ירמיהו, פרק מ״ו, פסוק כ״ו

The fate of the Egyptian empire undergoes a dramatic transformation, shifting from total defeat and subjugation to a future, though limited, restoration. Initially, the Egyptians face severe military defeat and a prolonged loss of independence. God will deliver them into the hands of enemies who actively seek their destruction, specifically the Babylonians [צאינה וראינה, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Eventually, this harsh reality will change, though the exact timing of the restoration is a matter of discussion. The primary approach among commentators is that Egypt's recovery will take place after forty years of exile [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that this promise of renewal will only be fulfilled at the end of days [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

When this restoration occurs, the Egyptians will return to live peacefully in their homeland, free from the threat of exile, and will once again function as an independent kingdom [מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, this return comes with a significant limitation. They will not regain their historical greatness or international power. Instead, they are destined to remain a lowly kingdom, simply allowed to inhabit their ancestral land as they did in the past, but entirely stripped of their former might [רד״ק].