Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 132:6

"Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: We found it in the field of the wood." — Psalms 132:6 (ASV)

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah—This is most probably the language of David’s contemporaries, or what they might be supposed to have said, or what tradition reports they did say. David’s purpose, as referred to in the previous verses, is not recorded in the history, and the memory of the whole transaction may have been handed down by tradition. Alternatively, this may be merely poetic language, expressing the feelings of those who, when sent out by David or accompanying him, found the ark. This verse has presented considerable difficulty. There is no mention in the historical record that the ark was “heard of” at Ephratah, or that it was ever there. The name Ephratah—אפרתה 'ephrâthâh—is applied:

1. To a region of country that was subsequently given the name Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16–19; Ruth 4:11).
2. Properly to Bethlehem, a city of Judah, whose full name was Bethlehem-Ephratah (Genesis 48:7; Micah 5:2).
3. As a proper name (1 Chronicles 2:19, 2:50, 4:4).
4. It may perhaps be the same as Ephraim (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Kings 11:26).

Some have supposed the meaning to be that they found it within the limits of the tribe of Ephraim, and that the word Ephratah is used here with reference to that; but this is a forced construction.

It may indeed have been true that the ark was found within the limits of that tribe, but the word Ephratah would not naturally denote this. Besides, the tribe of Ephraim was so large and covered such an extensive territory that this would convey no distinct information. It cannot be supposed that the writer meant to say merely that they found it within the limits of a tribe. Nor can it mean that they actually found the ark at Ephratah or Bethlehem, for this would not be true.

A simple and natural interpretation of the passage has been suggested, which seems to make it plain: in their search for the ark, it was at Ephratah or Bethlehem that they first heard of it, but they actually found it in the fields of the wood.

It may seem strange that there should have been as much uncertainty about the ark as is implied here—that David did not know where it was, and that none of the priests knew. But while it must be admitted that this seems strange, and that the fact is not easily explained, it is to be remembered that the ark was at one time in the possession of the Philistines. When it was retaken, it seems to have had no very permanent resting place. It may have been moved from one spot to another as circumstances required. It may have been committed now to one person, and now to another, for safekeeping.

Thus, it might have occurred in the unsettled and agitated state of affairs that its exact situation was unknown, and that a somewhat diligent search was necessary to find it. We know too little of those times to enable us to pronounce upon the subject with much confidence.

We found it in the fields of the wood—Continuing our search, we found it there. This was perhaps Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 7:1; 1 Chronicles 13:5). It was to Kirjath-jearim that the ark was carried after it had been taken by the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:21). The literal meaning of the passage here is “the fields of the wood”—or of Jear, where the word in Hebrew is the same as in Kirjath-jearim. The name Kirjath-jearim means Forest Town, or city of the woods, and the allusion here is the same as in 1 Samuel 7:1.

The interpretation, then, seems to be that they heard of the ark, or learned where it was, when they were at Ephratah or Bethlehem, but they actually found it in the vicinity of Kirjath-jearim. The ignorance in this case may have been merely regarding the exact place or house where it was kept at that time. Bethlehem was David’s home or city. The idea is that, when David was there, and when it was contemplated to move the ark to Mount Zion, information or intelligence about its exact locality was brought there. They then went out to bring it to its new abode or permanent resting place.