יחזקאל, פרק כ״ט, פסוק ד׳

A powerful ruler, secure in his domain, faces a sudden and forceful downfall. The prophecy uses intense water imagery to illustrate the defeat of the king of Egypt, comparing him to a massive crocodile or giant fish. Through the metaphor of a hunt, God uses large iron rings or heavy hooks designed to pierce the jaws of the beast to drag it forcefully from the water [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Placed right near the mouth, these hooks demonstrate how God will pull Pharaoh out of Egypt completely against his will [מצודת ציון]. A massive fish is incredibly strong in its natural watery environment, but it becomes entirely weak and powerless once dragged onto dry land. In the same way, Pharaoh will be stripped of his power the moment he is forced outside the borders of his own country to face his punishment [מלבי״ם]. Taking a completely different approach, the hooks in the jaws can be seen as a symbol of deep confusion and paralysis. In this view, the wise men of Egypt will lose their wisdom, their mouths clamped shut as though restrained by a horse's bit and bridle [אהבת יהונתן].

As the great water monster is pulled from the river, a remarkable sight occurs: all the smaller fish cling tightly to its scales, the protective covering of its flesh [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון]. The primary approach among commentators is that these smaller fish represent Pharaoh's subjects. When a leader is captured and falls, he drags his entire nation down with him. Government ministers, cavalry, mighty warriors, and the common people will all perish by his side. God will plant a strong desire in the hearts of Egypt's warriors to join Pharaoh in battle, ensuring that they all fall together [רש״י]. Another perspective suggests that the small fish clinging to the monster represent other nations, who will also be dragged into destruction alongside the Egyptian king [צאינה וראינה].