Does Hashem say that he will succeed?
Radak, Malbim: No. This is said in astonishment.
Who will cut off the roots?
Rashi: The first Nesher. Radak ? this is a Mashal for Tzidkiyah's kingship. It will be totally uprooted.
What is "Yekoses"?
Rashi: It is like Yekotzetz 1 (cutting). Tzidkiyah's sons will be slaughtered in front of his eyes.
Radak: Each Tzadi is replaced by a Samech.
What are "Tarpei [Tzimchah]"?
Rashi: They are leaves. Radak ? the Targum of "Ale Zayis" (Bereishis 8:11) is Taraf Zeisa.
Radak (according to the Nimshal): They are the officers of Yehudah; Melech Bavel slaughtered them.
What is the significance of the fruits and leaves drying?
Radak: Once the fruit is cut off from its place, automatically it dries. So Tzidkiyah's sons ? once they died, memory of them ceased, for they had no sons; the kingship returned to Yehoyachin and his sons. Once the fruits and leaves dry, also the vine dries. When Tzidkiyah died in Bavel, memory of him ceased.
Malbim: The kingship will be uprooted and all its people will be cut off.
What will not be with a great arm and many people?
Rashi: The second Nesher will not come to help with these. Radak ? i.e. the great arm of Pharaoh, who planned to save him from Nebuchadnetzar, and a great Am, cannot save him.
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: They will not come to uproot it from its roots. Radak ? i.e. Melech Bavel will not need to come with a great arm and many people to uproot this vine from its roots 1 ; a small amount will suffice. Even though he came with his entire army against Yerushalayim, he did not stay for the entire siege, which was from Tzidkiyah's ninth year until his 11th. During the siege, he went to Rivlah in Eretz Chamas, and left a minority of his army with Nevuzaradan at their head. They conquered Yerushalayim, and brought Tzidkiyah to Nebuchadnetzar in Rivlah.
Malbim: This is because Pharaoh will not come to help Yerushalayim. It will be easy to conquer the city and destroy it..
What is the meaning of "l'Mas'os Osah mi'Sharasheha"?
Rashi: Opposite those who uproot and move it from its roots.
Radak: When Nebuchadnetzar comes to uproot the vine from its roots, Pharaoh cannot help or save. Lemas'os is a noun ? Makor (an infinitive). Its grammatical form is like Lehash'os, which is like Lehasi. Also "u'Lemasa Es ha'Machanos" (Bamidbar 10:2) is like Lehasi'a.
