World leaders are gripped by an ideological crisis as they witness a miraculous event that completely overturns the established order of history. This occurrence so deeply defies the laws of nature and society that it triggers overwhelming wonder and intense soul-searching among all who see it. The primary approach among commentators is that the speakers in this moment are the nations of the world and their kings, reacting in absolute shock to the sudden redemption of Israel and its dramatic rise to greatness. However, a minority view suggests that the prophet himself is speaking, wondering on behalf of himself and his fellow prophets who would have ever believed the messages of redemption they had previously shared [שד״ל].
The nations express complete disbelief at the unfolding reality. They admit that had they merely heard about this event from others or from prophets, rather than witnessing it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it, as it is so far removed from the natural order [מלבי״ם, רש״י, רד״ק, שד״ל, אבן עזרא]. The nature of this surprising news is understood in a few ways. Some explain it is the sudden announcement of Israel's redemption, power, and newfound authority [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others see it as the nations' shock at their own downfall from the height of power to complete helplessness. In this view, the nations experience a sudden realization that their previous beliefs were entirely false, leaving them to wonder how they ever trusted the deceptive traditions they were raised on [אברבנאל].
The astonishment then shifts to the specific identity of the people receiving this miracle. As God's profound strength, greatness, and glory are suddenly exposed for all to see [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון], it provokes a twofold wonder among the nations. First, they ask if such immense divine power has ever been revealed on behalf of any nation since the dawn of time [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא]. Second, and this forms the very core of their shock mixed with a trace of disdain, they cannot comprehend how God's infinite power was revealed specifically for this particular people. According to human logic, such a glorious divine display should be reserved for those who already possess power, authority, and high status. The ultimate bewilderment stems from the fact that God chose to manifest His might for a nation that was previously viewed as lowly, despised, rejected, and broken [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].