Commentary on Psalms Volume 3 John Calvin (continued)
COMMENTARY ON PSALMS - VOLUME 3 expressly declares that joy was restored to them, to enable them the better to estimate the dismal condition from which they had been extricated.
Psalm 126:4-6
4. O Jehovah! bring back our captivity, 531 as rivers in the south. 532
5. They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6. Going forth, he shall go and weep, carrying the price of the seed: coming, he shall return with rejoicing, carrying his sheaves with him.
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 those who partook of this benefit was small when compared with the vast multitude of the people. Some were kept from returning by fear, and others by sloth and want of courage, on seeing such perils at hand as they apprehended they had not power to overcome, choosing rather to lie torpid in their own filthiness, than to undertake the hardship of the journey. It is probable also that many of them preferred their present ease and comfort to eternal salvation. What the Prophet Isaiah had foretold was no doubt fulfilled, (Isaiah 10:22,). That although the people were in number as the sand of the sea, yet only a remnant of them should be saved. Since, then, many openly refused the benefit when it was offered them, and as there were not; wanting many difficulties and impediments to be encountered by those who availed themselves of this liberty granted them by the good pleasure of the king, 533 so that it was only a few of sounder
Walford reads, "Bring back all our captives, O Jehovah!" "The word all," says he, "is not in the Hebrew text, but is necessary to the sense; for some had returned, and others were returning or about to return." Some of the captive Jews came back to their own land in the reign of Cyrus, others in the reign of Darius, and the rest in the reign of Xerxes. Such therefore as had been the first to return, may be supposed to pray in these words for the restoration of their brethren.
Phillips translates in the dry place. "The noun",נגבsays he, "in its usual acceptation, signifies south; but its primary sense is that of dryness, in which it is used in Joshua 15:19; Judges 1:15; whereהנגב ארץis opposed to,מום גלתsprings of water." In the Septuagint the reading is, like the torrents m the parched land.' Street has — "Jehovah hath restored us from our captivity, As he restoreth the torrents in the dry country."
French and Skinner in like manner read "in a thirsty land."
"Precaria libertas." — Lat. "Ceste liberte obtenue d'eux par le bon plaisir du Roy." — Fr.