Adrift among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more: and they are cut off from your hand.
Read Chapter 88
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
4. "Free among the dead" (ver. 5). In these words our Lord's Person is most clearly shown: for who else is free among the dead but He who though in the likeness of sinful flesh is alone among sinners without sin? ...He therefore, "free among the dead," who had it in His power to lay down His life, and again to take it; from whom no one could take it, but He laid it down of His own free will; who could revive His own flesh, as a temple destroyed by them, at His will; who, when all had forsaken Him on the eve of His Passion, remained not alone, because, as He testifies, His Father forsook Him not; was nevertheless by His enemies, for whom He prayed, who knew not what they did, ...counted "as one who hath no help; like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave." But he adds, "Whom thou dost not yet remember:" and in these words there is to be remarked a distinction between Christ and the rest of the dead. For though He was wounded, and when dead laid in the tomb, yet they who knew ...
Free. Hebrew also "separated "from society, 4 Kings xv. 5., and 2 Paralipomenon xxvi. 21. (Calmet)
Christ, after enduring the greatest miseries was still free. He could resign his life, and take it up again, John x. 18. (Haydock)
The Fathers adopt this explanation, which is very striking. (Calmet)
Hand. Thou actest as if thou hadst forgotten the corpse in the dust, till the time of the resurrection. (St. Augustine) (Berthier)
In the mean while, those who formerly made such a noise in the world, are effaced from the book of life, or from God's register. He is often represented as a great monarch, keeping an account of his troops. (Calmet)
He cannot forget any of his creatures, (Berthier) though he may not restore them to life as yet. (Menochius)
Christ possessed infinite power among the dead, (Worthington) who are free from the cares of this world. (Menochius)
