Psalms 132:1-8

A song of ascents.

1 LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.
2 He swore an oath to the LORD, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “I will not enter my house or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[a]
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 ‘Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

Psalms 132:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 132

\\<>\\. Some think this psalm was written by Solomon, since Ps 132:8,10, are much the same with which he concluded his prayer at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 6:41,42; on account of which it is supposed to be written; though he might borrow these words from hence, as he sometimes did recite the words of his father, Pr 4:4,5. Others are of opinion that it was written by David, either when he brought the ark from Baale or Kirjathjearim to the house of Obededom, and from thence to Zion, 2Sa 6:1-23; or when he had that conversation with Nathan the prophet, in which he expressed such a strong desire to build a house for God, 2Sa 7:1-17; or, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi think, after he had numbered the people, which brought the pestilence on them; and when he and the elders of Israel were in distress on that account, and he was ordered to build an altar in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, 1Ch 21:18; by which it appeared to him that this was the place for the house of the Lord God he had been so desirous of building, 1Ch 22:1. It seems by Ps 132:6,7, that more persons than one were concerned in this psalm, at least the psalmist represents more; and Theodoret takes it to be a prayer of the captives in Babylon, and a prophecy of the Saviour of the world; and this is favoured by the Syriac inscription, which is, ``an anonymous psalm, when they would build the house of the Lord of hosts; and a prayer of David, and a revelation of Christ.'' And certain it is that Christ is spoken of in it, if not principally designed.

Cross References 9

  • 1. 1 Samuel 18:11; S 2 Samuel 15:14
  • 2. S Genesis 49:24; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16
  • 3. S 2 Samuel 7:2,27
  • 4. S 1 Kings 8:17; Acts 7:46
  • 5. S 1 Samuel 17:12
  • 6. S Joshua 9:17; S 1 Samuel 7:2
  • 7. S 2 Samuel 15:25; Psalms 5:7; Psalms 122:1
  • 8. S 1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalms 99:5
  • 9. S Numbers 10:35; Psalms 78:61

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "heard of it in Ephrathah," / "we found it in the fields of Jearim." (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)
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