Why does it say "He'echaltam Lechem Dim'ah"?
Rashi: This was in Egypt.
Radak: This is like "Haysah Li Dim'asi Lechem Yomam va'Laylah" (Tehilim 42:7). Just like food and drink are man's staple [needs] every day and night, so tears were their daily quota.
Malbim: Amidst their great poverty, it seems to them that they eat bread of tears - skimpy bread and water. Nechemyah Perek 5 mentions their great poverty.
When did He give to them "bi'Dma'os Shalish" to drink?
Rashi citing R. Moshe ha'Darshan: It was in Bavel. They were there for 70 years, a third of the 210 years that they were in Egypt. Radak - a Siman for the latter is "Redu Shamah" (Bereishis 42:2); the Gematriya of Redu is 210.
Rashi: This was at the time of Malchus Yavan, which was the third affliction (exile, after Egypt and Bavel). Do not say that Pras and Madai was the third; all 70 years (encompassing Bavel, Pras and Madai) is only one Galus. Radak - the prefix Beis is extra, like in "Lachamu v'Lachami" u'Shesu b'Yayin Masachti" (Mishlei 9:5).
Rashi citing Menachem: Shalish is the name of a Kli from which they drink. And so he explained "v'Chol ba'Shalish Afar ha'Aretz" (Yeshayah 40:12).
Rashi citing Shocher Tov: This refers to three tears that Esav shed [when he lost the Brachos] - "va'Yitz'ak Tze'akah" "Gedolah" "u'Marah" (Bereishis 27:34). Due to them, he merited "v'Al Charbecha Sichyeh... v'Hayah Ka'asher Tarid..." (ibid., 40).
Radak: This is like Dema'os bi'Shalish. Shalish is a large measure, like "v'Chol ba'Shalish" (Yeshayah 40:12).
Radak citing Shocher Tov: For three tears that Esav shed - "va'Yitz'ak Tze'akah Gedolah u'Marah" (Bereishis 27:34), You made him rule over the entire world. When You come to see our shame and servitude of our Nefesh, all the more so!
