ירמיהו, פרק מ״ב, פסוק י״ב

God offers a profound message of hope and rescue to a broken nation living under the shadow of a foreign ruler. He promises to stir compassion within the king of Babylon. Instead of facing cruelty, the people will receive kindness and mercy directly from the foreign monarch [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is a willing restoration, where the Babylonian king himself will act out of goodwill to send the exiled people back to their original homes and properties [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The prophet delivers this message directly to the small group of survivors currently living in the land of Judah, assuring them of a return. This raises a natural question, as these listeners are already in their homeland. However, the promise is truly aimed at the masses who have already been taken away to Babylon. Because the vast majority of the nation is currently in exile, the prophet addresses the entire people as a single unit. The few individuals still remaining in Judah are simply swept up and included in the broader message directed at the exiled majority [רד״ק].