תהלים, פרק ק״ה, פסוק ל״ג

The plague of hail brought unprecedented agricultural devastation to Egypt, leaving a lasting mark on the land by destroying not just seasonal crops, but the trees themselves. Heavy hail struck the vegetation fiercely, severely damaging the vines and fig trees. These particular plants are the focus because they made up the vast majority of the trees in Egypt [רד״ק]. Furthermore, they represent the most important and valued fruit trees, providing such essential nourishment that a person could survive on their yield alone, even without bread [אבן עזרא].

The most severe damage inflicted by the plague was the complete and total shattering of the trees throughout the Egyptian territory [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This absolute destruction raises a question about the natural behavior of weather. Under normal circumstances, heavy hail might bend a fresh, moist tree or snap its thinner branches, but it does not completely shatter a thick, living trunk.

The explanation lies in the miraculous, dual nature of this plague. A fierce fire accompanied the hail, and this fire first scorched the moist wood until it became completely dry and hard. Once the wood was baked brittle by the flames, the heavy impacts of the hail that followed were able to completely shatter and smash the trees into pieces [אלשיך].