Commentary for Psalms 132:6

we heard it The tidings.

Behold – R’ Moshe (ben Jikatelia) said: we heard it at the hands of David who was from Ephratha. The correct understanding in my eyes is that in days gone by people would say that we heard from the mouth of the prophets that the chosen place is close to Bet Lechem Ephratha. Only, it was unknown whether the place was to the east of Bet Lechem, the west, north or south. It is known that until today there is only a distance of three parsangs between Jerusalem and Bet Lechem:

in Ephrath In the most esteemed and superior place, like (I Sam. 1:1): “the son of Toku, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite,” an important person, a palace dweller. Another explanation: We heard it in Ephrath In the Book of Joshua (ch. 15), who came from Ephraim. In all the boundaries he says, “And the border went up...and the border circled,” but here he says, “And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnon... Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is [therefore] found to be higher than all the lands, and it is fit for the Temple, as it is said (Deut. 17:8): “and you shall arise and ascend to the place, etc.” This teaches [us] that the Temple is higher than the whole land of Israel. So it is expounded upon in tractate Zevahim (54b).