Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 126:1-6

PSAL. CXXVI.

A Song of degrees.

VVHen Iehovah returned the captivitie of Sion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with joyfull shouting; then said they among the heathens, Iehovah hath done very great things with them. Iehovah hath done very great things with us, we are joyfull. Turne thou, O Iehovah, our captivitie, as the streames in the South. They that sow with teares, shall reap with joyfull shouting. He going goeth, and weepeth, bearing the sowing seed: he comming commeth with joyfull shouting, bearing his sheaves.

Annotations. THe captivitie] or, the reversion, that is, the multitude of captives returning from bondage. See Psal. 14. 7. and 68. 19. Deut. 30. 3. The returne from Babels bondage figured our redemption by Christ, Esa. 10. 21, 22. Rom. 9. 27. And to returne the captivitie, sometime is to restore all that was lost, Iok 42. 10. that dreame] that felt joy and comfort incredible, which we doubted whether it were true or not; as did Peter, Act. 12. 9. See also Esai. 29. 7, 8. The Chaldee expoundeth it, like sleepers which wake from their dreames. Vers. 2. joyfull shout] or song, or shrill singing: so vers. 5, 6. Compare Iob 8. 21. done very great things] or done magnificently, or magnified his doings, as the Greeke translateth this phrase, in Ioel 2. 20. the Hebraisme being, he hath magnified to doe, like that in 2 Chron. 33. 6. Manasseh multiplied to doe (that is, did much) evill. with them] or with these men. Vers. 4. our captivitie] that is, the rest of the captives which remaine yet behind, bring them also. So captivitie i[illegible: 1 letter] for captives, Ezek. 11. 24, 25. in the South] that is, in the dry ground; for so the Hebrew word signifieth, and so South lands were waterlesse, Iudg. 1. 15. Here we may understand, this shall be to us as rivers in the South. The Chaldee paraphraseth, as the land is turned when water-springs breake forth into it, in time of drought. Vers. 5. shall reape] or, let them reape: as continuing the former prayer: so after. Vers. 6. He going goeth] that is, every sower fore-mentioned: therefore the Greeke saith, they did going goe: which phrase meaneth a continuall and diligent going. the sowing seed] the seed to bee sowne, Hebr. the drawing of the seed, that is, the seed of drawing, or, of sowing, as this phrase meaneth, Amos 9. 13. or, the dray of seed, that is, the seed-basket. Sometime drawing, is, purchasing, as Iob 28. 18. which may also be minded here, the purchased (that is, precious) seed.