זכריה, פרק י״ד, פסוק י״ב

Following the salvation of His people, the battlefield shifts to reveal the terrifying judgment awaiting the enemy armies. The divine war against the nations that gathered their forces and besieged Jerusalem [מצודות ושטיינזלץ] will not unfold through ordinary warfare. Instead, God Himself will strike the invading armies with a severe and unnatural physical plague [מצודת ציון].

This blow is deliberately designed not to kill the enemies instantly. Rather, God keeps them alive to endure intense suffering [אהבת יהונתן], ensuring there are survivors left to witness and recount His mighty acts to the rest of the world [אבן עזרא, רד״ק ומלבי״ם]. Another perspective suggests this affliction is a direct consequence of these nations rejecting the Torah, the very same Torah that serves as a shield for the people of Israel [נחל שורק].

The nature of this divine strike involves a horrifying decay, where flesh melts and limbs rot away [רש״י, מצודת ציון ושטיינזלץ]. The terror of this punishment is amplified by the fact that these soldiers will not be confined to sickbeds. In a chilling miracle agreed upon by the primary commentators, their bodies will decay while they are still fully alive, standing, and walking on their feet. The agony will be so profound that they will actively long for death as an escape from their torment.

Beyond the general decay of their bodies, the affliction targets specific organs. Their eyes will melt and drip from their places, leaving nothing but empty, hollow sockets in their skulls [רד״ק, מצודת ציון וצאינה וראינה]. Some explain that this melting is a direct reaction to the overwhelming intensity of the divine light that will be revealed when God stands upon the Mount of Olives [אהבת יהונתן]. Additionally, their tongues will dissolve within their mouths, a specific penalty for their engagement in witchcraft [אהבת יהונתן]. Ultimately, this devastating decay will strip the enemies of their basic human functions, leaving them completely unable to see, eat, or speak [אברבנאל].