This continues the king of Assyria's message to Hezekiah. The chief commander is speaking the message to Hezekiah's men. (See: [Isaiah 36:4-5](./04.md))
This speaks of Egypt, specifically its army and its Pharaoh, as if it were a splintered reed to emphasize that relying on them would not help them but would only harm them. Alternate translation: "that is like walking with a splintered reed for a staff. If a man leans on it, it will stick into his hand and pierce it" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])