Chapter 3 - 3.3.a
We read about this gathering of the people already prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel (chapter 37).
וְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹ־נָ֣י יֱ־הֹוִה֒ הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֤י לֹקֵ֙חַ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֵּ֥ין הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽלְכוּ־שָׁ֑ם וְקִבַּצְתִּ֤י אֹתָם֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמָתָֽם׃
“And say to them, So says the L-rd G-d: Behold I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side, and I will bring them to their land.”
It is also written in the Torah, in Deuteronomy:
וְשָׁ֨ב יְ־הֹוָ֧ה אֱ־לֹהֶ֛יךָ אֶת־שְׁבוּתְךָ֖ וְרִחֲמֶ֑ךָ וְשָׁ֗ב וְקִבֶּצְךָ֙ מִכׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֱפִֽיצְךָ֛ יְ־הֹוָ֥ה אֱ־לֹהֶ֖יךָ שָֽׁמָּה׃
אִם־יִהְיֶ֥ה נִֽדַּחֲךָ֖ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם מִשָּׁ֗ם יְקַבֶּצְךָ֙ יְ־הֹוָ֣ה אֱ־לֹהֶ֔יךָ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם יִקָּחֶֽךָ׃
“then, the L-rd, your G-d, will bring back your exiles, and He will have mercy upon you. He will once again gather you from all the nations, where the L-rd, your G-d, had dispersed you. Even if your exiles are at the end of the heavens, the L-rd, your G-d, will gather you from there, and He will take you from there.” [1]
The gathering of Israel does not depend on the will of the people, but on the Will of G-d, as we can read in Ezekiel:
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel; So says the L-rd G-d: Not for your sake do I do this, O house of Israel, but for My Holy Name, which you have profaned among the nations to which they have come. And I will sanctify My great Name, which was profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord-is the declaration of the L-rd G-d-when I will be sanctified through you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations and gather you from all the countries, and I will bring you to your land. And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you will be clean; from all your impurities and from all your abominations will I cleanse you.”[2]
3.3.b Commentary for Noahides
This gathering of the dispersed Jewish people is important to Noahides. It means that the Messianic era will not begin until the time has come when all Jews from all over the world have gathered and returned to the Land of Israel. This is one of the necessary signs to know that the Jewish king that brings this about is the true Messiah.
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners en intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
[1] Deuteronomy 30:3-4, see: Isaiah 11:11-12,16 and Isaiah 43:5-6, Jeremiah 23:7-8, Ezekiel 39:25, 27-29 and Amos 9:14-15. [2] Ezekiel 36:22-25, see: Ezekiel 20:32-37, 40-42.
With thanks to dr. Michael Schulman
With thanks to Whitney Ann Sieverink-McNair
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