מלאכי, פרק ג׳, פסוק כ״א

In the current reality of the world, it often appears that the wicked dominate and achieve success while the righteous are oppressed and live in darkness. However, a dramatic future reversal of divine justice is destined to occur. The truth will eventually shine like daylight, flipping the established order. The righteous, who have suffered for so long under the rule of the wicked, will ultimately overcome and trample their oppressors [צאינה וראינה, רד״ק, אבן עזרא].

The act of overcoming the wicked is described through vivid imagery of pressing and crushing. The primary approach among commentators compares this action to the treading of grapes or pomegranates in a winepress to squeeze out their juice [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. Alternatively, the imagery suggests the kneading of dough, where the righteous will tread upon the wicked until they are entirely mashed [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This total defeat is further symbolized by the wicked becoming like ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous [מצודת ציון]. These ashes represent the ultimate ruin of the wrongdoers, who will be consumed by the intense heat of the Day of Judgment [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. This destruction will not necessarily be instant. The wicked will gradually waste away, remaining subjugated beneath the righteous for as long as they exist [רד״ק]. Looking deeper, the ashes signify the final conclusion of the future judgment process. After their punishment is fully exacted, the bodies of the wicked will be destroyed, their souls will be burned, and the wind will scatter their ashes beneath the feet of the righteous [אברבנאל].

This profound transformation will take place on a specific day of judgment and reward that God has prepared in advance [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. The catalyst for this event is a radiant sun of righteousness [אבן עזרא]. Just as the natural sun has the dual power to melt wax and harden salt, this future light will have opposite effects. It will bring healing and joy to the righteous while simultaneously blazing and consuming the wicked [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This appointed time is not the result of a natural process or an astrological alignment, but an absolute execution of the will of God.

The central purpose of this day, which is associated with the resurrection of the dead, is to make divine justice physically tangible. In the present world, spiritual rewards and punishments are hidden from the eye, leading people to doubt. Therefore, God will forge a new reality where souls return to physical bodies, allowing all of humanity to clearly see the true difference between those who served God and those who did not. It is comparable to a maidservant and a mistress arguing in the dark about who is more beautiful; only when the morning arrives does the truth become undeniable. In the exact same way, when the light of the Day of Judgment dawns, the darkness of this world will dissipate, and it will be clear to everyone who is innocent and who is guilty [אברבנאל].