Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel. Muis, Dr. Horne, Hengstenberg, etc., take it '(according to) the testimony for (i:e., the ordinance of the Lord's will revealed to) Israel'-namely, the law that all the males should thrice a year, at the great festivals, appear before the Lord (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16). On "the testimony," cf. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 78:5; Psalms 81:5. However, the English version is favoured by the fact that the tabernacle, and especially the ark, is often called "the testimony" (Exodus 16:34; Exodus 25:16), as the two tables of the testimony were deposited in it (Exodus 32:15; Hebrews 9:4). The tabernacle or the ark appertained to [so the lª- means] Israel as her special glory.
To give thanks unto the name of the Lord - unto the Lord in His revealed attributes (Psalms 54:6).