Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem [Psalms 122]

The city therefore, being the sum of its inhabitants (Jews, Israelites) is joined together, meaning all the tribes of Israel are joined together within her walls during the aliyot festivals. She is thus made echad (one) in God.

Tehillim תְהִלִים (Psalms) 122 is a song of ascent, the theme of which is that of pilgrims going up to the House (Tent, Sanctuary) of the LORD in joy, petitioning Him for the manifest peace and everlasting establishment of Jerusalem’s (Judah, Israel, the Jews) good in YHVH יהוה (Mercy) the LORD Elohim (Judge) God.
 
The isolated phrase “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” is often misrepresented by well-meaning and ignorant people who employee it as some kind of mantra for peace between Israel and her Palestinian (so called)/Arab enemies. But that is not at all what the context of this Psalm denotes. In fact, in many ways it teaches the exact opposite. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem in the context of this Psalm means praying for the defeat of her enemies.
 
At the time of David’s writing of this Psalm (by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) Jerusalem was the capital of the united tribes of Israel under king David, God’s anointed King and the progenitor of the coming King Messiah Yeshua.
 
David places his focus firmly on the LORD and seeking Him on the mountain where He has placed His Name (Mt Zion, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem). God’s Name is also placed on the Jewish people, His title included in the name of Israel (Yisra [wrestle and overcome]-El [God]).
 
This Psalm is written with the company of all the faithful among the tribes of Israel in mind, and is intended for use throughout the ages as a call to ascend the mountain of the LORD for each of the עליות aliyot (going up) חגים chaggim (festivals) [פסח Pesach, שבועות Shavuot, סוכות Sukkot].
 
To pray only a few decontextualised verses of this Psalm as a petition for some vague universal peace that reflects a post enlightenment humanitarian utopian ideal, is an abhorrent misuse of the Psalm and an afront to God and His chosen people Israel (ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical). This kind of mantra oriented pseudo-Christian prayer practice is an indictment on the modern Church. To decontextualize Scripture is to misrepresent its message.
 
The posture for approaching this prayer is one of humility. For Jews, humility as servants of the greater Son of David (the King Messiah), specially chosen as the ethnic people dedicated to El Elohay Yisrael (God the God of Israel). For God fearing Gentiles, an approach of humility as devoted friends to Israel in the greater Son of David (the King Messiah) is required.[ref. verse 8]
 
This prayer will not be received by God if prayed without regard for the specificity of its intent:
 
To honour YHVH, the city of God, Jerusalem, and therefore the sum of that city, the chosen ethnic people of God, Israel (Jews) under the reign of king David’s greater Son the King Messiah ישוע Yeshua, שר שלום Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace), Who establishes peace for Israel and for those among the nations who go up with her as “devoted friends” and companions in the worship of the God of Israel. [ref. verse 8]
 
Tehillim תְהִלִים (Psalms) 122:
 
 שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ׃
עֹ֭מְדוֹת הָי֣וּ רַגְלֵ֑ינוּ בִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃
 יְרוּשָׁלַם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה כְּ֝עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
 שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם עָל֪וּ שְׁבָטִ֡ים שִׁבְטֵי־יָ֭הּ עֵד֣וּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָֽה׃
 כִּ֤י שָׁ֨מָּה׀ יָשְׁב֣וּ כִסְא֣וֹת לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֝סְא֗וֹת לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִֽיד׃
 שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃
 יְהִֽי־שָׁל֥וֹם בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ שַׁ֝לְוָ֗ה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
 לְ֭מַעַן אַחַ֣י וְרֵעָ֑י אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּ֖א שָׁל֣וֹם בָּֽךְ׃
 לְ֭מַעַן בֵּית־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה ט֣וֹב לָֽךְ׃
 
Author’s Transliteration:
 
Shiyr hama’alot le’david samachtiy be’omrim liy beit Adonay nelekh
Omdot hayu ragleinu bish’arayikh Yerushalam
Yerushalam habenuyah ke’iyr shechuberah lah yachdav
Shesham alu sh’vatim shivteiy Yah eidot le’yisraeil
Lehodot le’sheim Adonay
Kiy shamah yash’vu chisot le’mishpat  kisot le’veit david
Sha’alu shlom yerushalam yishlayu ohavayikh
Yehiy shalom be’cheilekh
Shalvah b’armeno-tayikh le’ma’an achay ve’rei-ay
Adab-be-rah na shalom bakh le’ma’an beit Adonay
Eloheinu avak’shah tov lakh
 
