In the future days of redemption, God will prepare a grand banquet for the nations of the world. Beneath the festive surface of this gathering lies a profound and dual meaning, presenting the event either as a moment of global salvation or as a time of harsh judgment. The gathering takes place on a specific mountain, widely understood to be Mount Zion and Jerusalem, where all nations will eventually assemble [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that the mountain alludes to the entire Land of Israel, a region defined by its mountainous landscape [שד״ל].
The primary approach among commentators is that the description of the feast serves as an ironic metaphor for the downfall of the nations that will lay siege to Jerusalem during the final war of Gog and Magog. These invading armies will assume that conquering the city will be as smooth and easy as oil, anticipating a rich reward. However, God will turn their plans upside down, transforming their anticipated feast of rich oils into a feast of bitter dregs. This represents a severe trap that will lead to their absolute and irreversible ruin [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. The banquet symbolizes a cup of poison that the nations will be forced to drink, which will confuse their minds and drive them to turn on one another in battle [רד״ק, אבן עזרא].
In stark contrast, other commentators interpret the banquet as a literal meal of celebration. From this viewpoint, the feast expresses the genuine joy of the nations over the collapse of wicked empires, such as Babylon [שד״ל]. It also represents the divine abundance that will flow outward from the Temple Mount, nourishing all those among the nations who sincerely seek the truth [שטיינזלץ]. A third approach bridges these two interpretations, viewing the banquet as an event that ultimately separates humanity. The nations that recognize the truth will enjoy a meal characterized by pure oil. Just as oil is light and naturally rises to the top, these people will be elevated to eternal life. Conversely, the deniers who stubbornly refuse to change will be served a meal of dregs. Just as dregs are heavy and sink to the bottom, these individuals will be dragged down to their destruction [מלבי״ם].
The commentators also differ on the specific details of the food and beverages served at this event. The rich foods are generally understood to be fatty, satisfying delicacies derived from bone marrow [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. However, a unique opinion rejects this idea, arguing that it is undignified to serve bones at a royal banquet. Instead, this view suggests the imagery refers to a meal so exceptionally delicious that the guests will wipe their plates completely clean [שד״ל].
The beverages served carry a similarly divided meaning based on the nature of wine dregs, which are the bitter remnants that sink to the bottom of a barrel [מצודת ציון]. According to the approach of judgment, the drink is prepared by extracting all the good wine and leaving behind only the thick, harmful dregs, which the doomed nations will be forced to consume [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. On the other hand, according to the perspective of salvation, the drink is an aged, premium wine that was left to rest on its dregs for a long time to deepen its flavor. Before it is served, it is thoroughly filtered and refined, removing all impurities to provide a perfect drink for the guests [שד״ל, שטיינזלץ].