Glorious memories of the past can flood the mind, bringing intense pain when contrasted with a present reality of distance and exile. There is a deep, aching longing for the ancient pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Overwhelmed by the sorrow of exile, the soul seems to melt, pouring out like water in the form of tears [מאירי, מצודת דוד]. On a deeper level, the soul itself awakens, pouring out in intense prayer to God [אלשיך]. It may also lament a personal spiritual decline, mourning how in the past there was great devotion and sacrifice for serving God, whereas now there is only negligence [מלבי״ם].
The memories vividly recall the nature of those ancient journeys. The primary approach among commentators is that these pilgrimages involved walking within a massive, countless crowd of people who traveled together, safe from any hostility along the way [רש״י, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others picture a more regal procession, where travelers rode in magnificent covered wagons, journeying with the dignity of important figures [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Some suggest the memory centers on a specific structure located on the Temple Mount [אבן עזרא]. In stark contrast, another perspective views the journey not as a comfortable ride, but as a path lined with thorns and briers, symbolizing the many obstacles and hardships one had to overcome to reach a place of holiness [מלבי״ם].
The pace and character of this march are also vividly remembered. The primary approach among commentators is that the travelers moved slowly, calmly, and with great honor, much like a mother gently leading her small child [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מאירי]. They walked in complete safety across the land of Israel [רד״ק], with their souls carrying their physical bodies so effortlessly that they felt no burden at all [אלשיך]. However, others envision a completely different atmosphere, describing the movement as an energetic display of jumping and dancing [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. For those who viewed the path as being filled with thorns, the walking was fast and determined, driven by a fierce eagerness to reach the house of God despite the obstacles [מלבי״ם].
This journey was certainly not silent, as it culminated in a massive, overwhelming sound of song [אבן עזרא, רש״י]. Upon finally reaching the house of God, the marching crowds burst into joyful singing, thanking God for His divine providence and the safe travel He provided [רד״ק, אלשיך]. The celebration reached its peak as the masses offered their festival sacrifices, engaging in joyous public dancing, eating, and drinking [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם].