Midrash su Lamentazioni 4:17

“Even now, our eyes fail toward futile help. In our waiting, we awaited a nation that cannot save” (Lamentations 4:17).
“Even now, our eyes fail.” What would the Ten Tribes do? They would send oil to Egypt, and bring grain and send it to Babylon, so if enemies would come they would be there for them to assist them. That is what is written: “They seal a covenant with Assyria and oil is transported to Egypt” (Hosea 12:2). Once, the enemies came, and they sent to Pharaoh Nekho, who was sailing on the Great Sea.⁴⁴The Mediterranean. He was on his way to assist them. The Holy One blessed be He intimated to their skeletons,⁴⁵God intimated to the skeletons that they should float to the surface of the water. These were skeletons of people who had drowned at sea. This was in order to remind the Egyptians of the Egyptians who had drowned in the Sea of Reeds when Israel left Egypt. and they were floating on the water’s surface. They said to each other: ‘What is the nature of these skeletons?’ He said to them: ‘The ancestors of these⁴⁶The Israelites. were subjugated to your ancestors and they arose and drowned them in the sea.’ They said: ‘They did this to our ancestors and we will go and assist them?’ Immediately, they returned. That is what is written: “Behold, Pharaoh's army, that came out to you for assistance, is returning to its land, Egypt” (Jeremiah 37:7). That is why it is stated: “In our waiting, we awaited a nation that cannot save.”

“We extended a hand to Egypt, Assyria, to be sated with bread” (Lamentations 5:6).
“We extended a hand to Egypt, Assyria, to be sated with bread.” What would the Ten Tribes do? They would send oil to Egypt, and bring grain and send it to Babylon, so if enemies came they would be there to assist them. That is what is written: “They seal a covenant with Assyria and oil is transported to Egypt” (Hosea 12:2).