ישעיהו, פרק י״ט, פסוק י״ג

A nation's survival relies heavily on the wisdom of its leadership, but when those at the helm succumb to arrogance and illusion, the entire country is dragged toward ruin. The high-ranking officials and advisors of Egypt, entrusted with guiding and protecting the people, completely lose their wisdom. The leaders of the ancient capital city of Tzoan are reduced to fools, left entirely without solutions to the mounting crisis facing their nation [ביאור שטיינזלץ, רד"ק]. Meanwhile, the leaders of the city of Noph—sometimes referred to as Moph [שד"ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]—fall victim to dangerous deception. Most commentators connect this deception to the very same concept of enticement found in the story of the Garden of Eden, where the serpent lured humanity into sin [רש"י, מנחת שי, שד"ל, אבן עזרא]. In this case, the seduction takes the form of a false sense of security. The leaders are tricked into believing they are completely immune to danger and safe from their enemies [שד"ל, מלבי"ם, רד"ק]. Filled with arrogance, they promise themselves peace while blinding themselves to reality [מלבי"ם].

This arrogance ultimately sparks a devastating internal conflict. The lesser leaders of Noph rebel against the primary rulers in Tzoan, fracturing Egypt into twelve rival factions and plunging the nation into a destructive civil war [מלבי"ם]. Blinded by their own pride and ignorant advice, these officials confidently promise the masses victory in battle, utterly failing to foresee the looming disaster [רד"ק]. By relying on their flawed wisdom, they lead the entire nation astray [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

The primary approach among commentators is that these dignitaries and officers serve as the cornerstones of the tribes. Just as a building relies on a prominent cornerstone for support, the Egyptian people lean entirely on their leaders [אבן עזרא, שד"ל, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, instead of providing stability, these very cornerstones guide the nation straight into the abyss [מלבי"ם]. Alternatively, some interpret the cornerstone as a reference to the nation of Egypt itself, which stood as the pinnacle of the region until its own wise men brought about its downfall [רד"ק, מצודת דוד].