Salmos 122
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 122:1-5
122:1 "they said to me" This Psalm describes a pilgrimage to the temple, probably on an annual feast day (cf. Ps. 122:4; Leviticus 23) or special called event. The "they" would refer to fellow pilgrims already on the road to Jerusalem local Levites welcoming the pilgrims to Jerusalem liturgical imagery Jerusalem was the "special place" of God's dwelling during the United Monarchy and Divided Monarchy. After the Babylonian exile and the Jews were allowed to return (i.e., the decree of Cyrus, 538 B.C.), it became even more precious to the restored Israelites. SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL 122:2 The imagery of "feet" or "walking" is part of the theological language of a godly life. God's will was a clearly revealed path. The ultimate goal was arriving in the presence of God at the temple. This also functioned for the end-of-life fellowship with God (cf. Job 14:13-17; Ps. 23:4-6). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY ▣ "Jerusalem" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, JERUSALEM, ZION. 122:3 This is an unusual verse. It is difficult to know exactly what is being affirmed or praised. The VERB (BDB 287, KB 287, Pual PERFECT) basically is used of joining things. In the Pual stem it denotes the two shoulder pieces of the ephod ‒ Exod. 28:7; 39:4 post-exilic Jerusalem's rapidly built wall ‒ Neh. 4:6 allies ‒ Ps. 94:20 people living together ‒ Eccl. 9:4 Here, it seems to denote a well-designed and well-connected city plan. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1426, suggests this refers to Nehemiah's time. He had to make the city smaller in order to build it rapidly have men to guard and protect it 122:4 In Deuteronomy Moses instructs Israel to go to a specific place to worship YHWH (e.g., Deut. 16:16). This verse alludes to these annual worship gatherings (cf. Leviticus 23). ▣ "ordinance" NKJV, LXX, Peshitta "testimony" "was decreed" "command" "a sign" "was enjoined" "the duty" This FEMININE NOUN (BDB 730) is usually translated "testimony." See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR GOD'S REVELATION. It is interesting that the DSS manuscript has "the community of Israel" instead of the NOUN PHRASE Some translators have assumed that Ps. 122:3b also refers to a community of "united peoples." ▣ "Israel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name). ▣ "To give thanks" This refers to temple worship. liturgy offering (sacrifice) ▣ "the name of the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" of YHWH. In Psalm 122:4c the full covenant name—YHWH (BDB 217) is used, but the abbreviation—YH (BDB 219) is used in 122:4a. 122:5 The "throne" represented legal decisions ‒ Deut. 17:8 kingship ‒ Ps. 89:4,29,36; 132:12 God's promise to David about his descendants is found in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; and the Messianic aspect in Isaiah 9; 11; Micah 5. SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH ▣ "David" The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1426, mentions that the unusual spelling of the name (דויד) reflects a post-exilic setting.
Salmos 122:6-9
122:6-9 This strophe denotes a call to prayer. Qal IMPERATIVE ‒ Ps. 122:6a two JUSSIVES ‒ Ps. 122:6b,7a two COHORTATIVES ‒ Ps. 122:8b,9b Because Jerusalem was the capital of David's Kingdom and the permanent site of the temple, it had a special place of emphasis in the OT. However, I think the NT has universalized the national promises to Israel to include all humanity. The focus of biblical faith is no longer the temple in Jerusalem but the new and superior temple in Jesus (see the book of Hebrews). Neither Jesus or any Apostle ever reaffirms the national, geographical promises to Israel. I know this is different from what you read/hear from many authors/preachers, seminaries. Please check the following Special Topics before you reject this theological assertion. SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISES SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES? SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 122:6 "peace" The term (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE [shalom]), "peace" (BDB 1022) forms part of the name "Jerusalem." Remember, the site of the temple was Mt. Moriah (cf. Genesis 22). In Genesis 14 it is called "Salem." These word plays are not so much etymological as sound plays in Hebrew, but the words are not Hebrew. Notice the number of sound plays in Ps. 122:6. pray שׁאל ‒ (BDB 981, KB 1371) peace שׁלום ‒ (BDB 1022) Jerusalem ורישׁםל ‒ (BDB 436) prosper שׁלה ‒ (BDB 1017, KB 1503) ▣ "May they prosper who love you" This type of phrase is often used of "Prosperity Gospel" preachers to give biblical evidence of a promise. Please see the booklet by my favorite charismatic scholar, Gordon Fee, The Disease of the Health, Wealth Gospels.