Verses 1–9
CXXII. The Glory of the Temple.
Psalms 122:3 . The Psalmist refers probably to the ideal Jerusalem. Every true Jew was in sentiment a loyal burgher of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was like Mecca to the Mohammedan or Rome to the Roman Catholic; therefore the tribes went up to it ( cf. Psalms 87).
Psalms 122:5 . are: read, “ were” ( mg.) . The poet recalls the ancient glories of David’ s time.