to a bloody struggle for control over Jerusalem [מלבי״ם].