זכריה, פרק ט׳, פסוק ד׳

A seemingly invincible city, fortified by vast wealth and protected by the sea, ultimately faces total collapse. Its reliance on military might and riches proves useless when confronted with divine judgment. The specific title used for God in this context highlights His role as the absolute master and ruler of all creation, demonstrating that He alone holds the power to determine the city's ultimate fate [רש״י, מנחת שי].

The nature of this downfall takes two complementary forms. On one hand, God will completely strip the city of its immense wealth, reducing a once-great power to utter poverty [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. At the same time, this ruin involves a physical uprooting, as the inhabitants will be driven out and expelled from their land [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The devastation extends beyond the city walls and into the sea. The vast riches accumulated by the city will be swallowed up and sink into the ocean depths [רש״י]. Alongside this loss of wealth, the powerful armies and naval fleets that served as the foundation of the city's defense will be drowned in the waters [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This dramatic maritime collapse closely echoes the detailed prophecies of doom directed at the city of Tyre in the Book of Ezekiel [רש״י, רד״ק].

Once its wealth is lost and its military forces are drowned at sea, the physical city itself will meet a fiery end, burning until it is completely consumed [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This profound destruction is recorded to serve as a lasting historical memory. The purpose of preserving the story of this downfall is so that future generations living in the region will remember it, leading them to willingly submit to God during the future Messianic era [רד״ק].