Hello Rabbi,
Why did God send the Jewish people into exile?
Thank you.
Hello and blessings,
Two principal reasons are given for God sending the Jewish people into exile. The first and central reason is that Israel sinned against God and, because of their transgressions, He sent them into exile to atone for their sins, as stated many times in Scripture.
Another reason mentioned in the Talmud, in tractate Pesachim, is that exile dispersed the Jewish people among different countries so that non-Jews would encounter them, desire to convert, and converts would thus be added to Israel.
The commentators explain that these two reasons are interconnected. Had Israel not sinned, converts would have joined because of Israel’s honor and stature. Once Israel sinned and was humbled, people from the ends of the earth would no longer come on their own to join God’s people. God therefore punished Israel by dispersing them among the nations, where converts could join them.
The Semag gives an additional reason: exile was intended to make Israel cleave to God’s seal, which is truth, so that the whole world would recognize it. When God ultimately redeems Israel, all the nations will understand this.
With blessings for the complete redemption very soon,
Rabbi David Ohayon
This response was translated automatically from Hebrew and has not yet been reviewed by a person. It may therefore contain inaccuracies and should not be considered a definitive reference.
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