A harsh prophetic vision unfolds, revealing a severe disaster that threatens to completely wipe out both essential water sources and the agricultural harvest. God presents a strict decree of judgment, utilizing either the forces of nature or historical events as instruments to punish the people.
The prophet witnesses another impending tragedy [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this vision, God summons His heavenly court and angels to wage war and punish Israel with fire [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The exact nature of this destructive fire is understood in various ways. Some interpret it literally, viewing it as an actual punishment of fire and brimstone, similar to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah [אבן עזרא, רד ק בשם אביו]. Others explain it as a powerful metaphor for extreme, scorching heat from the sun. This heat burns like a fire, halting the essential late rains and triggering a devastating drought [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. A different approach suggests the fire is entirely symbolic, representing deadly decrees of war and plague that consume the nation [מלבי״ם].
The sheer intensity of this disaster is staggering. The extreme heat and dryness are so overpowering that they seem to drain and completely dry up even the massive, deep waters of the abyss and the rivers [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. Symbolically, this deep abyss can be seen as representing Egypt, a land topographically lower than the Land of Israel. The Israelites traveled there seeking help, but instead, it became the starting point where the plague began to destroy them [מלבי״ם].
After the waters are completely dried up, the destruction moves on to consume the land itself. This refers to the agricultural fields and farming estates [רש״י, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ], where all the crops are scorched and withered [מצודת דוד]. A subtle detail in the vision points specifically to the king's personal field. This highlights that the tragedy is a direct result of the king's sins; he led the nation down a wicked path, and the people willingly followed his example [רד״ק]. Alternatively, this specific plot of land symbolizes the Land of Israel itself—the sacred inheritance of the people—which becomes the final destination where the war and plague ultimately strike [מלבי״ם].