The risk of not going to Jerusalem. Reading Psalm 127 in the context of Psalms 120-134

Abstract

The theme of the article is the rhetorical analysis of Psalm 127 in the context of the “Psalms of Ascents” (Psalms 120 to 134). The objective is to analyze the possible rhetorical relationship between the sense of the composition and the processional performance of the pilgrims to Jerusalem. Specifically, it is a question of the relation between the content of the psalm and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to which its reading would be supposedly destined. The methodology consists in the translation of the psalm, analysis of its relative position in the chiasmatic structure of the collection, critical dialogue with the authorities of the field of commentaries to the Psalms and the proposition of an alternative reading to the other interpretations found in the literature. It was concluded that Psalm 127 may have been composed as an alert or a threat as to the risk of postponing the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for reasons that could result in the contrariety of Yahweh, the one who, ultimately, is not opposed, is the one who guarantees the efficiency of those activities that would now be claimed as reasons to abstain from the pilgrimage.