Psalm 134:2

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 134:1-3

Psalm 132 -134 A house of prayer for IsraelA visit to the temple is a fitting occasion to recall the origins of the temple. David, with much difficulty, brought the ark (or covenant box) to Jerusalem with the aim of building God a house (132:1-5; cf. 2 Samuel 6:3-13; 2 Samuel 7:1-3; see also introductory notes to Psalms 24:0). Previously the ark had been at Kiriath-jearim, also known as Baale-judah and here called ‘the fields of Jaar’. David therefore went from Bethlehem (Ephrathah) to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 134:2

2. Lift up your hands—(Compare Psalms 28:2). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 134:1-2

1. A call for God’s servants to praise Him 134:1-2Priests were on duty 24 hours a day at the temple. They served as guards, and they also offered sacrifices and carried out other sacerdotal functions during the daylight hours. The psalmist called on them to praise God even at night. Lifting up the hands in prayer was a common posture that symbolized the petitioners offering praise up to God and receiving blessings from Him. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 134:1-3

Psalms 134This last pilgrim psalm called on the priests who served God at the temple to praise Him, and it called on God to bless them. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 134:1-3

A night-greeting addressed to the priests and Levites in the Temple. Psalms 134:3 is their reply to the greeting. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 134:2

(2) Lift up your hands (see Note, Psalms 28:2) (in) the sanctuary.—The usual meaning would be to the sanctuary (see reference above), but since the servants of Jehovah are here addressed as standing in the sanctuary, this direction seems unreasonable. Render, therefore, in holiness, and comp. “lifting up holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8). read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 134:1-3

Psalms 134:1-3THIS fragment of song closes the pilgrim psalms after the manner of a blessing. It is evidently antiphonal, Psalms 134:1-2 being a greeting, the givers of which are answered in Psalms 134:3 by a corresponding salutation from the receivers. Who are the parties to the little dialogue is doubtful. Some have thought of two companies of priestly watchers meeting as they went their rounds in the Temple; others, more probably, take Psalms 134:1-2, to be addressed by the congregation to... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 134:1-3

Psalm 120-134 The Psalms of Degrees Fifteen brief Psalms follow, called songs of degrees, or, ascents. They were in all probability used by Israel going up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of the Lord--”Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” They are indeed Psalms of “the goings-up” for we rise higher and higher as we read through them. Prophetically they give us again the steps from trial and... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 134:2

134:2 Lift up your {b} hands [in] the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.(b) For their charge was not only to keep the temple, but to pray there and to give God thanks. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 134:1-3

This group is differentiated by the title attached to each: “A Song of Degrees” or “A Song of Ascents.” The title seems derived from the going up of the people to Jerusalem at the great festivals which came three times a year. (Compare Deuteronomy 16:16 ; 1 Kings 12:27-28 , etc.); the thought being that they chanted the psalms at different stages in their journey. The pertinency of this application of these psalms is more apparent in some than others. For example, Psalms 121:0 represents the... read more

Group of Brands