תהלים, פרק ס״ח, פסוק כ״ג

A profound divine promise echoes across the furthest reaches of the world, addressing the ultimate fate of both the Israelites and their enemies. It stands as an absolute decree from God [אבן עזרא], guaranteeing a return from the high region of Gilead, known as Bashan [רד״ק], and from the very bottom of the ocean [מצודת ציון].

A primary approach among commentators suggests this promise is directed at the Israelites, answering the question of who exactly God is promising to bring back. God guarantees that He will gather the exiled Israelites from powerful nations and distant islands, returning them to the Land of Israel [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. In this context, Bashan and the ocean depths serve as metaphors for the most isolated and remote corners of the earth [מאירי]. The promise even extends to bringing back those who have spiritually wandered far from the right path [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This idea finds a moving expression in a Talmudic account of hundreds of captive children who were taken for shameful purposes. To escape a life of sin, they chose to jump to their deaths in the middle of the sea. They drew their courage from this divine promise, understanding it as God's guarantee of eternal life in the World to Come, even for those who drown in the ocean depths or are devoured by lions [תורה תמימה].

Conversely, another group of commentators interprets this decree not as a promise of salvation, but as a guarantee of complete destruction for the enemies of Israel. According to this view, an invading enemy will return home with the same likelihood that a person drowning in the deepest ocean will return to life, meaning they will be entirely wiped out and never return [אבן עזרא]. This crushing defeat is compared to the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Historically, this targets the army of the Assyrian king, whose invasion began in the Bashan region [רד״ק]. God will drive the fleeing enemy forces out of the land, from Bashan to the Dead Sea, sending them back to a land ruled by death [מלבי״ם].

A deeper layer of this judgment applies to the End of Days. It serves as a guarantee that God will not ignore those who tormented the Israelites throughout their long exiles. In the future, God will retrieve all the oppressors of Israel, even those who have long since died and vanished. He will bring them back to this world, whether through reincarnation or resurrection, forcing them to stand trial on Judgment Day and face their ultimate punishment [אלשיך].