נחום, פרק ב׳, פסוק ד׳

The impending destruction of the city of Nineveh by Nebuchadnezzar's invading army is painted in fierce, terrifying colors of fire and blood. The focus of the attack is not just on the physical clash, but on the profound visual and psychological impact the invading force has on anyone watching. On the day they prepare for combat, the sheer display of power is meant to make the catastrophic ruin of the city feel terrifyingly real.

At the forefront of this assault is the striking appearance of the soldiers themselves, dominated by an intense shade of red across their shields and clothing. There are different ways to understand this overwhelming use of color. One approach suggests the soldiers wore luxurious, bright red garments to project their status and honor, deliberately using the bold color to strike fear and intimidation into the hearts of their enemies [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective views the redness not as dye, but as a chilling, gruesome reality of war. In this view, the shields and uniforms appear red because they are thoroughly soaked and stained with the blood of the countless victims they have already slaughtered, serving as a grim warning of their ruthless cruelty [מצודות, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

As the army advances, their chariots create a terrifying illusion of fire. The primary approach among commentators is that as the chariots race forward with immense speed and power, the friction of their iron wheels grinding against rocks and cobblestones sends up showers of sparks. This makes the chariots look as though they are driving through blazing torches. Other interpretations suggest that this fiery appearance comes from the iron of the chariots being polished until it gleams with a burning brilliance [רש״י], or that the chariots were actually placed into fire to temper and renew them in preparation for the battle [מלבי״ם].

The chaotic scene concludes with a striking image involving cypresses. A large group of commentators understands the cypresses to be military weapons, specifically spears or clubs crafted from cypress wood. In this context, the weapons are described as poisoned, meaning the sharpened tips of the spears were deliberately dipped in lethal toxins to ensure a swift and deadly strike against the enemy [רד״ק, מצודות, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Conversely, the cypresses can be seen as a human metaphor representing the high-ranking leaders and officers of Nineveh, who were once compared to tall, majestic cedar and cypress trees. Confronted by the massive, unstoppable enemy army, these leaders are overcome with severe anxiety and tremble violently, reacting as though they had just consumed a poisonous drink [רד ק בשם אביו, אבן עזרא, אברבנאל]. A final perspective suggests that the imagery simply describes the high-ranking military officers wrapping themselves in their vibrant battle uniforms [רש״י].