ישעיהו, פרק כ״ט, פסוק ז׳

The sudden and absolute collapse of the massive armies threatening Jerusalem will leave the defenders stunned, as the terror of the siege evaporates as if it had never happened. The targeted city of Jerusalem is uniquely identified in this context by its role as the home of the altar [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The downfall of the surrounding Assyrian camp is compared to a night vision [אבן עזרא]. This vision simply refers to the ordinary images or terrible nightmares one sees while sleeping, rather than any kind of prophetic revelation [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators is that this dream metaphor illustrates the sudden unreality of the threat. Just as a sick person wakes up to realize their dream has no actual hold on reality, the massive enemy armies will vanish instantly, leaving no lasting impact behind [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, שד״ל]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that the dream represents the illusions of the attackers themselves. They envision successfully conquering the city, but their grand hopes will turn out to be nothing more than a false dream as their plans completely fail [רש״י].

The total erasure of the enemy includes every aspect of their military presence. The sprawling multitudes of foreign armies will disappear [מצודת ציון], along with the specialized forces constructing military positions, garrisons, and wooden siege towers [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. This destruction encompasses the physical siege infrastructure itself, such as the fortresses, earthen ramps, and towers built to breach the walls [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, שד״ל]. It equally applies to the soldiers manning these structures, fighting on the front lines [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, שד״ל], and those lying in wait to ambush the city [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Finally, the troops actively tightening the blockade and causing deep distress will also be eliminated [מצודת ציון].

These various descriptions of the attackers directly correspond to the specific stages of the siege detailed earlier. This exact parallel emphasizes that every single layer of the enemy's war machinery, from the initial troops to the final fortifications, will be entirely dismantled and fade away like a meaningless dream [מלבי״ם].