Reference: Degrees, Songs of
Fausets
Fifteen: Psalm 120-134: four by David, one by Solomon, ten anonymous. Pilgrim songs: shir hama'alot, "a song for the ascendings," i.e. for the going up (Jerusalem and its temple being regarded as on a moral elevation above other places, as it was in fact on the most elevated tableland of the country, requiring a going up from all sides) to the three great feasts (Ex 34:24; 1Ki 12:27-28); Ps 122:1,4, which is the oldest, being composed by David to supply the northern Israelites with a pilgrim song in their journeys to Zion, where Asaph had warned them to repair now that the ark was transferred from Shiloh there (Ps 78:67-69). Solomon wrote Psalm 127, round which as a center a third poet, on the return from Babylon, grouped, with David's four psalms, ten others, seven on one side and seven on the other.
The simple style, brevity, and transitions formed by retaining a word from the previous verse (e.g. Ps 121:1-2, "from whence cometh my help; my help cometh," etc.), are suitable to pilgrim-song poetry. They all have a general, not an individual, character, referring to the literal and the spiritual Israel, whom God's providence always and in all places guards (Psalm 121; Psalm 124; Ps 125:5; 128:6; 130:8; 131:3). The posture of affairs contemplated in most of these psalms is that after the Babylonian captivity, when the building of the temple was interrupted by the Samaritans. The sanctuary in Ps 134:2 is the altar erected at the return, 536 B.C., for the daily sacrifice (Ezr 3:2-4,8). The temple was completed under Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, with the help of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezr 5:1-2; 6:14).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
For I will root out nations from before thee, and will enlarge thy borders, - and no man shall covet thy land, when thou goes up to see the face of Yahweh thy God, three times in the year.
For I will root out nations from before thee, and will enlarge thy borders, - and no man shall covet thy land, when thou goes up to see the face of Yahweh thy God, three times in the year.
Then arose - Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brethren, and built the altar of the God of Israel, - to offer thereon ascending-sacrifices, as it was written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Then arose - Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brethren, and built the altar of the God of Israel, - to offer thereon ascending-sacrifices, as it was written in the law of Moses, the man of God. So they settled the altar upon its stands, for, dread, was upon them, because of the peoples of the countries, - therefore caused they to go up thereon, ascending-sacrifices unto Yahweh, ascending-sacrifices for the morning and for the evening.
So they settled the altar upon its stands, for, dread, was upon them, because of the peoples of the countries, - therefore caused they to go up thereon, ascending-sacrifices unto Yahweh, ascending-sacrifices for the morning and for the evening. And they kept the festival of booths, as it was written, - and the ascending-offering of each day upon its own day, by number, according to regulation, the matter of a day upon its day;
And they kept the festival of booths, as it was written, - and the ascending-offering of each day upon its own day, by number, according to regulation, the matter of a day upon its day;
Now, in the second year of their coming in unto the house of God, to Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak and the rest of their brethren - the priests and the Levites, and all that were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and stationed the Levites, of twenty years old and upwards, to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh.
Now, in the second year of their coming in unto the house of God, to Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak and the rest of their brethren - the priests and the Levites, and all that were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and stationed the Levites, of twenty years old and upwards, to preside over the work of the house of Yahweh.
Then were moved to prophesy, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, the prophets, unto the Jews who were in Judaea and in Jerusalem, - in the name of the God of Israel, unto them.
Then were moved to prophesy, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, the prophets, unto the Jews who were in Judaea and in Jerusalem, - in the name of the God of Israel, unto them. Then arose - Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God, which was in Jerusalem, - and, with them, were the prophets of God, strengthening them.
Then arose - Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God, which was in Jerusalem, - and, with them, were the prophets of God, strengthening them.
And, the elders of the Jews, went on building and prospering, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, - they both built and finished, owing to the edict of the God of Israel, and owing to the edict of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
And, the elders of the Jews, went on building and prospering, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, - they both built and finished, owing to the edict of the God of Israel, and owing to the edict of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Howbeit he rejected the tent of Joseph, And, the tribe of Ephraim, did not choose:
Howbeit he rejected the tent of Joseph, And, the tribe of Ephraim, did not choose: But made choice of the tribe of Judah, The mountain of Zion, which he loved;
But made choice of the tribe of Judah, The mountain of Zion, which he loved; And built, like the heights, his sanctuary, Like the earth, he founded it to times age-abiding.
And built, like the heights, his sanctuary, Like the earth, he founded it to times age-abiding.
I will lift up mine eyes, unto the mountains, From whence cometh my help!
I will lift up mine eyes, unto the mountains, From whence cometh my help!
I was glad, when they were saying unto me, Unto the house of Yahweh, let us go!
I was glad, when they were saying unto me, Unto the house of Yahweh, let us go!
Whither have come up the tribes, The tribes of Yah, A testimony to Israel, To give thanks unto the Name of Yahweh:
Whither have come up the tribes, The tribes of Yah, A testimony to Israel, To give thanks unto the Name of Yahweh:
As for them who turn aside unto their crooked ways, Yahweh, will lead them forth, with the workers of iniquity, Prosperity on Israel!
As for them who turn aside unto their crooked ways, Yahweh, will lead them forth, with the workers of iniquity, Prosperity on Israel!
And behold thou thy children's children, - Prosperity on Israel!
And behold thou thy children's children, - Prosperity on Israel!
He, therefore, will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
He, therefore, will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Wait, O Israel, for Yahweh, from this time forth, even to times age-abiding.
Wait, O Israel, for Yahweh, from this time forth, even to times age-abiding.
Hastings
Morish
This is the title given to fifteen Psalms, Ps. 120 - 134. The word is maalah, and signifies 'going up, ascent,' and is translated, 'stairs, steps, going up.' These Psalms have been grouped together: four are by David, one by Solomon, and the rest are without a name. Scripture does not specify any particular occasion on which they were used. The principal thought in the title being 'a going up' it has been suggested that as all males had to go up to Jerusalem thrice in the year, these may be the songs they sang on their way. The return from captivity under Ezra and Nehemiah is also called 'a going up,' and these Psalms may have been used on that occasion. The Syriac Version heads them 'Songs of ascent from Babylon.' On a still future return to the land the Spirit of God may lead to a similar use of these Songs of Degrees. They represent Israel as in the land, but all opposition not as yet removed.
Smith
Degrees, Songs of,
a title given to fifteen Psalms, from 120 to 134 inclusive. Four of them are attributed to David, one is ascribed to the pen of Solomon, and the other ten give no indication of their author. With respect to the term rendered in the Authorized Version "degrees" a great diversity of views prevails, but the most probable opinion is that they were pilgrim songs, sung by the people as they went up to Jerusalem.