ישעיהו, פרק י״ט, פסוק י״ז

A mighty empire finds itself paralyzed by the mere thought of a much smaller nation. This profound shift in power dynamics occurs not through military dominance, but through the undeniable recognition of Divine backing. Egypt's perception of Judah transforms entirely, turning a once-weak neighbor into a source of deep anxiety. The terror stems not from the physical territory, but from the Divine presence that rests upon the land [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. This spiritual reality induces a state of absolute shock and trembling, leaving the Egyptians staggering in panic like a drunkard or shattered like a broken rock [רש"י, רד"ק, אבן עזרא, שד"ל, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The dread is so overwhelming that the slightest mention or passing thought of Judah triggers immediate alarm [שד"ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. Because the Egyptians were accustomed to seeking out hidden omens, any sudden thought of Judah is interpreted as a dark sign. They assume God is actively remembering them and planning their downfall [מלבי"ם].

The primary approach among commentators links this overwhelming dread to the miraculous downfall of Sennacherib, the King of Assyria. Egypt had previously suffered under the brutal force of the Assyrian army. When the Egyptians hear that Sennacherib's massive forces were wiped out in Judah without a single human battle, they are forced to acknowledge the Supreme Power protecting Israel. They realize that just as Assyria fell by the hand of God, their own past defeats were also orchestrated by His plan, filling them with heavy terror [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת דוד]. However, a differing view places these events in a later historical era, such as the period of Persian rule. According to this perspective, Egypt will sink to such a profound state of weakness that they will fear the people of Judah, who will be living in tranquility. The Egyptians will be terrified that Judah might leverage its favorable relationship with the Persian Empire to bring harm upon them [שד"ל].