Author’s translation from the Hebrew text:
 
1A song of David, from the multiplied ascending.
It reflected my transcendent joy when they said to me “Let us go up to the House of YHVH (Mercy) the LORD!”
2 Our feet have come to stand within your gates, O Jerusalem (Flood/downpour of Peace, wholeness and wellbeing)!
3 Jerusalem is built, established she is joined together, made one.
4 There the tribal branches (of Israel) go up, the tribes [branches] (of Israel) of the Lord;
It is a witness, testimony of Israel (ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical, descendants of Jacob) giving thanks to the Name of YHVH (Mercy) the Lord.
5 For there, reside thrones for judgement, the thrones of the house of David (Beloved) [Progenitor of the Messiah, King of Judah and all Israel].
6 Pray, beg, enquire after, ask for peace, wholeness and wellbeing for Jerusalem (Flood/downpour of Peace, wholeness and wellbeing) [the everlasting capital of Israel]!: “May they prosper who love you (Jerusalem, and by implication, the Jewish people).
7 May it come to pass that peace, wholeness and wellbeing be within your inner walls,
prosperity within your towers.”
8 For the sake of my Jewish brothers and sisters and my accompanying friends, I will now declare, “Peace, wholeness and wellbeing be within you.”
9 Because of the purpose and goal of the house of YHVH (Mercy) the Lord our Elohim (Judge) God, I will seek good for you (Jerusalem, Judah, Israel).
 
A contextual line by line commentary on Tehillim (Psalms) 122
 
 שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה נֵלֵֽךְ׃
 
1A song of David, from the multiplied ascending.
It reflected my transcendent joy when they said to me “Let us go up to the House of YHVH (Mercy) the LORD!”
 
This song is intended for use by Jewish (all the tribes of Israel, ethnic, religious) worshippers who make עליה Aliyah (go up) for the three festivals פסח Pesach, שבועות Shavuot, סוכות Sukkot.
 
Those who reflect David’s transcendent joy are his Jewish brothers and sisters and those devoted friends/companions who honour the God of Israel and therefore also honour the Jewish people.[ref. verse 8]
 
The House of the LORD was, at the time of David’s authoring this Psalm, the Tent of Meeting a.k.a בֵּית הַמִקדָשׁ Beit HaMikdash Sanctuary. The Psalm therefore also points to the then yet to be built Temple of Solomon (המלך שלומו Shlomo, peace), which in turn points to the manifest dwelling of God Himself at the descent of the New Jerusalem at the end of days.
Given that the Hebrew בֵּית יְהוָה Beit YHVH “House of the LORD,” in the context of the time of David’s authorship refers to a tent and not a temple. We can glean from this a remez (hint) pointing to the transcendent truth that God “does not dwell in temples made with human effort.” [Isaiah 66:1-2] Not pagan ones, and not the temple in Jerusalem, except on certain occasions when Israel properly observes the Torah and the commanded religious rites of the temple cult ( previously Tent of Meeting). Even then, according to Scripture God manifest His presence in the cloud of His glory in the Holy of holies during Israel’s 40 years in the desert for a time, and manifest His presence in power at the inauguration of the temple of Solomon for a short time, and perhaps on some other exceptional occasions such as once a year at Yom Kippur. However, He did not dwell there perpetually, except in the same way He is everywhere, all things existing in Him.
48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 ‘The Heavens are My throne,
And the earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says YHVH (Mercy) the Lord,
Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not made all these things?’ [Isa. 66:1-2]
 
Acts 7:48-50

The goal therefore, is YHVH the LORD, and meeting in and with Him in המקום HaMakum the place of meeting, the everlasting capital of Israel, as established by the LORD, that is, Mt Zion in Jerusalem.
 
