What is the meaning of "ha'Shole'ach ba'Yam Tzirim"?
Radak: This is Melech Ashur, on the other side of the rivers of Kush. He will send messengers via the sea.
Radak citing Rav Sadya Gaon: They will send messengers bearing gifts, and send also Bnei Yisrael in their lands, like it says in Tzefanyah (3:11) "me'Ever l'Naharei Chush Asarai Bas Potzai Yovilun Minchasi."
Malbim: [Melech Ashur] sent messengers to Yisrael [and told them to quickly send to Ashur that you submit to Ashur to do to you as they please].
What are "Chlei Gome"?
Radak: They are swift boats made of reeds.
Why should the fast kings go?
Rashi: They should see if it is true that Yisrael returned to their place.
What is "Goy Memushach u'Morat"?
Rashi: It was a nation prolonged and worn out [in its exile].
Radak: The other nations pulled on [Yisrael] from different sides, and pulled out their hair and flesh. I.e. they destroyed their bodies and their land.
Malbim: It is Ashur - a great nation, Meshuchah (far away), and its sword is Mortah (sharpened).
What is "Am Nora"?
Rashi: It is a nation that was awesome in its strength.
Radak: People saw wonders that Kel did with them, for their benefit or harm. For their benefit, they succeeded more than any nation. For their harm, He struck them in the way of chastising, but not to eradicate them. The nations pulled and plucked them, but could not cut them off from being a nation.
Malbim: It is Ashur; people fear it.
What is "Min Hu va'Halah"?
Rashi: From the day that it was chosen [to be Hashem's special] nation, and onwards.
Radak: From the day that it was a nation.
Malbim: [People fear Ashur] from its place until the end of the land.
What is "Goy Kav Kav u'Mevusah"?
Rashi #1: It is paid for its sin measure (Kav) for measure, and it is shamed.
Rashi #2: "Kav" is an expression of Ki (vomit), "Sechi u'Ma'us" (Eichah 3:45).
Radak: The nations Basesu (trampled) it little by little. Kav Kav is a Mashal; just like a builder draws a line and lays one row [of bricks] and extends it above to make another row, and so little by little until he finishes the wall, so everyone who does something now does little by little until he finishes it. And so it says "Tzav la'Tzav Tzav la'Tzav Kav la'Kav Kav la'Kav Ze'eir Ze'eir Sham" (28:10).
Malbim: It is Yisrael; [others] drew lines and divided up your land.
What are "Neharim"?
Rashi: The rulers of Kush and Nof (Egypt).
Radak: This is a metaphor for Nochri kings.
What is the meaning of "Asher Baz'u Neharim Artzo"?
Radak: This is like Bazezu (plundered); the Aleph is in place of the doubled letter Zayin.
