Songs Of Degrees
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
Fifteen: Psalm 120-134: four by David, one by Solomon, ten anonymous. Pilgrim songs: Shir Hama'Alot , "a song for the ascendings," i.e. for the going up (Jerusalem and its temple being regarded as on a moral elevation above other places, as it was in fact on the most elevated tableland of the country, requiring a going up from all sides) to the three great feasts ( Exodus 34:24; 1 Kings 12:27-28); Psalms 122:1; Psalms 122:4, which is the oldest, being composed by David to supply the northern Israelites with a pilgrim song in their journeys to Zion, where Asaph had warned them to repair now that the ark was transferred from Shiloh there ( Psalms 78:67-69). Solomon wrote Psalm 127, round which as a center a third poet, on the return from Babylon, grouped, with David's four psalms, ten others, seven on one side and seven on the other.
The simple style, brevity, and transitions formed by retaining a word from the previous verse (e.g. Psalms 121:1-2, "from whence cometh my help; my help cometh," etc.), are suitable to pilgrim-song poetry. They all have a general, not an individual, character, referring to the literal and the spiritual Israel, whom God's providence always and in all places guards (Psalm 121; Psalm 124; Psalms 125:5; Psalms 128:6; Psalms 130:8; Psalms 131:3). The posture of affairs contemplated in most of these psalms is that after the Babylonian captivity, when the building of the temple was interrupted by the Samaritans. The sanctuary in Psalms 134:2 is the altar erected at the return, 536 B.C., for the daily sacrifice ( Ezra 3:2-4; Ezra 3:8). The temple was completed under Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, with the help of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah ( Ezra 5:1-2; Ezra 6:14).
Morrish Bible Dictionary [2]
This is the title given to fifteen Psalms, Psalm 120 - 134. The word is maalah, and signifies 'going up, ascent,' and is translated, 'stairs, steps, going up.' These Psalms have been grouped together: four are by David, one by Solomon, and the rest are without a name. Scripture does not specify any particular occasion on which they were used. The principal thought in the title being 'a going up' it has been suggested that as all males had to go up to Jerusalem thrice in the year, these may be the songs they sang on their way. The return from captivity under Ezra and Nehemiah is also called 'a going up,' and these Psalms may have been used on that occasion. The Syriac Version heads them 'Songs of ascent from Babylon.' On a still future return to the land the Spirit of God may lead to a similar use of these Songs of Degrees. They represent Israel as in the land, but all opposition not as yet removed.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]
Degrees, Songs Of . See Psalms.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
(שׁיר המּעלות , shı̄r ha - ma‛ălōth ; Septuagint ᾠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν , ōdḗ tō̇n anabathmō̇n ; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible , 390-405 ad) canticum graduum , the Revised Version (British and American) "a song of ascents"): The title prefixed to 15 psalms (Pss 120 through 134) as to the significance of which there are four views: (1) The Jewish interpretation. According to the Mishna , Middōth James 2:5 , Ṣukkāh 51 b , there was in the temple a semi-circular flight of stairs with 15 steps which led from the court of the men of Israel down to the court of the women. Upon these stairs the Levites played on musical instruments on the evening of the first day of Tabernacles. Later Jewish writers say that the 15 psalms derived their title from the 15 steps. (2) Gesenius, Delitzsch and others affirm that these psalms derive their name from the step-like progressive rhythm of their thoughts. They are called Songs of Degrees because they move forward climactically by means of the resumption of the immediately preceding word. But this characteristic is not found in several of the group. (3) Theodoret and other Fathers explain these 15 hymns as traveling songs of the returning exiles. In Ezra 7:9 the return from exile is called "the going up ( ha - ma‛ălāh ) from Babylon." Several of the group suit this situation quite well, but others presuppose the temple and its stated services. (4) The most probable view is that the hymns were sung by pilgrim bands on their way to the three great festivals of the Jewish year. The journey to Jerusalem was called a "going up," whether the worshipper came from north or south, east or west. All of the songs are suitable for use on such occasions. Hence, the title Pilgrim Psalms is preferred by many scholars. See Dial Of Ahaz .
