Psalm 126

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126

The joy of the Israelites on their return from captivity, and the effect their deliverance had upon the heathen, Psalm 126:1-3 . The prayer which they had offered up, Psalm 126:4 . The inference they draw from the whole, Psalm 126:5 , Psalm 126:6 . This Psalm is not of David, has no title in the Hebrew or any of the Versions, and certainly belongs to the close of the captivity. It might have been composed by Haggai and Zechariah, as the Syriac supposes; or by Ezra, according to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:1

When the Lord turned again the captivity - When Cyrus published his decree in favor of the Jews, giving them liberty to return to their own land, and rebuild their city and temple. We were like them that dream - The news was so unexpected that we doubted for a time the truth of it. We believed it was too good news to be true, and thought ourselves in a dream or illusion. When the Romans had vanquished Philip, king of Macedon, they restored liberty to the Grecian cities by proclamation.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:2

Then upas our mouth filled with laughter - The same effect as was produced on the poor liberated Grecians mentioned above. Then said they among the heathen - The liberty now granted was brought about in so extraordinary a way, that the very heathens saw that the hand of the great Jehovah must have been in it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:3

The Lord hath done great things for us - We acknowledge the hand of our God. Deus nobis haec otia fecit, "God alone has given us this enlargement." We are glad - This is a mere burst of ecstatic joy. O how happy are we! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:4

Turn again our captivity - This is either a recital of the prayer they had used before their deliverance; or it is a prayer for those who still remained in the provinces beyond the Euphrates. The Jewish captives did not all return at once; they came back at different times, and under different leaders, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, etc. As the streams in the south - Probably the Nile is meant. It is now pretty well known that the Nile has its origin in the kingdom of Damot; and runs from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:5

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy - This is either a maxim which they gather from their own history, or it is a fact which they are now witnessing. We see the benefit of humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God; we have now a sweet return for our bitter tears. Or, We have sown in tears; now we reap in joy. We are restored after a long and afflicting captivity to our own country, to peace, and to happiness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:6

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed - The metaphor seems to be this: A poor farmer has had a very bad harvest: a very scanty portion of grain and food has been gathered from the earth. The seed time is now come, and is very unpromising. Out of the famine a little seed has been saved to be sown, in hopes of another crop; but the badness of the present season almost precludes the entertainment of hope. But he must sow, or else despair and perish. He carries his all, his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:1

Verse 1 1.When Jehovah brought back the captivity of Zion, etc. It is unnatural and forced to suppose, with some expositors, that this is a prediction of what was to come. For my part I have no doubt that the Psalm was composed upon the return of the Jewish people from the Babylonish captivity; and for this reason I have translated the verb בשוב , beshub, in the past tense. Now, whoever was the author of it, (88) whether one of the Levites or one of the Prophets, he affirms that the manner of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:2

Verse 2 2.Now shall our mouth be filled with laughter. The adverb of time, אז, az, is commonly translated then; but as the verbs are in the future tense, I have thought that it might not be improper to translate tires — grow shall our mouth be filled, and now shall they say. If, however, we admit what some Hebrew Doctors affirm, that the force of this particle is to change the future tense into the past, the adverb then will be the appropriate word. The design of the Prophet is not at all... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 126:4

Verse 4 4.O Jehovah! bring back our captivity. The second part of the Psalm, as I have said, contains a prayer that God would gather together the residue of the captives. The Holy Spirit endited this form of prayer for the Jews who were already come home to their own country, that they might not forget their poor brethren who were still in exile. All the Jews, no doubt, had a door opened to them, and perfect liberty granted them, to come out of the land of their captivity, but the number of... read more

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