ישעיהו, פרק י״ט, פסוק ז׳

Egypt's identity and power were entirely bound to the Nile River, a consistent source of water that fueled a thriving agricultural economy. A severe prophecy foretells the complete agricultural and economic collapse of this superpower. The coming ruin is so absolute that it will destroy all plant life relying on the river without distinction.

The destruction centers first on the vegetation growing directly on the riverbanks and in the immediate surrounding areas, places where water should logically never run out. The primary approach among commentators is that the initial targets of this ruin are moist grasses and vegetables with strong, deeply tangled roots. In contrast, others understand this stage of destruction as a process of exposure and emptying; the lush greenery that once blanketed the water will be entirely uprooted, leaving the riverbanks bare and exposed [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Adding another layer, some explain that these are wild plants growing naturally on their own, thriving as if ordered to grow by the river itself without any human effort [מלבי״ם].

However, the devastation will not be limited to wild, naturally occurring vegetation. It will also strike every crop and seed intentionally planted by human hands. Even though these cultivated fields benefit from human care and possess stronger, more established root systems, their fate is sealed.

Ultimately, all of this agricultural abundance will dry up completely. Once the plants have withered, they will be crushed into fine dust and blown away by the wind [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. The final result is total devastation, with the greenery vanishing entirely from the world.