133:2 It is like fine oil poured on the head
which flows down the beard 1 –
Aaron’s beard,
and then flows down his garments. 2
133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, 3
which flows down upon the hills of Zion. 4
Indeed 5 that is where the Lord has decreed
a blessing will be available – eternal life. 6
1 tn Heb “[it is] like the good oil on the head, going down on the beard.”
2 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.
3 sn Hermon refers to Mount Hermon, located north of Israel.
4 sn The hills of Zion are those surrounding Zion (see Pss 87:1; 125:2). The psalmist does not intend to suggest that the dew from Mt. Hermon in the distant north actually flows down upon Zion. His point is that the same kind of heavy dew that replenishes Hermon may also be seen on Zion’s hills. See A. Cohen, Psalms (SoBB), 439. “Dew” here symbolizes divine blessing, as the next line suggests.
5 tn Or “for.”
6 tn Heb “there the