The advance of an invading force into a city unfolds as a consistent, unstoppable, and terrifying wave that leaps over every obstacle in its path. Commentators debate the true nature of these invaders. Some view the invasion as a literal plague of locusts swarming the city [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others interpret the swarm as a poetic metaphor for a cruel human military force, such as the Babylonian army, fighting with the relentless determination of insects [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].
As the force enters the city, their presence is overwhelming. The primary approach among commentators is that they produce a massive sound, whether it is the deafening beat of locust wings or the fierce battle cries of human warriors [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A unique perspective suggests that this great noise actually comes from the terrified screams of the city's residents rather than the invaders themselves [אברבנאל]. Other scholars explain that the invaders gather in massive numbers, filling the streets until they resemble a crowded market [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. Alternatively, the focus is placed on the long legs of the locusts and their constant, unceasing movement [רד״ק]. A different tradition explains that the invaders are actively arming themselves, preparing for close quarters combat right inside the city [רש״י, רד ק ואברבנאל בשם תרגום יונתן].
As the attack progresses, traditional defensive strategies completely fail. Usually, during a war, residents flee to tall buildings or rush to the defensive walls to protect themselves, but these efforts are useless against such an enemy [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. The invaders effortlessly climb over the protective walls and scale the houses.
The final stage of the infiltration is absolute. Unlike a standard army that might be delayed or blocked by locking the city gates and securing the doors of homes, these invaders simply bypass the main entrances. Much like a thief who finds a door locked and quietly slips inside through a narrow window, this enemy penetrates every single home and private space through indirect routes, making it completely impossible to stop them [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].