Song of Degrees
This entry incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897, with some modernization.
Song of Degrees - song of steps, is a title given to each of fifteen of the psalms, numbers
120-134 inclusive. The probable origin of this name is the
circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people on
the ascents or goings up to Jerusalem to attend the three great
festivals (Deut. 16:16). They were well fitted for being sung by
the way from their peculiar form, and from the sentiments they
express. "They are characterized by brevity, by a key-word, by
epanaphora [i.e, repetition], and by their epigrammatic
style...More than half of them are cheerful, and all of them
hopeful." They are sometimes called "Pilgrim Songs." Four of
them are claimed in their ascriptions to have been by David, and one (127) by Solomon, the rest being anonymous. However modern scholars do not believe that these ascriptions can be taken literally, though they do give some evidence that helps in dating of the psalms and identifying their original use.
In the Jewish tradition we call these the "Songs of Ascent" and are sung as a part of Hallel (praise) which is recited on holidays. According to the tradition (Midrash, see also Midrash Tehillim/Psalms) David HaMelech (king David) dig the foundations for the temple. In doing so he struck the subterranian waters that rushed up and threatened to destroy the warld as in the flood of Noach (Noah) at this David prayed for tha waters to receed and they did so 1600 cubits. Seeing that the closer to the earth the waters were, the more fertle the land would be, he recited these fifteen Songs of Ascent, each of which raised the waters 1000 cubits.
