A Song Of Ascents
Jerusalem is situated on a high hill. The Songs of Ascent (also “Pilgrim Songs” or “Songs For Pilgrims Ascending To Jerusalem”) are a collection of 15 Psalms traditionally sung by Hebrew pilgrims on the ascent to the city as they traveled to Jerusalem for the three main annual Jewish festivals. The Psalms may not have been originally composed for this purpose, but were later grouped together for use in traveling toward Jerusalem for the festivals. According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of the Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in