יחזקאל, פרק ל״ט, פסוק כ״ג

The historical awakening of the nations of the world will eventually bring about a completely new understanding of the history of the Israelites. When the nations finally witness the undeniable might of God, they will realize that the long exile of the Israelites was never a sign of divine weakness. They will understand that God did not lack the power to save His people, nor were the conquering nations inherently stronger or better [רש"י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Instead, the suffering of the Israelites was a direct result of their own actions. Their exile was brought upon them solely because they betrayed and denied God [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

This newfound awareness addresses two distinct historical periods, both of which initially created a false impression that God's honor was diminished in the eyes of the world. The first period was the actual expulsion of the Israelites from their homeland, which occurred as a consequence of their sins. The second period was the continuous suffering they endured while in exile, where they were handed over to their enemies and subjected to harsh decrees and violence [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The nations will come to see that the extreme vulnerability and death the Israelites faced during their exile did not happen because God abandoned them or no longer cared. Rather, God intentionally hid His face from them as a direct punishment for their crimes and impurity [מלבי"ם].

While descriptions of this destruction might imply that the entire nation perished in battle, commentators agree that this does not indicate an absolute and total elimination of the people. In biblical language, the majority is often described as the whole. Therefore, the intention is that a vast number of the Israelites were killed in wars, rather than every single individual without exception.