Rashi: The ropes that pull the boat, they snapped. This is Romi, which is liable.

Radak #1: This refers to Machaneh Ashur, which was depicted as a boat with oars or a great ship. The ropes that spread the sail, they snapped, so the sailors cannot spread the sail.

Radak #2: The ropes came off [the sail, so they cannot spread it]. This is like "v'Hine Netushim Al Pnei Chol ha'Aretz" (Shmuel I, 30:16).

Malbim: The verse depicted that Eretz Yisrael Yehudah became a place of rivers. It is like a ship tossed about in the sea. Even so, the great ship [Machaneh Ashur] cannot come close to it, for Hashem saves the small boat. The boat in the middle of stormy sea needs a captain to conduct it. He must hold the mast, lest it fall, and spread the sail around the boat, lest the wind push it from its place. If all these will be done for it, the boat is secure with Hashem's mercy. However, if they abandon the captain (Melech Chizkiyah), or if they do not strengthen the mast, or do not spread the sails, the ship will depart from its place.

Rashi: It is the ship's mast.

Rashi: They cannot spread the sail that conducts the ship (makes it go).

Rashi: They will greatly divide the booty of Sancheriv.

Radak: Since the ship cannot go, the plunderers will divide its spoils. So Machaneh Ashur, since they died, Yisrael went out and plundered the camp. Ad is like Shalal (spoils); the Targum of "ha'Shalal" (Bamidbar 31:11) is Ada'ah. It should say Ad v'Shalal; the prefix Vov is omitted, like "Shemesh Yare'ach" (Chabakuk 3:11). The matter is repeated in different words to strengthen it. Marbeh teaches that they took much booty.

Malbim: If they will not conduct the boat properly (refer to 33:23:1:4), the enemy will divide the booty of the boat. The Nimshal is, if Hashem is our might, and the boat (the kingship and the nation) are tied to Him and His Mitzvos, and they support the captain and the mast (their king), and they spread a sail to guard against wind (not seeking help from other nations), then the great ship of Ashur cannot enter their border. If they do not guard these conditions, the enemy will despoil them. And so happened initially - many Arei Yehudah were plundered.

Rashi: Yisrael, who were weak ¹ until now.

Radak: The lame [in Yerushalayim. Even they went out to plunder, for the Machaneh was close to Yerushalayim.]

Malbim: The lame [and weak were able to plunder Arei Yehudah, just like anyone can plunder an ownerless boat; it was not due to their strength.