Psalms 24 Footnotes

24:7-8 The triumphal procession made its way through the gates into the sanctuary to offer praise for victory in warfare—as the phrases “mighty in battle” (v. 8) and “the LORD of Armies” (v. 10) suggest (Ex 15:2-3; Dt 10:17; Is 10:21). The title “the LORD of Armies” (usually “the LORD of Hosts” in Eng) was always associated with the presence of the ark of the covenant, which went before the Israelites in the wilderness and also in warfare to occupy the land of Canaan. This, together with the epithet of “King of glory,” suggests that the worshipers were following the ark of the covenant in procession (1Sm 4:21-22). Apparently the ark was occasionally removed from the sanctuary and then triumphantly returned to Zion, symbolic of Yahweh’s enthronement as King (Ps 47:5). (That the ark was carried outside the temple until the time of Josiah seems clear from 2Ch 35:3.) The psalmist might be addressing the gates themselves, as if to say the “King of glory” should not have to stoop to go under the gateway. Or he might be addressing the people in the gates, urging them to rejoice and welcome the victors and not be depressed (Is 14:31).