A profound crisis overtakes Egypt, an ancient superpower long renowned for its wisdom and might. The impending collapse is not merely an external military defeat, but a deep internal breakdown. It is a psychological and intellectual shattering that drives an entire nation to abandon logic and desperately seek salvation in the realms of witchcraft and illusion.
The intellect, wisdom, understanding, and courage that once defined the Egyptian people will completely drain away. This process is compared to a vessel having its contents poured out, leaving the nation entirely hollow [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק, שד״ל, אבן עזרא], though it also implies a profound breaking [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. All their mental and emotional strength will be emptied, leaving them as a void with no substance [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, שד״ל].
As a direct result, God declares that He will completely ruin and corrupt their national leadership and military strategies [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The emphasis on this destruction highlights a total loss of direction in the face of approaching disaster. The Egyptians will be entirely unable to find a rational solution or figure out how to repair their situation [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שד״ל].
Plunged into despair and realizing their wisdom has burned out, the people will turn to idols. Instead of looking for logical answers, they will occupy themselves with useless nonsense [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. The deterioration deepens as they seek out hidden arts. While some view these practices simply as another form of idolatry [רש״י], the primary approach among commentators is that this refers to witchcraft and rituals performed in secret, quietly, and in a low voice [מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, שד״ל]. These rituals involve magical forces that speak in whispers or the summoning of ghosts [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
Completing this picture of decline, the nation turns to additional forms of sorcery [מצודת ציון]. Egypt desperately searches for answers among mediums and spirits, yet even in these dark corners, they will find absolutely no guidance or hope [ביאור שטיינזלץ].