Bible Commentaries
Psalms 133

Verse 1

« A Song of degrees of David. » Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is — This David is thought to have said to the people, when, after eight years’ unnatural war, they came together to Hebron, to anoint him king over all Israel, 2 Samuel 5:1-5 Behold, be affected with that happiness of yours which no tongue can utter. Accipe quod sentitur antequam discitur, as Cyprian saith in another case.

How good and how pleasant — Precious and profitable, sweet and delectable, λιπαρον και λαμτρον , dainty and goodly, as Revelation 18:14 . Communion of saints is the next happiness upon earth to communion with God.

For brethren — Whether by place, race; or grace, which last is the strongest tie; and should cause such a harmony of hearts as might resemble that concord and concent that shall be in heaven. The Thebans in their armies had a band of men they called the holy band; consisting of such only as were joined together in the bonds of love, as would live and die together; these they made great account of, and esteemed the strength of their armies, ιερος λοχος εξ εραστων και ερωμενων (Athenaeus, lib. 3).

To dwell together — Heb. even together, that is, even as God dwelleth with them, Psalms 132:13-14 , to be "kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love," Romans 12:10 , to be as those primitive Christians were, Acts 2:24-27 , of one heart and of one soul. The number of two hath by the heathens been accounted accursed, because it was the first that departed from unity.

Verse 2

[It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

It is like the precious ointment — This similitude setteth forth the pleasure and amenity of it; as the other (from the dew) the profit and commodity. Sic miscnit utile dulci. This ointment was most rich (as made up of the chiefest spices, Exodus 30:1-38 ), and very fragrant, refreshing the senses, not of Aaron oaly, but of all about him; so doth Christian unity and amity (that "fruit of the Spirit," Galatians 5:22 ) far beyond that common friendship so highly extolled by Cicero, and other heathens; and is therefore here fitly compared to that nonsuch odoriferous ointment.

Upon the head, that ran down upon the beard — So the Spirit of grace, that oil of gladness, Psalms 45:7 , poured out abundantly, even to a redundancy, upon Christ the Head, runneth down upon all the members of his body mystical, even to the meanest, so that they have grace for grace.

Verse 3

As the dew of Hermon, [and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, [even] life for evermore.

As the dew of Hermon — Moisteneth and maketh fertile the country of Bashan. Hermon is a very high hill ever covered with snow; whence ariseth a perpetual vapour, the original and fountain of dew, to all Jewry.

And as the dew that descended — The spiritual dew dispensed from God in Sion, where he is sincerely served.

For there the Lord commanded the blessing — A powerful expression, highly commending brotherly love as a complexive blessing and such as accompanieth salvation.