en_tn_condensed/2ki/18/21.md

Egypt, this walking stick of crushed reed

The speaker compares Egypt to a weak walking stick; you expect that it will support you when you lean on it, but instead it breaks and cuts you. Alternate translation: "Egypt, which is like a walking stick made from a crushed reed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

if a man leans ... and pierce it

The speaker is extending the metaphor by describing what happens when a reed is used as a support. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)