Why does it mention Ashur?
Rashi: I already felled Ashur.
Malbim: You will totally resemble Ashur ? also your fall will be like Ashur's. He fell via his great pride.
Is Ashur a cedar of Levanon?
Rashi: It used to be like a cedar.
Rashi (4, citing Targum Yonasan): It is compared to a cedar [because its foliage is beautiful, it shades, it is tall?]
What is "Yefe Anaf"?
Radak: Its branches are beautiful. It had attributes over the other cedars ? it was more beautiful.
Malbim: This is a Mashal for Ashur's camps and wealth.
What is the meaning of "v'Choresh me'Tzal"?
Rashi: A forest covers and gives great shade.
Radak: A branch that spreads out and makes shade under it. Tzel is from Tzalal.
Malbim: It gave great shade like a forest, for it had many leaves and branches.
Malbim (according to the Nimshal): Ashur shaded and covered all the nations around it.
What is the meaning of "u'Vein Avosim Haysah Tzamarto"?
Rashi: The top was among fresh trees.
Radak #1: The highest branch was among a mixture of people and higher than them ? it appeared beautiful.
Radak #2: The highest branch was among branches with many leaves, like Chazal (Sukah 32b) explained "v'Anaf Etz Avos" (Vayikra 23:40). This is a Mashal for kings of the nations ? Ashur was higher than all of them.
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: It sent its roots on streams.
Rashi (4) and Radak, citing Yalkut Shimoni 370: Ashur merited this grandeur via refraining from the counsel of Dor ha'Flagah ? "Min ha'Aretz ha'Hi Yatza Ashur" (Bereishis 10:11). The entire world was united to rebel against Hashem ? then Ashur's top was alone, and was not lowered with them.
Malbim: The tree top was among interwoven branches ? this beautifies the tree top.
Malbim (according to the Nimshal): Ashur was king over kings and higher than all of them. The treetop (king) was surrounded by great officers ? each was tall in his post ? "ha'Lo Sarei Yachdav Melachim" (Yeshayah 10:8).
