יחזקאל, פרק ל״ו, פסוק כ״ד

The promise of gathering the exiled Israelites is far more than a simple geographic relocation. It is a profound spiritual and national process designed to restore God's honor in the world and breathe life back into the land. The primary approach among commentators is that the main motivation for bringing the people back together is the sanctification of God's name. Throughout the exile, God's name was dishonored when the nations of the world mocked the Israelites, pointing out that although they were God's people, they had been forced out of His land. By rescuing the Israelites from foreign control and returning them to their homeland, God sanctifies His name and completely removes this worldly disgrace [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

This gathering is vast and complete. It reaches both the nearby nations where the Israelites suffered under direct oppression, as well as the most distant territories where the people were widely scattered [מלבי״ם].

Furthermore, the promise to return the people to their homeland carries a physical transformation for the land itself. During the years of exile, the Land of Israel actually shrank, losing its broad dimensions much like a deer's hide shrinks after it is removed. The land's natural expansion and abundance are directly fueled by the Israelites studying Torah within its borders. When the people sinned, abandoned the Torah, and were forced into exile, the land lost its original size and its capacity to hold a large population. Therefore, bringing the people back includes restoring the land to its former glory. It will expand once again, allowing it to comfortably hold all the Israelites who return [אהבת יהונתן].