Rashi on TanakhEzekiel 36

“Aha!” [An expression of] joy.

and “the high places of the world” the land of Israel, which is the height and the beauty of the world.

those around you were appalled and longed [Your neighbors] were appalled and astounded [at the opportunity] to laugh and see the end of your destruction, and were longing, pining, and looking forward to your becoming an inheritance for the remnant of the nations.

and you were brought up on the lips of every language And now in your destruction, all talk and gossip (other editions: and hawk) about you, saying, “Aha! they have become desolate.”

and the gossip of every people [Heb. וְדִבַּת,] parlemant in Old French, gossip, slander.

because her expulsion was for plunder Because they saw her expulsion [as one] for plunder; that she was subjected to plunder.

to be bereaved of them to drive your inhabitants from your midst. This is called שִּׁיכּוּל, bereavement.

You are a devourer of men This land is accustomed to destroying its inhabitants. The Amorites perished therein, and the Jews perished therein.

Son of man! The house of Israel, as long as they lived, etc., like the uncleanness of a woman in the period of her separation Scripture likened them to a woman in the period of her separation, whose husband looks forward to when she will become clean, and longs to return to her.

And they entered [Heb. וַיָבוֹא, lit. and he entered.] Since he says, “the house of Israel” at the beginning of the segment, He refers to them in the singular throughout the segment. According to Midrash Aggadah: the Holy One, blessed be He, came with them in exile and bent His ear [to hear] what the captors were saying. “Behold these are God’s people, and He had no power to save them.” In Midrash Lamentations Rabbah (Proem 15).

and they profaned My Holy Name They lowered My honor. And what is the profanation? In that their enemies said of them, “These are the people of the Lord, and they have come out of His land, and He had no power to save His people and His land.”

Not for your sake, etc. is the salvation that I shall save you [by].

And I will sanctify My...Name Now what is the sanctification? “I will take you from among the nations.”

clean water I will grant you atonement and remove your uncleanliness by sprinkling purification water, which removes [even the highest degree of defilement,] the defilement caused by a corpse.

a new heart An inclination that has been renewed for the better.

and you will loathe yourselves in your own eyes [Heb. וּנְקטֹתֶם,] demonir in Old French, to melt. You will melt in yourselves, from your shame over the evil recompense that you repaid Me whereas I recompense you with good.

And the desolate land The land that was desolate until now will be tilled and sown.

has become like the Garden of Eden [Heb. הָיְתָה,] has now been transformed into being like the Garden of Eden.

and the cities that were destroyed these many days, have now become settled as fortified cities.

I will...be inquired of by the house of Israel I will be persuaded by them with their prayer when they entreat Me concerning this.

I will multiply them the men like sheep, they will be so many.

Like the flocks appointed for the holy offerings which come to Jerusalem at the times of the Passover sacrifices. Another explanation follows the Targum: I will multiply you with men, and I will cause them to prosper with cattle; i.e., their iniquities will not be remembered against them.