Did Yerushalayim sin, and not the other nations?!
R. Avigdor citing Eichah Rabah: The other nations sin, and it means nothing - "Kol ha'Goyim k'Ayin Negdo" (Yeshayah 40:17). Yisrael sinned and were stricken, sinned again and were stricken again.
Palgei Mayim: This comes to explain verse 7 (why the nations now mocked the Mitzvos). If one puts esteemed garments and ornaments on a pig's snout, this is the ultimate disgrace. So if a man is sullied with filth, or a woman's entire body is filthy with Dam Nidah, ornaments are a disgrace for them. This is the ultimate mockery. The Mitzvos are ornaments. If a sinner filthy with sins will openly engage in Mitzvos, he will be a mockery - "Niru Lachem Nir v'Al Tizre'u El Kotzim" (Yirmeyah 4:3). The Zohar and Kabalah teach that a total Rasha who does a Mitzvah, he strengthens Tum'ah. This is why their Mitzvos are a jest. Yerushalayim was filthy with sins, like a Nidah is filthy with blood.
What is "l'Nidah"?
Rav Sadya Gaon: A wanderer.
Rashi: An exile. This is like "Na v'Nad" (Bereishis 4:12).
Ibn Ezra: It is a mockery, like "Menod Rosh" (Tehilim 44:5), "v"Nid Sefasai" (Iyov 16:5). This is like "Na v'Nad."
What is the meaning of "[Kol Mechabdeha] Hiziluha"?
Rav Sadya Gaon: [The nations that used to honor it, now - Ri Kara] they belittled her. Ibn Ezra #1 - it is the opposite of honor - "Im Totzi Yakar mi'Zolel" (Yirmeyah 15:19). However, that is from a different root 1 .
Ibn Ezra #2: They caused it to descend.
Ibn Ezra #3: They caused it to make her tear flow.
R. Avigdor citing Eichah Zuta 1:26: [The distinguished women] spurted blood. They hoped to marry officers - Yemaher Yachishah", so Hashem prevented this - "va'Shem Pas'hen Ye'areh" (Yeshayah 5:19, 3:17).
Palgei Mayim: The Mitzvos, which honored Yisrael when they were Tzadikim, now they disgraced Yisrael (refer to 1:8:1:2).
Zolel; here, the root is Zol. (PF)
What is the meaning of "Ki Ra'u Ervasah"?
Rav Sadya Gaon, Rashi: They belittled her,] for they saw her disgrace.
Ibn Ezra: Ka'asher (when) they saw Ervasah, "Ne'enchah va'Tashav Achor."
Ri Kara (from Shocher Tov 137): They belittled her, for they saw them being taken captive naked. Yerushalayim is compared to a Zonah who is judged like an adulteress "ha'Ozeves Aluf Ne'ureha "v'Es Bris Elokeha Shachechah" (Mishlei 2:17).
Palgei Mayim: They disgraced her, for they saw her sins. Refer to 1:8:1:2.
Torah Temimah citing Yuma 54b: When the Nochrim entered the Heichal, they saw the Keruvim embracing each other. They took them outside and disgraced Yisrael for engaging in such matters.
What is the tense of "Ne'enchah"?
Rashi: It is Nif'al conjugation in past tense. It is unlike "Ki Ne'enachah Ani" (21), which is an adjective.
What is the meaning of "va'Tashav Achor"?
Ri Kara: After it was stricken, it was sad over its sins that caused "l'Nidah Haysah", and wished that it could retroactively retract its sins. Had it regretted its sins while it sat serene, it would not have been exiled. However, it did not do so.
Palgei Mayim: Due to the nations' scorn of her, she regrets her deeds.
