ירמיהו, פרק מ״ו, פסוק כ״ה

A sweeping prophecy of wrath unfolds against Egypt, targeting its leaders, its deities, and its very foundation. The judgment is framed as an act of the God of Israel, signaling that the impending disaster is a direct response to the suffering Egypt inflicted upon the Israelites. Specifically, this divine retribution serves as a consequence for the death of King Josiah at the hands of Pharaoh Necho [רד״ק]. God declares His active role in bringing disaster upon a specific target, historically identified with either the great city of Alexandria or a more ancient metropolis situated along the Nile [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. The focus of this punishment is understood in several ways. It may strike the vast multitudes of people residing in the city [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון], or it might be directed at the great prince or ruler governing the area [רש״י, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה]. Alternatively, the judgment is aimed at the chief Egyptian deity, Amon, striking the very center of his worship [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The impending ruin extends to the region's many monarchs, as the land of Egypt was composed of numerous smaller kingdoms [מצודת דוד]. At the top of this hierarchy is Pharaoh, whose downfall is absolute and multifaceted. Historically and militarily, his defeat unfolds in two stages. Pharaoh will first attempt to halt the invading Chaldean forces at the border, but he will fail and retreat. Afterward, he will wage a final, doomed battle deep within Egyptian territory, ultimately falling to Nebuchadnezzar [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם]. On a spiritual level, this judgment is a multi-dimensional punishment that strikes both the earthly, human Pharaoh and the heavenly, spiritual guardian of Egypt [צוארי שלל, חומת אנך].

The sequence of this divine judgment reflects the gravity of Egypt's offenses. In the great border city where the corruption was most severe, the physical city is punished first, followed by its spiritual guardian. Throughout the rest of Egypt, where the sin was less intense, God follows a traditional order of judgment, first dismantling the heavenly powers and only then striking the earthly kings [אהבת יהונתן]. Ultimately, the devastation is not contained within Egypt's borders. The exact same disaster will fall upon all the foreign nations that placed their confidence in Egyptian military might, proving the futility of relying on its power [מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה].