PSAL. CXXXII.
THE thirteenth Song of Degrees was made, as Junius hath it, by David; * 1.1 when the Arke was removed from the house of Obed. Edom, to be pla∣ce•• in the Tabernacle set up for it; and this may well be gathered from the Contents of the Psalme. Calvin thinketh, that it was made either by David, or Solomon, because some passages here are in Solomons speeches, at the de∣dication * 1.2 of the Temple, 2 Chron. 6. 16. 41, 42. But the first is most probable, because he that made it, saith, We found it, that is, the Arke, in the wood, Verse 6. which was Kireath Jearim, here called, Sethe Jaar, the feild of Ja∣ar, or wood; whereas Solomon when he removed the Arke into the house, that he had built, found it in Zion, in the Tabernacle set up by David his Father.
Remember David, and all his afflictions, 2 Chron. 6. 42. for afflictions, it is the mercies of David, or his kindnesses, or the care that he took about the * 1.3 Arke, that it might be worthily placed out of the great good affection which he bare to it.
How he sware unto the Lord, &c. This may seem to be a strange Vow, that David should vow not to sleep, or take any rest, till he had found out a * 1.4 place and Habitation for God; because it was a thing not in his power, but at the good pleasure of God to be appointed, and when he would ap∣point it, he knew not. But forsomuch as he was a Prophet, and so by the in∣stinct of the Spirit, might he moved to make this vow, knowing that God would appoint a place, as he had long before promised, and that the time * 1.5 was now come, he to shew his care & diligence, in this respect entred into this Vow, not doubting but that God would order the matter so, that he should perform it. Or it may be conceived, that he made it when the Tabernacle was prepared, and he had once attempted to bring the Arke into it, but was discouraged by the death of Ʋzzah, whereupon it was left in the house of * 1.6 Obed-Edom; where whilst it remained, he heard that God blessed him, and all that he had: therefore to binde himselfe with all speed to setch it home to him, that he might be the more blessed, he made this Vow, and immedi∣ately went about it. The Rabbins, sayth Calvin, faine, that this vow was made after the threshing floore of Araunah shewed unto him in the time of * 1.7 the Pestilence; but there is no reason to think so, for then the place was al∣ready found, although no house was yet built upon it: Therefore he thinketh rather, that David spake thus hyperbolically, or else, that his mean∣ing was nothing else, but every time that he went to his rest, and to his Bed, he would study about this, and seek to know it. But I rest in the former, which is further confirmed by Junius, saying, that David could not be so un∣reasonable, as to think to prescribe unto God, and to binde him by his vow * 1.8 to a certain time; but he had doubtlesse respect unto the Tabernacle, which he had made, and to the bringing of the Arke in thither; meaning, that he would not enter to dwell and lodge in the new house, which he had built him, till he had brought in the Ark; of which house of his, and the Taber∣nacle, spoken of together, see 1 Chron. 15: 1, 2.
We heard of it in Ephrata, and sound it in the feilds of the Wood. Of which last words, enough before: touching Ephrata, hereby Eprahim is meant, * 1.9 as Judg. 12. 5. an Ephraimite is called an Ephratite; for in the Tribe of Ephraim was Shiloh, where the Ark continued many yeares, 1 Sam. 4. 11.