The sudden collapse of the mighty Egyptian empire sends a shockwave of terror across the ancient world. As foreign invaders sweep through the land, a once-proud nation is reduced to a state of utter helplessness, its defeat echoing like a bitter cry in the distance.
The primary approach among commentators is that the sound of Egypt in its downfall will resemble the sharp hiss and bitter whisper of a retreating snake. Some explain that this serpent-like sound actually reflects the clashing of Egyptian weapons as the soldiers scramble, mimicking the noise of crawling snakes [רד״ק]. However, many commentators draw a deeper parallel to the ancient punishment of the primordial serpent. Just as God cursed the original snake by cutting off its legs and causing its cry of pain to be heard from one end of the earth to the other, Egypt will let out a massive, terrifying cry that will shake the entire world during its destruction [רש״י, צאינה וראינה].
The severing of the snake's legs represents the complete loss of Egypt's strength. The Egyptians are effectively left without legs, entirely unable to flee their own land as the disaster unfolds [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective connects this imagery to the concept of truth. The original serpent lost its legs as a punishment for speaking falsehoods, reflecting the idea that a lie has no legs to stand on. In the same way, the Egyptian empire, which was built on a foundation of lies and witchcraft, loses its base and has its legs cut out from under it [אהבת יהונתן].
As the imagery shifts from a snake to a forest, the invading Babylonian army is portrayed as an endless, unstoppable swarm arriving to chop down the vast forest of Egypt [מלבי״ם]. The enemies attack with immense military force, wielding heavy axes designed for cutting timber [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. Just as trees cannot fight back or stop the woodchoppers from felling them, the Egyptian nation stands completely paralyzed and defenseless against the swords of the Babylonians [מצודת דוד].
The combined metaphors of the snake and the woodchoppers also reveal the true nature of this devastation. A snake is known to bite its victims without gaining any actual benefit from the act. Similarly, the Babylonian king and his vast army do not invade merely to gather loot or take spoils of war. Their sole purpose is to level Egypt to the ground without seeking any personal gain. This absolute, uncalculated ruin proves that the destruction is not just a typical act of war, but a direct decree from God [אהבת יהונתן].