THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
All nations will recognize that the people of Israel are in captivity due to their transgressions, as they have turned away from Me. Consequently, I have withdrawn My presence from them and permitted them to fall into the hands of their adversaries, leading to their downfall by the sword, as stated in Ezekiel 39:24. I have acted upon their impurities and sins, choosing to turn My face away from them. The Gentile nations, witnessing the devastation I have brought upon Gog, will understand that I could have also subjected the Babylonians to such a fate. However, as a consequence of Israel’s iniquity, I permitted them to be taken into exile without providing any assistance.
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This clearly illustrates that shortly after the Israelites’ return from captivity, there was an uprising among these nations. As it is written, all Gentiles will be carried away because the house of Israel faced captivity for their sins. Observing their swift downfall, any reasonable onlooker will recognize that the Israelites endured this bondage as a divine chastisement for their offenses. The subsequent statements further affirm this understanding.