Bible Commentaries
Psalms 132

Verse 1

Title. A Song of degrees. Same as 120. App-67 .

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

remember David = remember for David: i.e. remember to fulfill the promises made to him.

David. Hezekiah remembers David, and puts Jehovah in remembrance of him.

all his afflictions = all his being afflicted: all his anxious cares as to his work. The Temple was Heze-kiah's care, as it had been David's. Not "post-exilic". We see these anxieties from the beginning of his reign (2 Samuel 7:1 , 1 Chronicles 13:3 ; 1Ch 21:18-30 ; 1 Chronicles 22:1 . The subjects of these last three Psalms are merged in blessing.

Verse 2

the mighty [God] of Jacob. The mighty One to Whom Jacob vowed his vow. Title occurs outside the Pentateuch, only here, and Genesis 49:24 ; Isaiah 1:24 (Israel); Psa 49:26 ; Psa 60:16 . Note the Figure of speech Epistrophe ( App-6 ) for emphasis in Psalms 132:5 .

Verse 3

I will not come. Note the Figure of speech Periphrases ( App-6 ) in verses: Psalms 132:4 , Psalms 132:5 .

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. App-40 . Compare Acts 7:46 .

of. Genitive of Apposition = "the Tent: i.e. my house". The emphasis = my own house.

bed = couch.

Verse 5

An habitation. Plural of Majesty. Hebrew. mishkan ( App-40 .)

Verse 6

heard: i.e. while he was at Ephratah. David"s father was an Ephrathite (of Bethlehem-Ephratah. Compare Genesis 35:19 . David had "heard" of it as being in Shiloh.

it: i.e. the Ark. in the fields of the wood = at Jaar's fields: i.e. Kirjath-jearim (1 Chronicles 13:5 .)

Verse 7

tabernacles = the plural of Majesty. His great habitation. Hebrew. Mishkan. App-40 .

footstool. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 8

Arise. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) = [and will say] "Arise, O LORD". &c. This is what Solomon did say in 2 Chronicles 6:41 , see Psalms 68:1 (and note there), according to Numbers 10:35 .Psalms 132:8-10; Psalms 132:8-10 record what David said.

the ark of Thy strength. Occurs only here and 2 Chronicles 6:41 . See notes on Exodus 25:22 and 1 Chronicles 13:3 .

Verse 9

saints = favoured ones.shout for joy. That is exactly what they did. See the subscription of Psalms 87:0 and note there on "Mahalath-Leannoth".

Verse 10

Thine anointed = i.e. David. Not "Zerubbabel", no such oath made to him.

Verse 11

hath sworn. See 2 Samuel 7:8-17 .

in truth = a truth.

Of the fruit of thy body. This was what Hezekiah was concerned about; for he as yet had no son, and was in danger of death. Hence this pleading of Jehovah's oath to David. Quoted in Acts 2:30 .

Verse 12

children = sons.

My testimony. Hebrew = "this My testimony". Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "[these] my testimonies" (plural)

children = sons.

Verse 13

Zion. See App-68 .

His habitation = His dwelling. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ).

Verse 15

her: i.e. Zion's.

poor = needy ones.

Verse 17

the horn of David = a horn for David.

to bud: i.e. to bring forth: viz. a son and heir. See App-67 .

lamp. According to Genesis 15:17 ; and note there.

Verse 18

his crown: i.e. his royal crown.