“Rejoice barren city who never expected such an overwhelming influx within your walls...Extend your annexes without interruption...Because your children will inherit the cities of the nations, and settle the desolate areas.” (54:1-3).
The proportions of the Jewish redemption will be so overwhelming that Eretz Yisroel won’t be capable of containing it. Yerushalayim will overflow from her newly acquired inhabitants and the surrounding areas will rapidly fill to capacity. The entire Judean hills will be saturated with newly sprouted neighborhoods but the Jewish influx will continue. The new wave of Jews will take possession of the entire land of Israel and settle therein but even these broadened quarters will not suffice. The return will be so encompassing that Zion will truly wonder in bewilderment – from whence did all of her people emerge?
Yet the kindness of Hashem won’t end here, and the prophet continues to describe the setting of the future. Yeshaya tells the Jewish people, “Do not be afraid or embarrassed because your shameful past will never be remembered.” (54:4) He adds in the name of Hashem, “I forsook you for a brief moment, and I will gather you in with great compassion. With mild anger I concealed My countenance from you and with everlasting kindness I will have mercy upon you.” (54:7,8)
These passages reflect the concern of the Jewish people over their dark and rebellious past. They hesitate to return to Hashem because their previous wrong doings remain fresh in their minds. They cannot imagine bonding perfectly with Hashem, given how unfairly they acted towards Him in the past. Hashem responds that they should not hesitate to return because no trace will remain of their earlier ways. Hashem’s blessing will be so encompassing that it will be virtually impossible for the Jewish people to relate to their earlier experiences. They will develop such close relationships with Hashem that they will be incapable of imagining what it was like without Him. How could they have ever appreciated life without their close and perfect relationship with Hashem?
The Navi Yeshaya is describing a massive real estate boom in Jerusalem that seems never-ending. There will be a migration of people from all over the world, and all of the Judean hills will become full. This sounds like what is happening today. The demand for an apartment in Jerusalem is so high and the expansion is incredible. If one had any doubt if we are living in the messianic age his uncertainty should disappear at the obvious enactment of the prophecy.
