Pushing versus Throwing

And God uprooted them from their soil in anger and in wrath and in great indignation and cast (vaYashlichem) them into another land as at this day.                     Deuteronomy 29:27

Thus, the gentiles describe the desolation of the Land of Israel and the exile of the People of Israel.

However, two verses later, in the introduction to repentance, we read: “And it will come to pass that when all these things which I have placed before you will have come over you, the blessing and the curse, that you will call them to mind amongst all the nations where God your God has banished (hidiḥacha) you.” [Deuteronomy 30:1]

Malbim, following his approach that there are no true synonyms in Biblical Hebrew, notes three differences between the verbs l'hashlich (to throw) and l'hadiaḥ (to push):

 1) when one throws something, the object becomes far from the thrower, while pushing something requires contact with the object;

2) throwing something is likely to damage it, pushing the object will not damage it;

3) throwing something away demonstrates that the thrower does not care where the object lands, while when pushing something, the pusher knows exactly where the object is.

The gentiles completely misunderstood the nature of the exile. God did not throw the Children of Israel out of their land, rather He pushed them. Therefore, the direct connection between God and His people was never severed. Even when Israel is exiled, God has not abandoned them.

Rashi [30:3], quoting our Sages, makes a similar point. The verse reads "God will turn (v'Shav) your captivity. The Sages note that the verse should have said, "He will bring back (v'Heishiv)." From this our Rabbis learned that the Divine presence is with Israel in all the suffering of their exile, so that when Israel is redeemed it is as if God returns with them.

Based upon the Malbim's explanation, the Sages' comment is a necessary understanding of the verse. The verses teach us that the process of repentance is simple. Since God, as it were, has remained at our backs, all that is necessary is to turn around and face Him.