ישעיהו, פרק ל׳, פסוק ג׳

Relying on foreign powers for safety is often an illusion that shatters, leaving only disappointment and deep humiliation in its wake. The prophet warns the Israelites that their alliance with Egypt will bring them absolutely no benefit. In times of crisis, neither the military might of the Egyptian king nor the general shelter of the empire will offer any real protection. Instead, trusting in these forces will only lead to disgrace [אברבנאל]. The primary approach among commentators is that this shame stems directly from placing hope in a false, treacherous ally that proves entirely useless the moment it is actually needed [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שד״ל].

This resulting humiliation operates on two distinct levels. The first is a deep, internal shame. This is the private realization and regret the people will feel upon waking up to their own mistake, understanding that seeking shelter in Egypt yielded nothing. The second level is a public, external disgrace inflicted by others. The Israelites will suffer mockery from surrounding nations for degrading themselves, paying useless tribute to Egypt, and leaning on an alliance that produced absolutely nothing [מלבי״ם].

Historically, this prophetic warning became a painful reality. When the Assyrian king advanced to destroy Samaria, the Egyptian army that was supposed to come to the rescue never reached its destination. The Israelites were left completely helpless and without aid, reaping nothing from their political maneuvering but shame and disgrace [אברבנאל].