What do we learn from "Acharei Hashem Yelechu [k'Aryeh Yish'ag]"?
Brachos 6b: One should run to learn (some texts - to do a Mitzvah), even on Shabbos.
Radak: Even though amidst their sin, I will remove My Shechinah from their midst, and I will exile them from their land, there will be a long time that they will follow Hashem, like it said above "Achar Yashuvu Bnei Yisrael u'Vikshu Es Hashem Elokeihem" (3:5).
Mesilas Yesharim (Perek 7): If one's desire for Avodas Hashem does not flame properly, he should make himself zealous - external motion arouses inner Simchah, and desire.
Malbim: When they will be outside the city they will find Hashem ready to go to Galus in front of them; they will go after Him. He will leave Kodesh amidst them to oversee them in Galus, lest Melech Ashur eradicate them. He will not roar with His voice "k'Kol Shakai" (Yechezkel 1:24), rather, merely like a lion. I.e. He will not do open miracles. Rather, He will tilt the heart of the king and officers to do good for them. He will oversee them with hidden Hashgachah. It seems that the lion roars and the king conducts them nicely and is gracious to them. It will be according to the influence of the Sar, and conduct of the king and officers, to save Yisrael.
Malbim according to the metaphor: Malchus Ashur, and Malchus Bavel that seized reign after it, was compared to a lion like Daniel saw. The first creature was like a lion - Malchus Bavel. Also Yechezkel saw Bavel's Sar on the Merkavah - his face was like a lion. It says about [Melech Bavel] "Alah Arye mi'Subecho" (Yirmeyah 4:7). Below it says "va'Ehi Lahem Kemo Shachal" (13:7). Hashem will dress Himself like 1 the Sar of the nation to which He exiled His children.
It seems that the text of Malbim should say 'k'Sar' (PF).
Why does Hashem roar like a lion?
Rashi: This is so they will leave Galus and follow Him.
Radak: Just like a lion roars so that Chayos will gather to it, for it is king of the Chayos, so Bnei Yisrael will gather to the voice of Hashem's roar.
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: He will reveal [Himself] to them in their Galus via a Navi or sign that He will send.
Why does it add "Ki Hu Yish'ag"?
Malbim: There will be a time when He does not roar like a lion, rather, with His voice - "Kol Elokim" (Devarim 4:33). He will do wonders for them like in ancient days.
Why does it say "v'Yecherdu Vanim mi'Yam"?
Rashi citing Targum Yonasan: The exiles will gather from the west.
Radak: They will move from the east and from the west. They will be like sons, who come to their father when he calls them. So they will come to the place of the Mikdash - He will return His Shechinah to there. Then they will be called sons - "Banim Atem la'Shem Elokeichem" (Devarim 14:1). Yecherdu is motion, like "va'Yecherdu Ziknei ha'Ir Likraso" (Shmuel I, 16:4), "Charadta Aleinu Es Kol ha'Charadah ha'Zos" (Melachim II, 4:13). It mentions the west, and the same applies to the other corners.
Radak citing Ibn Ezra: "Mi'Yam" is like it explains in the coming verse - from Egypt and Ashur. They are in the southwest 1 .
Malbim: Bnei Kel Chai in Galus in the west will rush to leave Galus.
Ibn Ezra said so only about Egypt! His words 'and so they will gather from Ashur' do not imply that Ashur is in the west! The Chidekel river goes east of Ashur (Bereishis 2:14). Surely it is east of Eretz Yisrael, just like the Pras river, which also comes out of Eden! (PF)
