The sudden shift from a state of total devastation to overwhelming redemption sparks a profound physical and emotional reaction. This transition is not merely a calm return; it is an event that blends shock, anxiety, and explosive joy. As Jerusalem experiences this transformation, the primary approach among commentators is that she will literally witness her children returning to her from every direction. However, another perspective suggests a reaction of awe and dread, capturing the sheer panic that can grip someone when faced with a sudden, entirely unexpected salvation [אבן עזרא, שד״ל].
Following this initial sight or shock, a profound physical response takes over. The face lights up and radiates with immense joy [רד״ק, מצודת ציון], breaking through like a sudden ray of sunlight after a period of deep doubt [מלבי״ם]. In contrast, a different interpretation describes this reaction not as a radiant face, but as a restless, excited running back and forth, driven by an inability to contain the overwhelming emotion [אבן עזרא].
This complex psychological state creates a sharp contrast between fear and a swelling heart. Commentators offer two main ways to understand this duality. The first approach views it as the natural human response to astonishing, sudden good fortune. The sheer amazement initially causes the heart to contract in shock, but it quickly expands with deep joy over the newfound abundance [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The second approach interprets the fear far more literally. When Jerusalem sees massive crowds advancing toward her, her immediate reaction is terror that they are coming to attack. Yet, that terror melts into an expanding heart of joy the moment she realizes they are actually arriving in peace, bearing gifts for her benefit [שד״ל].
The underlying cause of both this terror and subsequent joy is the massive influx of people. The manner in which these crowds turn toward the city carries an initially threatening weight, fully justifying the momentary panic. In reality, these are the multitudes of nations living in the west, across the sea, who have simply shifted their focus to stream toward Jerusalem [שד״ל, מצודת ציון]. On a deeper, more symbolic level, this upheaval of the sea is tied to the future downfall of Rome. According to Midrashic tradition, Rome was founded upon an island in the middle of the sea, and its ultimate destruction is the necessary prerequisite for the complete rebuilding of Jerusalem [אהבת יהונתן].
The ultimate source of the heart's expansion is the arrival of global wealth and assets [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. A complete picture of redemption emerges through two distinct pathways of prosperity: the movement of the sea represents the vast abundance arriving by water, while the influx of foreign assets points to riches traveling over land [אבן עזרא]. Together, they illustrate a moment of ultimate restoration, where the combined power and wealth of the world are brought directly to Jerusalem.