זכריה, פרק י״ב, פסוק ו׳

A miraculous divine intervention will transform the nation's leaders into an unstoppable force, securing the eternal survival of the holy city. In this ultimate salvation, God will strike the opposing nations with such madness and confusion that the residents of Jerusalem will not even need to pray for their rescue [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. This immense power will be wielded by the great figures of the nation [רד״ק]. Another perspective suggests that this force will actually consist of Jews who were previously forced to join foreign armies. Upon witnessing God's hand at work, they will turn against the very nations that conscripted them [רש״י, מצודת דוד].

The devastating impact of this force is illustrated through vivid imagery of a large furnace among wood and a torch among sheaves of straw [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. The enemies are compared to dry wood and straw, ripe for disaster, while the leaders of Judah act as the fire that completely consumes them [רד״ק]. This dual imagery of fire points to two distinct fronts in the conflict. The furnace represents bringing wood to the fire, symbolizing enemies who invade the land of Israel only to be destroyed there. Conversely, the torch in the field represents bringing fire to the straw, signifying the destruction of other enemies within their own distant lands [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, this leads to the absolute eradication of opposing nations from every possible direction [מצודת דוד].

Following this decisive victory, Jerusalem will remain entirely secure and stable in its proper place [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. Despite the enemies' plans to destroy it, the city will stand firm and will never be uprooted from its location [רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. The prophetic promise places a profound emphasis on Jerusalem itself, indicating that its people will dwell in absolute safety [אבן עזרא] and that the enemy forces will not even manage to reach or besiege the city during the conflict [מלבי״ם]. There is also a fascinating historical dimension to this promise. Following its historical destruction, foreign rulers rebuilt Jerusalem slightly away from its original site. The prophecy guarantees that in the time of redemption, the city will be restored exactly to its ancient, authentic location [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. Alternatively, the focus may be that Jerusalem will remain exactly where it currently stands, prior to any future geographical transformations [מלבי״ם].