What is the difference between Nachal and Afik Nechalim?
Rashi: Afik Nechalim is the source of rivers.
Devar Eliyahu: Nachal is a regular flowing river. Afik Nechalim goes from a high place to a low place. These refer to two kinds of traitors. One intended to help and promised sincerely, but when it was time to fulfill, his heart changed and he retracted 1 .
The continuation is missing. Presumably, the other promised from the beginning without intent to fulfill. (PF)
What is the Mashal "ka'Afik Nechalim Ya'avoru"?
Rashi: This is explained below. Afik Nechalim is the source of rivers.
Devar Eliyahu: His friends compared him to five kinds of lions - Ari, Shachal, Kefirim, Layish and Bnei Lavi (4:10-11). He compares them to five kinds of rivers, for there are five kinds of water. Three are from Shamayim - dew, rain and snow 1 . Two are from the land - Tehomos (springs from an underground source) and flowing rivers. They are mentioned in the five verses beginning with this verse.
Malbim: A river freezes in winter, and people walk on it. In summer, the ice begins to melt, and it overflows its banks from all the melted snow, and chunks of ice in the river that impede its flow. It destroys cities, Medinos, and floods everything in its way. This is one betrayal. Another is after melting - the river covers its sources and divides into many rivers. The water is lost and dries up, and later there is no water to drink.
Presumably, hail is included in snow. (PF)
