Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 84:5-7

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; In whose heart are the highways [to Zion]. Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion." — Psalms 84:5-7 (ASV)

In these verses, as in the analogous picture (Isaiah 35:6–8), there is a blending of the real and the figurative; the actual journey towards Zion is represented as accompanied by ideal blessings of peace and refreshment. It is improbable that the poet would turn abruptly from the description of the swallows in the Temple to what looks like a description of a real journey, with a locality, or in any case a district, which was well known and introduced by its proper name, and yet intend only a figurative reference.

On the other hand, it is quite in the Hebrew manner to intermingle the ideal with the actual, and to present the spiritual side by side with the literal. Thus, we have here recorded the actual experience of a pilgrim’s route. But quite naturally and correctly has the world seen in it a description of the pilgrimage of life, and drawn from it many a sweet and consoling lesson.