Chana is inscribed for life and receives her reward, because she emerges victorious in judgment. In contrast, Yirmiyahu prophesies during the generation of the destruction, which he and other prophets had harshly rebuked for the longest time. He does not explain the redemption as following from Israel's merits, but from their wretchedness. It is very possible that by right they are culpable, but they will merit redemption because they are remnants of the sword in need of rest. The description of the redeemed is but a description of the survivors, and it reflects their situation accordingly.

Yirmiyahu teaches us that bestowing rest upon the remnants of the sword, in and of itself, has religious significance. Not only redemption accompanied by repentance and the love of God, but even the ingathering of miserable and wretched exiles and bringing them back to the land of Israel, has religious importance. The concern about the remnant of Israel and their suffering reflects God's relationship to His people as that of a parent to his children.

Thus, the process of repentance takes place, not before the redemption, but after it; repentance does not bring about the redemption, but rather it results from it. When the people of Israel return to their land as the remnant of the sword and when they are brought to the height of Zion in order to satisfy their soul, they feel the intimacy and concern of God, and this stirs them to repentance.

Read the full article here.