What is the grammatical form of "v'Yitzku"?
Radak: It is a command, like "Mishchu u'Kchu Lachem Tzon" (Shemos 12:21).
Why did he pour water on the Olah?
Rashi: This was to aggrandize the miracle (water will not extinguish the fire). 1
Malbim (37): This will prove that it is not witchcraft. Water tests (nullifies) witchcraft.
The fire Lechechah (dried) the water (verse 38).
Why did he say to pour four barrels of water on the Olah, and three times?
Radak: He wanted to pour 12 barrels, like the number of Shevatim. They put four each time, and "v'Shileshu" (they did so three times). He did not put all 12 at once, rather, at three times, corresponding to the three Avos; he mentioned all three in his Tefilah.
Malbim: He needed to draw an influence of rain from the Supreme source. Four [angels called] Chayos carry the Supreme Merkavah (chariot) and the lower one; the influence comes through it. There were four barrels corresponding to them, to draw influence from the four corners of the Supreme land in the world of Atzeilus to the world of the Kisei [ha'Kavod]. The second time was to pour influence from the four bearers of the Kisei to the world of the angels, and the third time was to bring down water from the four Chayos that Yechezkel saw in the lower chariot to the Ofanim, which are in the lower world.
