זכריה, פרק ט׳, פסוק י״א

Following the portrayal of the righteous Messiah, a powerful message of hope and redemption is directed toward the Congregation of Israel [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, אברבנאל, שטיינזלץ]. A clear parallel emerges: just as the Messiah is saved through his righteousness, the entire nation will be rescued from the depths of suffering due to their enduring loyalty to a historical covenant. The nation is assured that it will experience salvation alongside the Messiah [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

This future salvation is earned through the merit of the blood of the covenant. Commentators offer two main perspectives on what this specific covenant represents. One approach suggests it refers to the commandment of circumcision, which the Israelites maintained with deep devotion even during the harshest periods of exile [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. This dedication was particularly evident in their refusal to exchange the blood of circumcision for the baptismal waters of other faiths [מלבי״ם]. A second viewpoint explains that it represents the blood sprinkled upon the people during the revelation at Mount Sinai or the Exodus from Egypt, an act that symbolizes their acceptance of the Torah and their eternal bond with God [רש״י, אבן עזרא, רד״ק, אברבנאל, שטיינזלץ].

In return for these merits, God promises to release His bound and chained children from a dry, waterless pit [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. This pit serves as a metaphor for the bitter depths of exile [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. A pit without water is a place of severe danger, naturally harboring harmful snakes and scorpions. This mirrors the vulnerability of the Israelites in exile, where they face constant harm from the surrounding nations [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. Historically, the dry pit specifically represents the Roman exile, contrasting with the Babylonian exile, which was instead compared to a deep body of water [מלבי״ם].

Beyond the physical danger, the lack of water carries profound spiritual meaning. Water often serves as a metaphor for prophecy. Accordingly, the dry pit symbolizes the long, difficult era of exile when the wellsprings of prophecy completely dried up, and no new prophets arose to guide the people [רד״ק בשם אביו].