God's entrance onto the stage of history is depicted through intense military imagery, presenting Him as a warrior stepping forward to save His people, avenge His enemies, and establish justice. The primary approach among commentators is that this campaign is aimed at rescuing the Israelites from the oppression of exile. Specifically, it focuses on the downfall of Babylon, the empire responsible for exiling the Israelites and promoting idol worship [רד״ק, שד״ל, אבן עזרא]. When God steps forward, it signifies that divine decrees, which were previously hidden from the world, are now being brought into the open and executed [אבן עזרא].
As He goes into battle, God takes on two distinct roles, which [המלבי״ם] carefully distinguishes. The first role is that of a mighty warrior who fights using His own sheer physical strength. This represents God leading with open, undeniable miracles that completely break the laws of nature. The second role is that of a seasoned man of war. Such a person does not necessarily rely on physical might, but is rather a master strategist who understands battle tactics and directs the overall campaign. This represents God operating quietly through the natural order, orchestrating the events of history so that they naturally align against His enemies.
The first action in this divine campaign is the awakening of zeal. This refers to a sudden stirring of enthusiasm, anger, and a desire for justice that had seemingly remained dormant until this moment [שד״ל, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This intense passion is awakened specifically for the sake of the Israelites, who endured severe persecution at the hands of foreign nations during their long exile [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].
In the heat of the battle, loud cries ring out. The primary approach among commentators is that these are the sounds of victorious soldiers cheering and shouting as they charge forward into the fight [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The imagery includes both a standard cheer of victory and a secondary, much louder and more intense shout [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. However, [המלבי״ם] suggests a different dynamic for these sounds. He explains that God first lets out a cheer to encourage and strengthen His own forces. The second, more piercing cry is actually forced out of His enemies; God's brilliant tactics cause them to scream in terror and despair, completely breaking their resolve.
Ultimately, God overpowers His enemies, subduing them and winning the campaign. Historically, this absolute victory is realized in the complete and final collapse of the Babylonian empire [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד].