ירמיהו, פרק מ״ו, פסוק ה׳

A mighty, seemingly invincible military force can suddenly collapse under the weight of unexplained panic. The prophet watches in utter astonishment as the formidable Egyptian army retreats in sheer terror from the forces of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Chaldeans [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The collapse unfolds as a gradual process of breakdown and defeat [מלבי״ם]. It begins as a purely mental state, sparking wonder at how these soldiers are suddenly gripped by cowardice, dread, and overwhelming fear [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This internal anxiety immediately translates into action, causing the troops to abandon the battlefield and retreat [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק].

From there, the defeat escalates into a harsh physical reality. Even the strongest and most heroic warriors are broken, beaten, and crushed [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This physical shattering triggers an absolute, desperate flight [רד״ק]. The panic is so intense that the soldiers have no time to stand their ground. They run without even turning their heads to fight back, or so much as checking to see if anyone is actually chasing them [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

The answer to the prophet's astonishment lies in the overwhelming threat that surrounds the army. The primary approach among commentators is that God Himself brings this profound anxiety upon the soldiers, ensuring that a paralyzing fear grips them from every possible direction as they flee. Alternatively, the surrounding threat is understood as a physical gathering of forces. In this view, the Egyptians are unable to defend themselves because their sword-bearing enemies have completely encircled them, massing against them from all sides [רד״ק].