ירמיהו, פרק ל״ט, פסוק י׳

The aftermath of the Babylonian conquest brought a calculated shift in the population of Judah. The Babylonian strategy of exile stood in sharp contrast to the earlier Assyrian method of deporting entire nations. Instead, the Babylonians targeted only the upper layers of society. By removing leaders, military personnel, and the wealthy, they effectively stripped the nation of its power. Left behind were only the poorest members of society, individuals who possessed absolutely nothing [מצודת דוד].

Leaving the impoverished class behind was a deliberate choice. Without resources or leadership, these individuals lacked the capacity to gather strength and mount a rebellion. This was especially true once the new ruling power provided for their basic needs and granted them property [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. To ensure the remaining population would settle firmly in the area and prevent the land of Judah from turning into a desolate wasteland, Nebuzaradan distributed agricultural territories to them [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The specific properties handed over to the poor consisted of vineyards and other related assets. The exact nature of these additional assets is a matter of discussion. The primary approach among commentators is that these were fields designated for digging and general farming [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that the term refers specifically to winepresses, the carved stone pits where the juice from the newly acquired vineyards would flow and be collected [מצודת ציון].