ישעיהו, פרק ס״א, פסוק ח׳

The ultimate promise of redemption for the Israelites rests not merely on divine kindness, but on God's nature as a being of absolute justice. After enduring long years of exile and suffering for His name, a time of historical correction arrives, ensuring that no past wrong is left unaddressed. God's inherent love for justice serves as the foundation for the promise to grant the Israelites a double reward for their suffering. Because the people clung to God and endured profound hardships in exile, denying them hope and compensation would be a grave injustice, which God naturally opposes [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, God makes it clear that He Himself will never withhold their earned reward, but will pay them in full [אבן עזרא].

This commitment to absolute fairness is reflected in God's deep hatred of theft. The primary approach among commentators is that God despises robbery so much that He completely rejects any sacrificial offering brought from stolen property. For this reason, He refuses the offerings of the other nations, as they are tainted by theft [רש״י]. The flaw of stolen property is so severe that a sacrifice must belong entirely to the person offering it at the exact moment it is brought; even if the person intends to repay the victim later, the offering remains unwanted [חומת אנך]. Alternatively, this rejection of theft is understood as a direct response to the historical wrongs committed against the Israelites. In this view, God hates the injustice and robbery inflicted upon them over the generations, and He promises to correct these wrongs in the future [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On a national level, this divine love of justice and hatred of robbery means that God will eventually return the stolen land of Israel to its people, along with all its fruits [מלבי״ם].

As a direct result of this divine justice, the Israelites are promised true and lasting compensation, much like the wages rightfully owed to a worker [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This reward will be given faithfully in return for their good deeds, acting as compensation for bearing the insults of the nations while steadfastly guarding God's honor throughout the exile [רש״י, רד״ק]. The promise culminates in the establishment of an eternal covenant. Just as the painful exile stretched over a vast period of time, the resulting salvation and the new covenant must be equally permanent [מלבי״ם]. Unlike the earlier covenant formed during the Exodus from Egypt, which was repeatedly broken and interrupted throughout history, this future bond will remain secure forever, without any pause or end [רד״ק].