ירמיהו, פרק מ״ו, פסוק ז׳

A vivid picture is painted of a massive Egyptian army marching into battle [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, the underlying tone is one of mockery and defiance directed at Pharaoh and his forces. A mocking question is raised about the nation that rises and spreads out [מצודת דוד], expressing wonder at how a military force that ascended with such incredible might could ultimately fail and fall before Nebuchadnezzar [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].

To capture the sheer power of this army, imagery of mighty waters is used. The primary approach among commentators is that Pharaoh is compared to the Nile River, which naturally overflows its banks and spreads across the entire land. This serves as a metaphor for Pharaoh gathering huge armies that wash over and cover the earth simply through their massive numbers. To strengthen the description, a repeated water metaphor is used [רד״ק], adding another layer of strong, stormy, and loud movement [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, רש״י].

Beyond emphasizing the army's size, this dual imagery creates a precise distinction between different types of water. While the overflowing Nile represents the vast spread and overwhelming quantity of troops covering the land, regular rivers symbolize explosive power. Unlike the Nile, a typical river does not overflow its banks but instead flows forward with intense force. This represents the mighty warriors who charge ahead with violent power, destroying any kingdom that stands in their way [מלבי״ם].