A universal spiritual awakening sweeps across the globe as nations abandon their local beliefs. They unite with a shared desire to seek Divine truth directly from its central source. The teachings of Israel are no longer the exclusive heritage of a small nation but become a powerful magnet for all of humanity.
In this future era, people from different nations turn to one another, actively encouraging their neighbors to join a grand journey [מצודת ציון]. They speak of ascending, a movement that signifies the immense spiritual elevation of their destination rather than just a physical geographic climb [אבן עזרא]. When these multitudes arrive at the mountain of God, they do not come as tourists curious to see a magnificent building. Their sole, clear purpose is to receive the Torah and to learn [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
They express a deep desire for instruction [מצודת ציון]. As for who will guide them, commentators offer different perspectives. God might teach the nations through individuals who are already deeply versed in the Torah [מצודת דוד], or the teacher may be the Messianic King himself [רד״ק]. The educational process unfolds in two distinct stages. First, the nations learn the broad foundations and primary roots of the faith directly from their teacher. Once they understand these core principles, they proceed to walk independently, striving to grasp the finer details and specific branches of the commandments on their own [מלבי״ם].
The prophet himself concludes by explaining exactly why the nations will flock to the city [רד״ק]. They are drawn there because the true Torah originates in Zion, and there is simply no other authentic truth in the world [מצודת דוד]. This spiritual abundance flows from two distinct sources. The law emerging from Zion refers to the high court and the teachers of Jewish law who sit there, spreading their knowledge outward to the globe. Meanwhile, the word of God emerging from Jerusalem refers to the direct spirit of prophecy, as prophets will be present throughout the entire city to guide the masses [מלבי״ם].