ירמיהו, פרק מ״ו, פסוק י׳

The clash of mighty empires often appears as mere political maneuvering, but beneath the surface lies a profound system of historical justice and direct divine intervention. Long before the destruction of Jerusalem, Pharaoh Necho, the king of Egypt, marched his army to battle Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. His grand military ambitions collapsed, and his warriors were broken and forced to flee [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. This catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Carchemish was an orchestrated day of vengeance where God brought retribution upon His Egyptian enemies [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This divine payback was far from arbitrary. It served as a historical closing of accounts, a direct punishment for Pharaoh Necho having previously killed Josiah, the king of Judah, at Megiddo [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. The battle itself is painted with the grim imagery of a cruel feast. The Babylonian forces acted as the instrument of this justice, their swords striking down the Egyptian army [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. The destruction is likened to a blade that actively satisfies its hunger and quenches its deep thirst [מצודת ציון]. Taking this imagery further, the weapon is seen as becoming completely intoxicated, drunk on the blood of the fallen soldiers [רש״י].

This massive loss of life is ultimately framed as a grand sacrifice. The bloodshed was not a random tragedy of war but a deliberate decree from God, mirroring the slaughter of an animal offering [מצודת דוד]. This solemn event took place far to the north, specifically in the region of Carchemish along the banks of the Euphrates River, where the battle unfolded [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].