יואל, פרק ג׳, פסוק ה׳

During a time of global upheaval and great distress, identified as the war of Gog and Magog, survival will depend on a combination of deep spiritual devotion and a specific geographical refuge. In these difficult days, the wicked will perish, and only those who revere God will endure.

Survival begins with a genuine turning to God. Those who truly pray to Him and place their complete trust in Him will be rescued [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Walking in God's ways and identifying with His name acts as a powerful spiritual shield that ensures protection [חומת אנך].

The physical location for this salvation is clearly defined as Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Even as foreign nations advance to wage war against the city, it is precisely there that the ultimate rescue will take place [רד״ק]. However, there are varying perspectives on who exactly will be spared within the city limits. Some maintain that all inhabitants of Jerusalem will be protected, whereas in other parts of the world, only scattered individuals will survive [מלבי״ם]. Others emphasize that even within Jerusalem, survival is not guaranteed for everyone; rather, only a select group of good and upright individuals will be saved [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].

This guaranteed protection fulfills a prior divine promise. Some trace this assurance back to the Torah, which declares that the nations of the earth will see God's name associated with His people [רש״י]. Others point to the prophetic vision of Isaiah, which promises that Zion will ultimately be redeemed through justice [אברבנאל].

Those who make it through the distress are considered a remnant of survivors [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], a concept that poetically reinforces the theme of ultimate rescue [אבן עזרא]. The nature of their survival is closely tied to a specific call. The primary approach among commentators is that God Himself calls out to these survivors. This is viewed as a divine decree designating them for life, as well as an invitation of honor, much like distinguished guests being summoned to a king's royal feast or to his personal service [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא]. Alternatively, this calling is understood as an action taken by the survivors themselves, with each remaining individual crying out to God for help [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].