5. Menāvǝrta Beta Dāwit

A prayer for the morning service of ‘Āstaseryo and the Seventh Sabbath and optionally on Səgd. The text focuses on Jerusalem. It starts by quoting Psalm 122:5b and 6a and develops by quoting Psalms 122:9 and Isaiah 58:7. They who pray wish to ascend to Jerusalem. The text recounts the benefits of such an ascent, followed by a description of the obligation to take care of the stranger and the needy. The prayer ends by quoting Psalm 84:4, describing the Children of Israel who sanctify God, the Children of Jacob who are considered princes, God who hears Jacob’s prayer, and the opening of the princes’ doors (with a paraphrase of Psalm 24:9).

The piece consists of four sections, alternating between the antiphonal and the hemiola patterns. The first and the third sections are antiphonal while the second and the fourth (except for a truncated verse) are in the hemiola pattern. In the third section, various Qessoch assume in turns the role of soloist. Starting in the third section and until the end of the prayer, the singing is measured and marked by the Qessoch’s stamping on the ground.