ישעיהו, פרק ל׳, פסוק ל׳

The ultimate defeat of the Assyrian army is portrayed as a magnificent, multi-sensory storm of divine power, blending terrifying sounds, deadly fire, and the destructive forces of nature. Drawing inspiration from human warfare, where warriors raise their voices to intimidate and frighten their enemies, God's intervention begins with a resounding cry [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. God projects a voice of stunning majesty and beauty [מצודת ציון], yet it carries an overwhelming sense of terror. This sound is compared to a frightening crack of thunder [אבן עזרא]. Some explain that this roaring noise is actually the sound of God's angel descending to strike the Assyrian camp, startling the soldiers so severely that their souls depart from sheer panic [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Following this terrifying sound, God reveals His power descending from above. Rather than a symbol of rest, this movement represents a forceful, downward strike. God demonstrates to the entire world how His strength comes crashing down from heaven to earth to crush the enemy [רש״י, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, שד״ל, מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון]. This devastating blow is delivered with intense, overflowing anger and wrath [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ].

The destruction then takes the form of a consuming flame. This fire represents the fatal plague that burned through Sennacherib's soldiers [רש״י]. Another perspective suggests this was not a physical blaze, but an internal fire that scorched their souls and the moisture of their bodies, leaving their physical exteriors entirely intact [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Finally, the enemy is battered by explosive shattering, torrential rain, and heavy hail. The shattering effect describes violent breaking, scattering, and explosive noises [רש״י, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא], or a massive storm wind powerful enough to break solid rock [שד״ל]. This is accompanied by a fierce, sweeping downpour [רש״י, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ] and heavy, hard hailstones [מצודת ציון]. The primary approach among commentators is that this storm of lightning, rain, and hail serves as a poetic metaphor rather than a literal weather event. It illustrates a swift, decisive strike that completely wipes out the Assyrian camp, leaving no survivors, as if they had been hit by every catastrophic force of nature all at once [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, אברבנאל].