“I rejoiced when they said to me – R’ Moshe said that David composed this song that it be said with the songs in the House of God when it will be built. R’ Yeshua said that this song was for the House which David built in Zion. There are those that say it refers to the Third House when every member of Israel will say ‘I rejoiced when they said to me’ as they go up for the pilgrimage festivals:”
 
- Ibn Ezra on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:1:1
 
“This psalm is speaking the praise of Jerusalem. It describes the nation in its totality as one body made up of different individual limbs and Jerusalem as “a city that was joined together within itself…” (Psalms 122:3) The individual limbs join together to become a whole body which can contain the spirit of life, an intellect and a Godly soul. The House of God is located within her and it is the vessel which prepares the whole body to receive the Divine Presence and the Godly soul. The city itself is like the heart and brain within the body, which prepare it to receive the vital force and the intellect. In light of this it says “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord,’” because there God dwells and He makes the Divine Presence and Godliness to come to rest in holiness.”
 
- Malbim on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:1:1
 
 עֹ֭מְדוֹת הָי֣וּ רַגְלֵ֑ינוּ בִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃
 
2 Our feet have come to stand within your gates, O Jerusalem (Flood/downpour of Peace, wholeness and wellbeing)!
 
Those who agree with David come together to stand within the city where God has promised peace will abide in His Name. The remez (hint) at deeper meaning reads “We have acted in accordance with our heartfelt devotion to You YHVH, and along with our king (David: beloved) we have come to stand before You in the city You have chosen, in the midst of the peace that only You can establish.”
 
We note here the Hebrew spelling of Jerusalem is Yerushalam יְרוּשָׁלִָם a singular form that lacks the intense plural ending יִם that is used in the post first century spelling of יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Jerusalem. The TaNaKh (OT) uses the spelling ירושלם which is marked by Masoretes nikudot (vowels) as either יְרוּשָׁלִָם Yerushalam or יְרוּשָׁלֵם Yerushalem.
 
While it’s hard to be exact as to the time in history when Yerushalem/Yerushalam was modified to become Yerushalayim, it was likely between 400 BCE (there are examples of the new spelling in the Dead Sea Scrolls) and 70 CE (a waist high pillar was discovered near Jerusalem in 2018 that dates to the second temple period and uses the newer spelling).
 
The New Testament writers use the Greek transliterated form of Jerusalem in their writing. The Biblical Greek is Ἱεροσόλυμα  Hierosolyma, and is often in the neuter plural form.
 
This is significant given that while the newer spelling is generally used as referring to the singular city, it is nonetheless written in a Hebrew plural form denoting more than one Jerusalem.
 
There is of course the present earthly city of Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem that will descend from the heavens and converge with the existing city, the old being renewed and the two becoming one, the sum of their inhabitants.
 
“Then I saw new heavens and a new earth; for the first heavens and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer sea. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of the heavens from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”
 
-Revelation 21:1-2 [Author’s translation]
 
“Afflicted city, tossed in the storm and not comforted,
I will set your stones in antimony (brittle silvery-white semimetal)
your foundations will be laid in Lapis lazuli
I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.”
 
–Yishaiyahu/Isaiah 54:11-12 [Author’s translation]
 
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the Mishkhan (Tent of Meeting, dwelling: from shakhan, to dwell) of G-d is among humanity, and He will (shakhan) dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and G-d Himself will be among them and be their God,”
 
-Revelation 21:3 [Author’s translation]
 
יְרוּשָׁלִַם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה כְּ֝עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
 
3 Jerusalem is built, established she is joined together, made one.
 
The outpouring of Peace is established in a specific location where heaven and earth will converge through the King Messiah’s atoning work.
 
A city is the sum of her inhabitants. At the time of the writing of this Psalm the inhabitants of Jerusalem were predominantly made up of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, and three times a year all the tribes of Israel inhabited the city (Judah, Benjamin, and the Northern tribes as one [Jews, Israel]). It is written to reflect David’s experience among his Jewish brothers and sisters during one of the pilgrim festivals עליות aliyot (going up) חגים chaggim (festivals) שלוש רגלים  regalim (three moments, feet) [פסח Pesach, שבועות Shavuot, סוכות Sukkot].
 
