What did Hashem show to him?
Rashi: Another punishment that He will bring upon them.
Malbim: The last two decrees ? plague and the sword.
To whom does Hashem call?
Rashi: To His entourage.
Radak: To His angels.
Malbim: Calling to fire is a metaphor for the sword and plague. They are like a fire that consumes in the camp - "va'Tihyu k'Ud Mutzal mi'Serefah" (4:11).
What is "Lariv ba'Esh"?
Rashi: He will quarrel with you with punishment of burning fire.
Malbim: Refer to 7:4:2:3.
Will the fire consume the water of the Tehom?
Radak: Yes ? this is like "v'Es ha'Mayim Asher ba'Te'alah Lichechah" (Melachim I, 18:38). Perhaps the fire is a metaphor for the heat of the strong, burning sun ? it blocks rain, dries crops and diminishes water of the rivers.
Radak citing his father: It is truly fire. He wanted to judge them with Esh v'Gafris, like Sedom and Amorah, if not for the Navi's Tefilah. This is why Yeshayah said "Kim'at ki'Sdom Hayinu" (1:9).
Malbim: This refers to first consuming those who descend to Egypt for help ? "Shalachti Vachem Dever b'Derech Mitzrayim Haragti va'Cherev Bachureichem" (4:10). Egypt is deep like Tehom compared to Eretz Yisrael. The Navi calls your going to Egypt "va'Tashpili Ad She'ol" (Yeshayah 57:9).
What is "ha'Chelek"?
Rashi: The field. Radak ? The prefix Hei ha'Yedi'ah (to identify) teaches that it is the known field ? the king's, like it said above "Achar Gizei ha'Melech" (1). This shows that it is due to the king's sin. When the king was good, the nation went in a good path, like he would rebuke them and guide them in the straight path. When the king was evil, also the nation were evil, for they learned from his deeds. 1
Malbim: This is Yisrael's portion and inheritance. Afterwards, the plague and the sword came to Eretz Yisrael.
There were exceptions. Hashem thought to destroy the world due to Yehoyakim, but retracted due to his generation. He thought to destroy the world due to Tzidkiyah's generation, but retracted due to him (Sanhedrin 103a)! (PF)
