- 2.
Of the Jews. 'Tis true, saith the Jew, that you Heathen do acknow∣ledge,
- 1. The Lord hath done great things for us. Far beyond our Merit, far beyond our Hope.
[Ver. 3] For he hath brought us out of a miserable Cap∣tivity, and seated us again in our Countrey.
- 2. Whereof we are glad. Glad at heart, that we are freed from your yoke.
2.
But there were many of the Jews that stay'd behind. They returned not all at once.
Some of them went up with Ezra, some with Nehemiah, and some of them stay'd in those Countries still, having married strange Wives, and gotten possessions in it, and for the return of these they pray to God, that there might be a plenary and total reversion.
- 1.
[Ver. 4] Turn our Captivity, O Lord. Put it into their hearts, that they may speedily and fully return, and dwell with us, leaving the Heathen.
- 2. As the streams in the South: Or as Junius reads it, Tanquam validissi∣mas aquas reducens in regionem siccam.
They that read it, Tanquam torrentes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Austro, give this sense of it, That God by his Spirit, which is in Scripture compared to a South-wind, Cant. 4.16. would so move the hearts of the Jews that still lingred, and loyte∣red, and remained among the Heathen, that they would unanimously and in great companies return from thence. Come down as a torrent of water, some migh∣ty flood or stream from the hills, when the South-wind melts the Winter Snows, which runs with such violence, that it carries all along with it: and the like hap∣pens also, cum madidis Notus evolat alis. And such a reduction the Church prayes for here, universal, total, that by a mighty power God would work in them, so to melt their hearts, that it should generally sweep them along before it, and not leave a man behind, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 when the wind sits in the South.
But they that read it: Tanquam valid as reducens aquas in regionem siccam, by occasion of the Hebrew word Negheb, that signifies also Australem plagam: conceive that the Prophet may allude to some desert and dry places; such as are those deserts of Arabia a Southern Countrey. And they give this sense of it. Turn our Captivity, O Lord, and let it be like those great rains that fall in those desert and dry places, which refresh the earth, and bring joy to the inhabitants. Make it to us a joyful day, as it is with those Southern people, when the Rivers flow in dry places. Both senses are apt, but I prefer the first, because it re∣spects more properly the power of God in moving their hearts to an universal re∣duction, and the manner of it, their confluence, and coming together.
3.
Yea, but perhaps this their return might be grievous and troublesome to ma∣ny of them, such as married strange Wives, which they were to leave•• such as had gotten possessions in Babylon; such as learned the manners and Religion of the Heathen, &c. These liked not to alter their dwellings. Well, be it so, the Prophet puts them in mind of an ample recompence,
[Ver. 5] and illustrates it by a Metaphorical Proverb. They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. They may mourn for their departure from thence, but when they should cast up the income, benefit and increase that should come by it, that would befall them, which hap∣pens to the poorest Husbandman, that sows his seed, perhaps in a der year, or which he hath bought, or in an ill season, with which he should sustain his family, and therefore could ill spare it. This he commits to the ground, and covers it with clods, not being sure whether ever he shall see it again, or reap any benefit by it, which puts him into a dump of sorrow. He sows in tears. But when once the harvest comes, and he finds the increase, and that the earth returns him his seed with usury, then he reaps with joy. For your comfort, the like upon your return shall happen to you. 'Twill be you•• joy, that you are return'd to your own Land, where you shall enjoy your former possessions, and over and above the Religion of your forefathers, and abundant recompence for all losses you can sustain.