Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 135:19
Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
19, 20. The three-fold call of Psa 115:9-11; Psa 118:2-4 is here expanded by the addition of the house of Levi.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
19 21. All Israel is summoned to praise Jehovah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel … – This passage, also, is evidently an imitation of the passage in Psa 115:9-13. The form in Ps. 115, however, is rather an exhortation to trust in the Lord, and an assurance that God would bless the classes spoken of, than a call on them to bless the Lord. Still the same classes of persons are referred to; the house of Israel; the house of Aaron; and those who feared the Lord. The passage needs no further illustration than what is found in the notes at Psa 115:9-13. It is an earnest call on all classes of the people to bless and praise the Lord. It is language expressive of overflowing joy; the utterance of a heart full of exalted conceptions of the majesty, the glory, and the mercy of God; of a heart which feels to the utmost the fitness of praise, and desires that all classes of people – priests and people – that all created things should unite in the praise of Yahweh. Who, in reading the psalm, can fail to catch the feelings of the psalmist, and to say Amen and amen!
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. Bless the Lord. O house, &c.] See similar verses, Ps 115:9-13, and the notes there.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
19-21. (Compare Ps115:9-11). There we have “trust” for “bless”here.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel,…. Who are chosen by the Lord to be a special people to him above all others; redeemed from Egyptian bondage; through a variety of surprising providences brought into and settled in the land of Canaan; distinguished by various blessings, favoured with the word, worship, and ordinances of God, and not left to worship idols of gold and silver, as other nations; and therefore had great reason to bless the Lord: as also the spiritual Israel, or the household of God and of faith, the family of Christ; and that because they are of his family, because of the love of God to them, his choice of them, his covenant with them, their redemption by Christ, their effectual calling; or for being made Israelites indeed, and the provisions made for them in the house of God for their spiritual welfare;
bless the Lord, O house of Aaron: who were separated from their brethren to minister in the priest’s office; to offer gifts and sacrifices for the people, and to bless them, Ex 28:1; which was a very sacred and honourable employment, and they were under obligation to bless the Lord, who had called them to it, and put this honour on them; as are the ministers of the Gospel, who have received gifts from Christ; whom he has counted faithful, and put into the ministry; made stewards of the mysteries of his grace, and ambassadors in his stead; and especially if made useful for edification and conversion: and indeed all the Lord’s people, who are all made priests unto God, and have nearness unto him, liberty and boldness to enter into the holiest of all, as Aaron once a year into the most holy place; and who have better sacrifices to offer than he, the living sacrifices of their own bodies and souls, and not slain beasts; spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise; and, above all, the sweet smelling sacrifice of Christ they bring in the arms of faith, and so enter into the courts of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A call to the praise of Jahve, who is exalted above the gods of the nations, addressed to Israel as a whole, rounds off the Psalm by recurring to its beginning. The threefold call in Psa 115:9-11; Psa 118:2-4, is rendered fourfold here by the introduction of the house of the Levites, and the wishing of a blessing in Psa 134:3 is turned into an ascription of praise. Zion, whence Jahve’s self-attestation, so rich in power and loving-kindness, is spread abroad, is also to be the place whence His glorious attestation by the mouth of men is spread abroad. History has realized this.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(19, 21) From Psa. 115:9-11, with the addition, O house of Levi.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19, 20. These verses are taken from Psa 115:9-11, where see notes. To the enumeration of “Israel,” “house of Aaron,” and “those who fear the Lord,” in the latter passage, and in Psa 118:2-4, we have added in the text the house of Levi, by which language the common priesthood, as distinguished from the highpriesthood, is meant.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
From the wretched state of the idolatrous nations around, Israel, as a nation of Priests and Levites to the Lord, is called upon to mark its distinguishing blessings, and to make a proper use of them; and then the Psalm ends, as, it began, with Hallelujah!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 135:19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
Ver. 19. Bless the Lord ] And not an idol, Isa 66:3 , as the Philistines did their Dagon; and as Papists still do their male and female saints.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 135:19-21
19O house of Israel, bless the Lord;
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord;
20O house of Levi, bless the Lord;
You who revere the Lord, bless the Lord.
21Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
Psa 135:19 This refers to
1. all the tribes of Israel
2. the special tribe of Levi, family of Aaron, YHWH’s choice for His temple servants to come from In a sense, this tribe replaced the firstborn children of all the tribes as YHWH’s servants (cf. Exodus 13).
Psa 135:20 house of Levi Not all Levites were priests but all priests were of the tribe of Levi. Some Levites
1. served in the temple (see note at Psa 134:1)
2. served locally as teachers of the Law of Moses
revere the Lord See Special Topic: Fear.
Psa 135:21 Zion See Special Topic: Moriah, Jebus, Salem, Jerusalem, Zion.
Who dwells in Jerusalem See note at Psa 132:14.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. List the characteristics of Israel’s God.
2. Define monotheism.
3. Does God control weather for His purposes? Does that mean God sends all storms, floods, fire, etc.?
4. Why is trusting in idols so sad?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
house of Israel. Includes all Israel. Compare Psa 115:12. See note on Exo 16:31.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 135:19-21
Psa 135:19-21
THE EPILOGUE
“O house of Israel, bless ye Jehovah:
O house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah:
O house of Levi, bless ye Jehovah:
Ye that fear Jehovah, bless ye Jehovah.
Blessed be Jehovah out of Zion,
Who dwelleth at Jerusalem.
Praise ye Jehovah.”
This epilogue matches the prologue in the triple repetition of the words, “Bless Jehovah.” In the prologue, “Praise Jehovah” is the repeated clause. All Israel, the priests “as the house of Aaron,” and the Levites “as the house of Levi,” are the persons addressed in the epilogue.
Barnes described this epilogue as, “An earnest call on all classes of the people to bless and praise the Lord. The language here is expressive of overflowing joy, the utterance of a heart full of exalted conceptions of the majesty, glory and mercy of God.
Anyone who reads this psalm can hardly fail to catch the mood and feelings of the psalmist and to say “Amen and Amen.”
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 135:19. Israel was the name of the people as a whole, and house of Aaron was the particular family in which the priesthood was settled. (Exo 28:1; 1Ch 23:13.) The verse is a call for all to bless (or praise) the Lord.
Psa 135:20. Levi was the tribe from which the house of Aaron sprang. The Levites (other than the house of Aaron) had charge of the congregational activities, except those of the priesthood, and hence were in a rank of importance. They were called upon to bless or praise the Lord for they had been given special attention of honor. A general call was then made for all who feared the Lord to bless or praise him.
Psa 135:21. Out of Zion or in connection with Zion; that was the headquarters of the Lord’s institution on earth, and all devotions offered to Him had to be done with due regard for this capital. Praise ye the Lord is from a wording meaning “Hallelujah.”
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Psa 115:9-11, Psa 118:1-4, Psa 145:10, Psa 147:19, Psa 147:20, Psa 148:14, Rev 19:5
Reciprocal: 1Ch 23:30 – stand 1Ch 29:20 – Now bless Psa 22:23 – Ye that Psa 30:4 – Sing Psa 68:26 – Bless Psa 118:2 – General Psa 134:1 – bless ye Psa 147:12 – praise thy God Luk 2:28 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 135:19-21. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel He who proved himself to be infinitely superior to the objects of heathen idolatry, is no less superior to every object on which deluded men can place their affections. Let the house of Israel, therefore, the house of Levi, and the house of Aaron, the church, the ministers thereof; and let all who fear the Lord, though not of the house of Israel, bless and praise his holy name, in his temple here below, until they shall be admitted to do it for evermore in that which is above: see Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3. Concluding call to praise 135:19-21
The psalm closes as it opened: with a call to God’s people to praise Him. Particularly from Zion: the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the godly should praise the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem.
All God’s servants should praise Him for His sovereignty as He demonstrates it in nature and history. Truly there is no other God like Him.