Psa 132:1-10 | Clarke | e4.org | PSALM CXXXII The psalmist prays that God would remember his promises to David , 1. His purpose to bring the ark of the Lord into a place of rest , 2-5. Where it was found, and the prayer in removing it , 6-9. The promises made to David and his posterity , 10-12. God's choice of Zion for a habitation, and his promises to the people , 13-17. All their enemies shall be confounded , 18. NOTES ON PSALM CXXXII Some attribute this Psalm to David , but without sufficient ground; others, to Solomon , with more likelihood; and others, to some inspired author at the conclusion of the captivity, which is, perhaps, the most probable. It refers to the building of the second temple, and placing the ark of the covenant in it. Verse 1. Lord, remember David ] Consider the promises thou hast made to this thy eminent servant, that had respect, not only to him and to his family , but to all the Israelitish people .

‏ Psalms 132:1-10

PSALM CXXXII

The psalmist prays that God would remember his promises to David, 1.

His purpose to bring the ark of the Lord into a place of rest,

2-5.

Where it was found, and the prayer in removing it, 6-9.

The promises made to David and his posterity, 10-12.

God's choice of Zion for a habitation, and his promises to the people, 13-17.

All their enemies shall be confounded, 18.

NOTES ON PSALM CXXXII

Some attribute this Psalm to David, but without sufficient ground; others, to Solomon, with more likelihood; and others, to some inspired author at the conclusion of the captivity, which is, perhaps, the most probable. It refers to the building of the second temple, and placing the ark of the covenant in it.

Verse 1. Lord, remember David] Consider the promises thou hast made to this thy eminent servant, that had respect, not only to him and to his family, but to all the Israelitish people.

Verse 2. How he sware unto the Lord] It is only in this place that we are informed of David's vow to the Lord, relative to the building of the temple; but we find he had fully purposed the thing.

Verse 3. Surely I will not come] This must refer to the situation of the temple; or, as we would express it, he would not pass another day till he had found out the ground on which to build the temple, and projected the plan, and devised ways and means to execute it. And we find that he would have acted in all things according to his oath and vow, had God permitted him. But even after the Lord told him that Solomon, not he, should build the house he still continued to show his good will by collecting treasure and materials for the building, all the rest of his life.

Verse 5. The mighty God of Jacob.] abir yaacob, the Mighty One of Jacob. We have this epithet of God for the first time, Ge 49:24. Hence, perhaps, the abirim of the heathen, the stout ones, the strong beings.

Verse 6. Lo, we have heard of it at Ephratah] This may be considered as a continuation of David's vow, as if he had said: As I had determined to build a temple for the ark, and heard that it was at Ephratah, I went and found it in the fields of Jaar, ;-not the wood, but Kirjath Jaar or Jearim, where the ark was then lodged;-and having found it, he entered the tabernacle, Ps 132:7; and then, adoring that God whose presence was in it, he invited him to arise and come to the place which he had prepared for him.

Verse 8. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou and the ark of thy strength.] Using the same expressions which Solomon used when he dedicated the temple, 2Ch 6:41, 42. There are several difficulties in these passages. Ephratah may mean the tribe of Ephraim; and then we may understand the place thus: "I have learned that the ark had been in the tribe of Ephraim, and I have seen it at Kirjath-jearim, or Field of the woods; but this is not a proper place for it, for the Lord hath chosen Jerusalem." It is true that the ark did remain in that tribe from the days of Joshua to Samuel, during three hundred and twenty-eight years; and thence it was brought to Kirjath-jearim, where it continued seventy years, till the commencement of the reign of David over all Israel.

But if we take Ps 132:6-8, not as the continuation of David's vow, but as the words of the captives in Babylon, the explanation will be more plain and easy: "We have heard, O Lord, from our fathers, that thy tabernacle was formerly a long time at Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim. And our history informs us that it has been also at Kirjath-jearim, the fields of the wood; and afterwards it was brought to Jerusalem, and there established: but Jerusalem is now ruined, the temple destroyed, and thy people in captivity. Arise, O Lord, and re-establish thy dwelling-place in thy holy city!" See Calmet and others on this place.

Verse 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness] Let them be as remarkable for inward holiness as they are for the splendour of their holy vestments.

Verse 10. The face of thine anointed.] David. Remember thy promises to him, that he may be restored to thee and to thy worship.

Copyright information for Clarke