Degrees, Songs of

The Songs of Degrees (or Songs of Ascents, Hebrew shir ha-ma'alot) is the title given to Psalms 120–134, a collection of fifteen psalms distinguished by this superscription. Four are attributed to David, one to Solomon, and the remaining ten are anonymous. The Hebrew word ma'alot means steps or ascents, and three major interpretations have been proposed for the title: (1.) They were sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts (Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles) — a connection supported by the pilgrim themes of several psalms (e.g., 122, 125, 126, 132). (2.) They were chanted by the Levites on the fifteen steps leading from the Court of the Women to the Court of Israel in the temple, one psalm per step. (3.) The title refers to a literary device of graduated or step-like parallelism in the psalms' poetry.

The first and third interpretations are not mutually exclusive, and the pilgrim-song explanation has the most ancient support (Mishnah Middot 2:5). These psalms include some of the most beloved in the Psalter: Psalm 121 (I lift up my eyes to the hills), Psalm 127 (unless the LORD builds the house), Psalm 130 (out of the depths I cry to you), and Psalm 133 (how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity).