During the era of ultimate redemption, God will enact a perfectly just, worldwide judgment. Every nation and individual will face an exact accounting for their actions and inner intentions, with divine justice reaching from immediate oppressors to the farthest corners of the earth.
The nature of this judgment is built on absolute precision. The primary approach among commentators is that God will repay wrongdoers exactly as they deserve, perfectly matching their punishments to the severity of their actions [רש"י, שד"ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This exact parallel reflects a system of strict justice where nothing is overlooked [מצודת ציון]. Alternatively, this precise matching can be understood as a historical comparison. Just as God brought justice upon those who oppressed the Israelites in ancient times, such as Pharaoh and Sennacherib, He will bring the exact same level of justice to the oppressors present at the time of redemption [רד"ק, מצודת דוד].
As the judgment unfolds, different types of wrongdoers face different forms of justice. While some commentators view the varying descriptions of divine anger as a simple repetition meant to emphasize the certainty of the punishment [רד"ק, מצודת דוד], another approach draws a sharp distinction between the types of offenders and the nature of their consequences [מלבי"ם]. There is a fundamental difference between an objective payment and an emotional retribution. A payment is a calculated, exact match to a physical deed, delivered without emotional involvement. Retribution, however, is a response fueled by divine anger. Similarly, there is a difference between an adversary and an enemy. Adversaries are those who actively oppress and cause physical harm, often simply for their own cruel pleasure. Enemies, on the other hand, are those who harbor deep hatred in their hearts or deny God, even if they never act on those feelings physically. Therefore, God delivers an objective payment to His adversaries, punishing them exactly for their practical sins. In contrast, He reserves a deeper, emotional retribution for His enemies, holding them accountable for their inner hatred and denial of Him.
Finally, the scope of this justice expands far beyond the immediate region. Commentators agree that the mention of distant islands symbolizes remote lands and faraway nations, making it clear that this is a global transformation rather than a localized event [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although the most prominent adversaries may reside on the mainland, divine justice will cross the oceans [אבן עזרא]. It will reach into the most isolated places where the Israelites were scattered and mistreated during their exile [רד"ק, מצודת דוד], ensuring that even the most distant people who denied God will ultimately face His justice [מלבי"ם].