Psalms 84:6

“Who passing through the valley of Baca, etc.] Kimchi interprets it a valley of springs, or fountains, taking the word to be of the same signification as in (<183816>Job 38:16), and mention being made of a well and pools in it, or of mulberry trees, which grow, as he says, in a place where there is no water, and such a place was this; and therefore pools or ditches were dug in it, and built of stone, to catch rain water for the supply of travellers; and so Aben Ezra says, it is the name of a place or valley where were trees, called mulberries; and is by some thought to be the same with the valley of Rephaim, where we read of mulberry trees, (<100522>2 Samuel 5:22,23), the Septuagint render it…”

“Who passing through the valley of Baca - This is one of the most difficult verses in the Book of Psalms, and has been, of course, very variously interpreted. The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, Luther, and Professor Alexander, render it a valley of tears. The word “Baca” (בכא bâkâ') means properly weeping, lamentation; and then it is given to a certain tree - not probably a mulberry tree, but some species of balsam - from its weeping; that is, because it seemed to distil tears, or drops of balsam resembling tears in size and appearance. It is translated mulberry trees in 2 Samuel 5:23-24; 1 Chronicles 14:14-15; and so in the margin here, “mulberry trees make him a well.” There is no…”

“Baca - A dry valley in the way to Jerusalem, here put for all places of like nature. Make a well - They dig divers little pits or wells in it for their relief. The rain - God recompenses their diligence with his blessing, sending rain wherewith they may be filled. Psalms 84:7”

“84:6 The Valley of Weeping probably refers to the anguish that lonely pilgrims endured (see 23:4), rather than to an actual location. • refreshing springs . . . autumn rains: Even when pilgrims feel totally exhausted, the prospect of drawing near to the Lord renews their spirits (cp. Isa 35:6-10; 41:18-20; 43:17-20; 49:10).”

“Who: Psa 66:10-12; Joh 16:33; Act 14:22; Rom 5:3-5, Rom 8:37; Co2 4:17; Rev 7:14 Baca: etc. or, mulberry-trees, make him a well, etc. Baca is probably a large shrub, which the Arabs still call baca, (see note on Sa2 5:23); and this valley, as Celsius observes, seems to be one "embarrassed with (such) bushes and thorns, which could not be passed without labour and tears" - bacah, as 7; MSS, LXX, Aquila, and Vulgate read. Sa2 5:22-24 the rain: Psa 68:9; Kg2 3:9-20 filleth: Heb. covereth Psalms 84:7”