יחזקאל, פרק ו׳, פסוק ח׳

Even in the face of devastating destruction and severe punishments, a future remains for the Israelites. The complete annihilation of the people is not the ultimate outcome; rather, a remnant will escape the sword and survive. The primary approach among commentators is that God intentionally preserves this surviving group so that the nation is not entirely wiped out [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Offering a different perspective, a unique approach suggests that God actually derives a profound benefit or profit from these very punishments. In this view, the harsh judgments are purposeful, as they serve to forge and refine this specific, enduring group of survivors [מלבי״ם].

Those who are rescued and manage to escape will not remain in their homeland, but will instead live a life of global dispersion [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This scattering unfolds as a distinct, two-stage process of exile, a pattern consistent throughout the Book of Ezekiel. Initially, the survivors will find themselves among neighboring peoples, living in close proximity to their original borders. From there, they will be driven further away, ultimately scattering into distant, foreign countries [מלבי״ם].