Why does it say that Hashem rides on a fast cloud?
Rashi: He will quickly send His decree to collect payment from Egypt.
Radak: This is a metaphor for how quickly the decree will come on them.
What is the meaning of "Yano'u"?
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: They will be broken.
Metzudas David: They will tremble.
Why will the idols of Egypt tremble?
Rashi: They will not be able to save their nation 1 from Ashur's messengers.
Radak: They are the idols in which they trusted. The verse implies that they had many idols.
Why will the nation's heart melt?
Malbim: In days of old, Egypt used to worship the Nile river, and deified it together with their other gods. They foolishly said that the gods stop clouds from coming to Egypt, for clouds and rain are a bad sign for them. Also nowadays it is bad for them, for their houses are made of earth and mud. When rain comes, they dissolve! Therefore, they used to attribute rain to Likuy (being stricken) of the gods that prevent rain. This is why Hashem's coming and the displacement of the idols is depicted as Hashem coming on clouds.
Why is the punishment of Egypt written in the present tense, unlike that of other nations?
Rashi: They are used to being punished like this - "v'Avarti b'Eretz Egypt... uv'Chol Elohei Egypt [E'eseh Shefatim]" (Shemos 12:12). It is normal to threaten a person with an affliction that already struck him.
