Psalm 122:1-5

A Prayer for Jerusalem

A Davidic song of ascents.

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord."

2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem-

3 Jerusalem, built as a city [should be], solidly joined together,

4 where the tribes, the tribes of the Lord, go up to give thanks to the name of the Lord. (This is an ordinance for Israel.)

5 There, thrones for judgment are placed, thrones of the house of David.

Psalm 122:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 122

\\<>\\. This is the first of the songs of degrees that bears the name of David: and Kimchi thinks they only were written by him which have his name to them; though he, Abendana, and others, are of opinion that this psalm was composed with a view to the captives in Babylon; who are here represented, and are represented as rejoicing at their going up to Jerusalem, to the solemn feasts there. The inscription in the Syriac version is, ``a "psalm" of David, one of the psalms of ascent, when Cyrus commanded the captivity to go up; spiritually, a promise of good things.'' It seems to be designed for the use of the Israelites, and to be sung by them when they went up to the feasts, three times a year. Some say {a} they sung this by the way, when they carried the firstfruits to Jerusalem. {a} Weemse's Christ. Synagog. l. 1. c. 6. s. 4. p. 144.