When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Read Chapter 126
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
2. "When the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion, we became as those that are comforted" (ver. 1). He meant by this to say, we became joyful. When? "When the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion." What is Sion? Jerusalem, the same is also the eternal Sion. How is Sion eternal, how is Sion captive? In angels eternal, in men captive. For not all the citizens of that city are captives, but those who are away from thence, they are captives. Man was a citizen of Jerusalem, but sold under sin he became a pilgrim. Of his progeny was born the human race, and the captivity of Sion filled all lands. And how is this captivity of Sion a shadow of that Jerusalem? The shadow of that Sion, which was granted to the Jews, in an image, in a figure, was in captivity in Babylonia, and after seventy years that people turned back to its own city. ...But when all time is past, then we return to our country, as after seventy years that people returned from the Babylonish captivity, for Babylon is this wo...
1. ...How man had come into captivity, let us ask the Apostle Paul. ...For he saith: "For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." Behold whence we became captives; because we were sold trader sin. Who sold us? We ourselves, who consented to the seducer. We could sell ourselves; we could not redeem ourselves. We sold ourselves by consent of sin, we are redeemed in the faith of righteousness. For innocent blood was given for us, that we might be redeemed. Whatsoever blood he shed in persecuting the righteous, what kind of blood did he shed? Righteous men's blood, indeed, he shed; they were Prophets, righteous men, our fathers, and Martyrs. Whose blood he shed, yet all coming of the offspring of sin. One blood he shed of Him who was not justified, but born righteous: by shedding that blood, he lost those whom he held. For they for whom innocent blood was given were redeemed, and, turned back from their captivity, they sing this Psalm.
Sion. It cannot be doubted but this regards the captives of Babylon: but still David might compose it, as he was a prophet; and herein the redemption of mankind may also be described. (Berthier)
The captives pray for the return of the rest of their brethren. (Calmet)
Comforted. Hebrew, "dreaming. "(Calmet)
They could hardly believe their own eyes, like St. Peter, Acts xii. 9. This extraordinary joy is felt by devout souls, when freed from sin. (Worthington)
The Greek cities which the Romans declared free, could scarcely believe that they had understood the herald. Majus gaudium fuit (Livy xxxiii.)
Thus were the Jews affected. (Calmet) (Psalm xiii. 2.)
Chaldean, "we were like convalescents "which comes nearer to the sense of the Septuagint. (Berthier)
