God's absolute greatness and unquestioned rule over all creation are vividly displayed through His ability to subdue the most powerful forces of nature. His power extends across vast, seemingly untamable waters and the most fertile, deeply rooted landscapes, proving that nothing can withstand His will.
God commands the oceans with a scolding rebuke, much like a master disciplining a servant [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. He dries up the massive seas using fierce storm winds, echoing the historical parting of the Red Sea [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. This power applies equally to smaller rivers, which He empties either through miraculous intervention, as seen at the Jordan River, or through natural means like withholding rain [רד״ק]. There is a noted distinction in the intensity of this action, as the drying of the ocean represents a much more severe and absolute level of destruction than the emptying of rivers [מלבי״ם].
Beyond the physical events, the primary approach among commentators views these drying waters as a powerful metaphor for the rise and fall of empires. The seas and rivers symbolize foreign nations and their multitudes. The underlying message is that if God can overturn the laws of nature to dry up an ocean, He can effortlessly empower one nation to conquer and destroy another [רד״ק, רש״י]. Specifically, this points to the elimination of the leaders of Nineveh [מצודת דוד], or serves as a prophecy that God will raise up Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to dismantle the Assyrian empire through war [רש״י].
The loss of water, the halting of rain, or the onset of severe storms inevitably brings devastation to the dry land. Regions famous for their lush, fertile, and heavily forested grazing pastures, such as the Bashan and the Carmel, suffer complete ruin as their vegetation is cut down and left to wither [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This destruction spreads even to the blooming forests of Lebanon, an area naturally rich in water, where flowers and trees dry out and are torn away by violent winds [אברבנאל, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Just as the waters carry a deeper meaning, these fertile regions possess a symbolic layer. The Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon represent the strongholds of the wealthy and powerful. Their sudden decay illustrates the downfall of the rich and the abrupt end of their prosperity [רש״י, מצודת דוד].
Offering a highly unique perspective, the Sages find within the withering blooms of Lebanon a subtle reference to the Temple in Jerusalem. According to this tradition, King Solomon originally planted decorative trees and fruits crafted entirely of gold within the Temple sanctuary. However, the very moment foreign invaders breached the sanctuary, those golden fruits miraculously withered and dried up [רש״י].