יחזקאל, פרק כ״ט, פסוק ב׳

A severe prophecy of doom is directed toward the Egyptian empire, targeting both its supreme leader and the nation as a whole. The prophet is instructed to focus his thoughts and direct his vision toward Egypt. Even though the land is physically distant, this deep concentration allows him to clearly see the future that awaits it [אברבנאל].

The ruler of the empire is addressed by a title meaning the great house, rather than a personal name [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The prophecy focuses first on this king because he viewed himself as a god and ruled with immense power. Consequently, his personal downfall guarantees the collapse of the entire nation. By directing the message at the king, the fate of all Egypt is inevitably sealed [מלבי״ם].

Despite the deep connection between the ruler and his people, the prophecy treats the king and the nation as two distinct entities. This separation stems from a core difference in their idolatrous practices. The king worshipped the Nile River, treating it as his own personal god, while the Egyptian masses worshipped the constellation of the ram. Because their false worship differed, their future punishments are tailored individually. The king's judgment is directly tied to the fish of his beloved Nile, whereas the people's punishment involves the destruction of both man and beast [צוארי שלל, חומת אנך].

When addressing the entirety of the nation, the prophecy adopts a feminine tone. The primary approach among commentators is that this relates to the congregation of Egypt, a concept that naturally carries a feminine identity [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. However, others view this through a spiritual lens, explaining that the supreme spiritual force appointed over Egypt is represented as female. Thus, the phrasing serves to hint at the deep spiritual root governing the nation [צוארי שלל, חומת אנך].