Psalms 132:6

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah,.... Either of the ark which David and others had heard of, that it formerly was at Shiloh, Joshua 18:1; here called Ephratah, as some think; so the Ephraimites are

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah - David's words after he had so far attained his wish, that the ark had been brought up to Zion.

We heard of it; of the place or habitation for the Lord last mentioned. At Ephratah; either, 1. In Bethlehem, which is called Ephratah, 48:7 . So the sense is either this, We heard a rumour at Bethlehem among David’ s relations, that the ark should be removed to a new place, and that David had pitched upon it; or this, We heard that Bethlehem would be the place for it, because it was the city of David. Or rather, 2. In the tribe of Ephraim, which was called also Ephratah or Ephrathah, as is manifest, because the men of Ephraim were called Ephrathites, as , in the Hebrew text, though in the English it be Ephraimite. So Jeroboam is called an Ephrathite, . So the sense is, We heard it from our fathers, that the ancient place of it was Shiloh, which was in the land of Ephraim; whereby he covertly intimates that God rejected and forsook that place, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim, as it is said, , that so he might make way for Zion, which was the place chosen by God for it, as it follows here, . We found it; afterwards we found it elsewhere. In the fields of the wood, i.e. in a field, or in one of the fields of the wood; for that little spot of ground in which the tabernacle or temple was built was not likely to be in several fields. Thus Jephthah was buried in the cities of Gilead, , i.e. in one of them. This is meant either, 1. Of the Mount Moriah, which might possibly be called the field of the wood, as being anciently a place full of wood, , or of the threshing-floor of Araunah, of which see , which before the building of the temple is said to have been a woody place. Or rather, 2. Of Kirjath-jearim, which signifies a city of woods, in the field or territory whereof the ark was seated for twenty years, as we read, ,2. And from this place it was removed to Zion, , &c.

Psalms 132:6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.Ver. 6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah] At Bethlehem Ephratah, David’ s birth place, there we heard of it long since by our progenitors. "Of it," that is, of the ark, saith Chrysostom; of God’ s resting place, saith Austin; of the place where Christ should be born, saith Jerome; where the temple should be set, saith Aben Ezra; where the Shechinah, or Divine presence should reside, say other Rabbis, Dicit eam in foemin, i.e. diviuam praesentiam (R. Arama). We found it in the fields of the wood] At Jerusalem, say some; or at Kirjathjearim, as others will have it. The Chaldee interpreteth it of the wood of Libanus; the place, saith he, where the patriarchs worshipped.

(6) Lo, we heard.—This verse has been pronounced inexplicable, and yet the general intention is clear. The vow in which David declared his purpose has just been quoted, and that which is now said to have been heard and found can hardly be anything else than this purpose. In fact, the feminine suffix to the verbs points directly back to the word rendered afflictions in Psalms 132:1, which is really a feminine form. This being settled, we need not go from the plain direction of such places as Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7; Rth 4:11; Micah 5:2, which pronounce the identity of Ephratah with Bethlehem, to seek any other locality which might possibly be so called. David’s purpose would naturally be connected—especially after a long lapse of time—with the birthplace of his family. But though taking this poetical licence, the psalm keeps sufficiently close to history as to recognise in the discovery of the Ark at Kirjath-jearim an important, nay, a decisive step in the project of building the Temple. Though his purpose may not have been even dimly defined to David when he moved the Ark, history justly sees in that momentous change the initial step in the grander undertaking. That “the fields of the wood” (Heb., sedey-yâ‘ar) is one designation of Kirjath-jearim (city of Yaarim, which went by so many names: Jeremiah 26:20; Ezra 2:25; Joshua 15:10-11) there can be little doubt. We must not, of course, think here of David’s contemporaries, but of those of the psalmist, who poetically are represented as taking important part in the early plans for building the Temple—just as we might say, speaking of our old cathedrals, “we built fine churches in those days.” The poet makes them say, identifying themselves with the people of those distant times, while naturally the historical correctness suffers, “We heard his project at Bethlehem; we found out its meaning (saw it take shape) at Kirjath-jearim.” For mâtsâ, in the sense of “finding out the meaning or discerning,” see Judges 14:12, “of a riddle.” This sentence reminds one of a riddle by its form.

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, יער; - not the wood, but Kirjath Jaar or Jearim, where the ark was then lodged;-and having found it, he entered the tabernacle, Psalms 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.

6–10. The enthusiasm of Israel at the establishment of the sanctuary in Jerusalem (6, 7); their prayer that Jehovah will deign to occupy it, and will bless priests, people, and king (8–10).

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah - Most probably this is the language of the contemporaries of David; or this is what they might be supposed to say; or this is what tradition reports that they did say.

6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah—Although “of” is not in the original, yet the sense requires it, as in the similar form in Jeremiah 46:12, “The nations have heard thy shame,” they have heard “of” thy shame.