Psalms 134 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

CXXXIV.

This little song, with its appeal and its response, fitly closes the Songs of the Steps. It is a challenge to the Levites going on duty for the night to praise Jehovah, as others have already done by day. For the importance of this psalm in deciding the date of the close of the Psalter, see General Introduction.

All ye servants. — We learn from 1 Chronicles 9:33 that there were Levites whose duties brought them to the Temple by night. Moreover, the word ‘âmad, “stand,” is the customary word for sacerdotal service (Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 18:7; 1 Chronicles 23:30, &c).

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).

Made heaven and earth. — For this style, as frequent in this group of psalms, see Psalms 121:2.