Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 132:9

"Let thy priest be clothed with righteousness; And let thy saints shout for joy." — Psalms 132:9 (ASV)

Clothed with righteousness. —The original is “salvation,” as below in Psalms 132:16, though the Hebrew word is slightly varied. This variation, however, is an almost positive proof that the psalmist, not the chronicler, is adopting words for his own purpose.

Possibly the priestly garments are mentioned, not only as symbolic of righteousness, but also as investing whoever possessed them with political as well as religious supremacy. This is made more probable by the explicit mention of the diadem below (Psalms 132:18; see Note). “Whoever had these, the priestly paraphernalia, in his possession, had virtually the appointment to the office (high priest)” (Stanley, J. C. iii. 353). But if so, the Vulgate rendering of the verse, in the form it has passed from the Breviary into Anglican worship, has fully recovered for the verse its larger and deeper spiritual intention: Endue Thy ministers with righteousness, and make Thy chosen people joyful.

Saints — chasîdîm. Here, this is very possibly a technical term for the party called by this name in the Maccabean period. (See Note on Psalms 16:10).