The city therefore, being the sum of its inhabitants (Jews, Israelites) is joined together, meaning all the tribes of Israel are joined together within her walls during the עליות aliyot festivals. She is thus made אחד echad (one) in God.
 
“Jerusalem – On the three festivals it was like a city into which all her children gathered from the surrounding area in a time of fear:”
 
- Ibn Ezra on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:3:1
 
Those Gentiles who are devoted friends to Israel because of their love of the God of Israel are also afforded the opportunity to be made one within the city of Jerusalem.[ref. verse 8]
 
Jerusalem is established as an everlasting city, the New Jerusalem will one day converge and transform the present city and the inhabitants of that everlasting city will include the united tribes of Israel and the Messiah essential people of other nations.[Rev. 21:2]
 
“But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”
 
-Galatians 4:26
 
“Jerusalem that is built in the firmament is like the city that is joined with it as one on earth.”
 
- Aramaic Targum to Tehillim (Psalms) 122:3
 
“is like a city that was joined together within itself Like Shiloh, for Scripture compared them to one another, as it is said (Deut. 12:9): “to the rest and to the inheritance.” The rest is Shiloh. The inheritance is Jerusalem (see Sifrei Re’eh 66). And our Rabbis said (Ta’an. 5a): There is a Jerusalem in heaven, and the Jerusalem on earth is destined to be like it.”
 
- Rashi on Psalms 122:3:2
 
שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם עָל֪וּ שְׁבָטִ֡ים שִׁבְטֵי־יָ֭הּ עֵד֣וּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָֽה׃
 
4 There the tribal branches (of Israel) go up, the tribes [branches] (of Israel) of the Lord; It is a witness, testimony of Israel (ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical, descendants of Jacob) giving thanks to the Name of YHVH (Mercy) the Lord.
 
The branches are the tribes of Israel, under David’s rule they approach together. They will approach together again. In fact, that approach began again in 1948 and will reach its fullness at the redemption of the entire remnant of the ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical Jewish people. [Rom. 11:25-26]
 
The branches (tribes) of Israel are seen here rooted and “joined together” in Jerusalem (a flood of peace). [ref. verse 3]
 
Note that the unity of the tribes of Israel in worship on Mount Zion is a testimony of God’s goodness, His Mercy יהוה YHVH and Judgement אלהים Elohim.

“Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.”
 
-Y’shayahu (Isaiah) 33:20

 כִּ֤י שָׁ֨מָּה׀ יָשְׁב֣וּ כִסְא֣וֹת לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֝סְא֗וֹת לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִֽיד׃
 
5 For there, reside thrones for judgement, the thrones of the house of David (Beloved) [Progenitor of the Messiah, King of Judah and all Israel].
 
Jerusalem was then (during David’s reign) and will be in the future, a place of judgement. The thrones of judgement are of the house of David, upon which the tribes of Israel will be judged. The throne of the greater Son of David the King Messiah Yeshua is also prophetically inferred here as being the ultimate throne of judgement over Israel and the nations. [ref. Matt. 19:28]
 
“For there were set thrones, etc. For also in Jerusalem the Shechinah will rest, and thrones will sit there upon which to judge the nations, and the royal thrones of the house of David.”
 
- Rashi on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:5:1
 
“The psalmist sings the praise of Jerusalem, which is not only the Holy City but also the capital: For there stood the thrones of judgment, as it was the seat of the supreme court of justice, which convened near the Temple and the king’s palace, and it was there that were situated the thrones of the house of David. David and his descendants who reigned after him acted as both rulers and judges in all civil matters.”
 
- Steinsaltz on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:5
 
We note that Yeshua tells His disciples (who were from a variety of tribes in Israel) that they would one day, at the establishment of His Kingdom, sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Yeshua gives this authority to them as the Greater Son of David and rightful heir to the throne of David.
 
“Yeshua said to them, “It is established, I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
 
-Mattisiyahu (Matthew) 19:28 [Luke 22:30]
 
 שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃
 
6 Pray, beg, enquire after, ask for peace, wholeness and wellbeing for Jerusalem (Flood/downpour of Peace, wholeness and wellbeing) [the everlasting capital of Israel]!: “May they prosper who love you (Jerusalem, and by implication, the Jewish people).
 
