דניאל, פרק ז׳, פסוק כ״ב

The vision of the empires reaches a dramatic turning point where God directly intervenes in human history to establish justice. The reign of oppressive powers finally comes to an end, allowing the persecuted nation to experience redemption and claim its rightful kingdom.

In this vision, God appears as an ancient, elderly figure [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. With His arrival, He brings forth justice for the Israelites, who are recognized as the supreme holy ones. God takes up their cause, fighting their battle against the fourth oppressive empire and executing judgment upon it [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that instead of God fighting directly, He hands the power of vengeance over to the Israelites, empowering them to defeat the oppressive power themselves [רש״י]. Following this judgment, the appointed time arrives for the Israelites to inherit and take full possession of the kingdom [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

A deeper look at the sequence of these events reveals two possible paths to redemption, which depend entirely on the spiritual state of the people [מלבי״ם]. The first path is a redemption earned through merit, arriving even before its appointed time. When the Israelites achieve an extraordinary level of holiness, they are elevated to the title of supreme holy ones. In this ideal state, their redemption is brought about through strict justice and their own merit.

The second path describes a redemption that unfolds simply because the destined time has arrived, regardless of whether the people have earned it through their actions. In this scenario, they are referred to simply as holy ones rather than supreme holy ones. They still receive the heavenly kingdom, not as a reward for their deeds, but because it remains their natural and eternal inheritance.