John Calvin 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 Ephratha. This verse is obscure, and we need not wonder at the difficulty which interpreters have felt in ascertaining its meaning. First, the relative pronoun, being of the feminine gender, has no antecedent, and we are forced to suppose that it must refer to the word habitation in the preceding sentence, although there it reads habitations, in the plural number.

But the principal difficulty lies in the word Ephratha, because the Ark of the Covenant was never placed there. If the reference is to past time, Shiloh should have been the place mentioned. But as it is clear the Psalmist speaks of its new residence, the question remains: why is Ephratha and not Zion specified?

Some would get rid of the difficulty by resorting to a frivolous conceit that the place had two names, and that the plot of ground shown to David (2 Samuel 24:18; 1 Chronicles 21:18) was called Ephratha because it was fertile. On this account, Jerome styles it καρποφορίαν; yet he is not very consistent with himself, for in another place, when he delves into his allegories, he most absurdly interprets it to mean frenzy.

I have no doubt whatever that the word comes from פרה parah, which means to bear fruit; just as Bethlehem, which is situated in the same region, was called “the house of bread” for its fruitfulness. However, any conjecture founded merely upon the name of the place is necessarily unsatisfactory, and we must seek a more probable explanation.

I might begin by mentioning one interpretation which is not without force. A rumor had spread that the Ark of the Covenant was to be deposited in Ephratha, which was the place of David’s nativity, and we may suppose at least that his native soil would seem to many the most appropriate locality for the Ark and Sanctuary.

We can easily understand how such an opinion would circulate. In that case, the hearing referred to by the Psalmist alludes to the report that had been circulated. If this is taken as the meaning, the verb would be in the pluperfect tense: we HAD heard that it was in Ephratha, but we found it in the woods—that is, in a place by no means so attractive or well cultivated.

Jerusalem might be described as woody, because we know that it was surrounded by mountains and was by no means in a part of the country noted for fruitfulness. There is another meaning which I would submit to the reader’s judgment. Let us suppose that the faithful here say that they had heard of its being in Ephratha, because God had spoken even greater things of Ephratha than of Zion.

It is true that the memorable prediction (Micah 5:2) had not yet been given; yet it may have been that God had already issued some very great and significant prophecy regarding Bethlehem. We have heard, as if they had said, of Bethlehem, but it is still only a dim expectation that we have concerning that place. In the meantime, we must worship God in this place of the woods, looking forward to the fulfillment of the promise regarding Ephratha.

This interpretation, however, is far-fetched, nor would I venture to adopt it, or at least recommend it to others as the right one. The simpler way seems to be to understand the word Ephratha as applying to David personally, and not so much to the place of that name. The Psalmist’s declaration is to this effect: that now, when God had chosen a king from Ephratha, the place would necessarily at the same time be marked out for the Ark of the Covenant.

It is said, have heard, for the fixing of the Sanctuary’s location depended upon the will of God; nor, until this was declared, could men determine it according to their own fancy. The fact that now, upon David’s ascending the throne, this illustrious oracle concerning the permanent settlement of the Temple was to take effect, provided good reason for thanksgiving.

We have proof here that the people of God did not deposit the Ark at random in any place, but had express directions from God Himself as to the place where He would be worshipped—all proper worship proceeding from faith, while faith cometh by hearing (Romans 10:17).

Mount Zion had almost no particular qualities to recommend it; but having once heard that it was the object of God’s choice, they show that they consider it wrong to call the matter into question.