David admonishes his Jewish brothers and sisters and those devoted friends who accompany them in going up to worship the LORD, to plead with God for the peace, wholeness and wellbeing of the unified tribes of Israel the sum of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
 
David, by the Holy Spirit speaks a blessing of prosperity over all who pray for peace in Israel and her capital, peace for the Jewish people.
 
“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest,”
 
-Y’shayahu (Isaiah) 62:6

 יְהִֽי־שָׁל֥וֹם בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ שַׁ֝לְוָ֗ה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
 
7 May it come to pass that peace, wholeness and wellbeing be within your inner walls, prosperity within your towers.”
 
David further speaks a blessing over the unified tribes of Israel gathered in Jerusalem for the going up festivals.
 
This peace is to permeate every part of the city and every person. Every part is alluded to by the use of the Hebrew meaning “rampart” or “inner wall” and is juxtaposed against the high towers (palaces) so that both those from the lower class watchmen and the higher class rulers will experience the present peace of God together.
 
“A further prayer for Jerusalem: May peace be within your walls, ĥeilekh referring to a secondary, lower wall that surrounds parts of the main, fully fortified city wall. May there be tranquillity within your towers. Armonot, translated here as “towers,” usually refers to large palaces, but it can also connote fortresses.”
 
- Steinsaltz on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:7
 
“Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.”
 
-Tehillim (Psalms) 48:3
 
 לְ֭מַעַן אַחַ֣י וְרֵעָ֑י אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּ֖א שָׁל֣וֹם בָּֽךְ׃
 
8 For the sake of my Jewish brothers and sisters and my accompanying friends, I will now declare, “Peace, wholeness and wellbeing be within you.”

David, by the Holy Spirit declares the promised outcome of peace over the unified tribes of Israel gathered in Jerusalem their everlasting capital in God through Messiah.
 
“For the sake of my brothers and companions I now say: Peace be with you. My prayer for Jerusalem is on behalf of all those in the city, whether residents or visitors.”
 
- Steinsaltz on Tehillim (Psalms) 122:8
 
In addition to David’s brothers and sisters (fellow Jews), accompanying devoted friends of the nations are also welcomed to go up. These Gentile worshippers qualify in the atoning work of God and because in love for YHVH through Messiah, they also love the Jewish people with the devotion of brothers and sisters, made echad (one) in the King Messiah Yeshua HaMelekh!
 
 לְ֭מַעַן בֵּית־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה ט֣וֹב לָֽךְ׃
 
9 Because of the purpose and goal of the house of YHVH (Mercy) the Lord our Elohim (Judge) God, I will seek good for you (Jerusalem, Judah, Israel).
 
The House of YHVH and the place where it resides are signs pointing to Him. His purposes working out redemption for the repentant and everlasting life.
 
Therefore, the purpose and goal of God’s house (both physically as a shadow of the heavenly things [ref. Heb. 8:5] and spiritually, as the living stones, [ref. 1 Peter 2:4-7; Ephesians 2:19-22] the unified tribes of Israel and those God fearing Gentiles who are devoted friends of Israel) is right relationship in Him through the Messiah Yeshua unto eternal life and perpetual intimacy and unity in God.
 
Human beings are not created for worship, to the contrary, we are created in relationship and worship is an expression of our gratitude toward the Creator, Who being in Himself a family, Father , Son and Holy Spirit, has created us in His image to be family in perfect relationship.
 
He chose to reveal this truth through a specific chosen ethnic religious people, the descendants of Jacob, also called Israel, the Jewish people, who remain to this day in spite of every attempt to annihilate us. His redemptive plan made manifest through this unique people in the Person of Messiah and His continued purposes made full only in the continuance of the uniqueness of the chosen people as a set apart people, the remnant of which will receive Yeshua [Rom. 11:25-26] at His return and unite all Israel, ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical, with those among the nations who have humbly received Yeshua as the promised Messiah, King of the Jewish people and Saviour to all who call on God through His atoning work.
 
“For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”
 
-Tehillim (Psalms) 69:9
 
“Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;”
 
-Tehillim (Psalms) 51:18
 
Copyright 2025 Yaakov Ben Yehoshua