יחזקאל, פרק ל׳, פסוק ט׳

The fall of a mighty empire sends shockwaves far beyond its borders, shattering the illusion of safety for distant nations that seemed immune to harm. The sudden destruction of Egypt brings an unavoidable wave of terror that washes over its southern neighbor, Cush. The messengers sent forth are not heavenly angels, but rather military battalions, troops, or envoys acting as the executing arm of God's decree. These forces travel in large ships or warships [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ], though some interpret this movement as referring directly to military legions [רש״י]. Naval movement is necessary because the land of Cush is surrounded by large rivers, such as the Nile, making it accessible only by water [רד״ק, שטיינזלץ].

The goal of this campaign is to strike fear into a complacent nation. The people of Cush lived untroubled, feeling completely protected due to their great distance from the conflict and the natural barriers surrounding them. The sudden attack, or the arrival of terrible news by river, shatters their false sense of security [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. A deep panic takes hold of them, directly tied to the day of Egypt's ruin. The primary approach among commentators explains that just as the people of Cush were struck with terror upon hearing of Egypt's downfall, they will be even more terrified now that the disaster reaches them directly [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Alternatively, a spiritual perspective views this panic as a subconscious premonition. On the day Egypt was captured, the spiritual guardian of Cush saw and felt that the suffering would soon pass to them as well [חומת אנך].

The disaster and the resulting panic are no longer a distant rumor or a future threat. It is a tangible reality that has already reached their doorstep, signaling that the time of their own destruction has arrived [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, חומת אנך].