Psalms 45:8

45:8 All your garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.

From the luxurious palaces comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy.

Psalms 133:2

133:2 It is like fine oil poured on the head

which flows down the beard

Aaron’s beard,

and then flows down his garments.


tn The words “perfumed with” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

tn Heb “the palaces of ivory.” The phrase “palaces of ivory” refers to palaces that had ivory panels and furniture decorated with ivory inlays. Such decoration with ivory was characteristic of a high level of luxury. See 1 Kgs 22:39 and Amos 3:15.

tn Heb “from the palaces of ivory stringed instrument[s] make you happy.”

tn Heb “[it is] like the good oil on the head, going down on the beard.”

tn Heb “which goes down in accordance with his measured things.” The Hebrew phrase מִדּוֹתָיו (middotayv, “his measured things”) refers here to the robes worn by Aaron. HALOT 546 s.v. *מַד derives the form from מַד (midah, “robe”) rather than מִדָּה (middah, “measured thing”). Ugaritic md means “robe” and is pluralized mdt.