Psalms 133:3

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion,.... Hermon was a very high hill beyond Jordan; the Sidonians called it Sirion, and the Amorites Shenir, Deuteronomy

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, (and as the dew) that descended upon the mountains of Zion.

It is no less grateful than the dew is which falls upon that great and goodly hill of Hermon, whereby it is both refreshed and made fruitful. And as the dew which falleth upon the mountains of Zion, i.e. either upon the several parts and ridges or tops of that mountain, whereof one was peculiarly called Zion, and another Moriah; or upon the mountains which are round about Jerusalem, , which is oft called Zion, as . And these may be opposed to Hermon, which was remote and beyond Jordan. But peradventure (which yet I propose with all submission) this dew is not to be taken literally, for the falling of the dew availed very little to the refreshment or improvement of the hills of Zion and Moriah, especially as now they were filled with buildings; but allegorically, for the favour or blessing of God, which is frequently called and compared to the dew, as . And thus it may seem to be explained in the following clause; and so the sense of the place is this, It is as desirable as the natural dew which falls upon Mount Hermon, nay, which is more, as that blessed and heavenly dew of God’ s ordinances and graces which he hath commanded to fall upon the mountains of Zion; i.e. either upon Mount Zion; the plural number being put for the singular, as it is , and oft elsewhere, as I have observed in several places; or upon the mountains of Zion and Moriah, and others which are round about Jerusalem, as was now said. And if it seem strange that the dew should be taken literally in the first clause, and mystically in the next, we have a like instance , Let the dead (spiritually) bury the dead (naturally). For: he now gives the reason either why this unity is so good a thing; or why the dew descending upon Zion, to which that is compared, is so desirable. And so upon this occasion he slides into the commendation of Zion’ s felicity, as the sacred writers frequently do upon other like occasions. There; either, 1. Where brethren live in peace and unity; or rather, 2. In Zion last mentioned. Commandeth the blessing; ordained, promised, conferred, and established his blessing, to wit, all manner of blessedness for his people that sincerely worship him in that place. Life, to wit, a happy and pleasant life; for to live in misery is accounted and oft called death, both in Scripture and in other authors.

Psalms 133:3 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.Ver. 3. 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.

(3) As the dew . . .—Better, keeping the same word as in Psalms 133:2. like the dew of Hermon, which descended on the Mount Zion. This statement of the dew of a mountain in the north descending on a mountain in the south, appears so strange and impossible that our version inserted the words, “and as the dew.” But the sentence is constructed in exactly the same form as Psalms 133:2, and the dew on Mount Zion must be as clearly the same dew as that on Mount Hermon, as the oil running down to the beard was the same as that poured on the head. Nor may we take “the mountains of Zion “in a general way for the mountains of the country lying round Hermon like spurs, as Van de Velde does in the passage from his Travels, quoted by Delitzsch. Mount Zion itself is intended (comp. Psalms 121:1; Psalms 125:2, for this plural) as the last clause,” there Jehovah commanded the blessing,” clearly shows. Delitzsch says on the passage, “This feature of the picture is taken from the natural reality, for an abundant dew, when warm days have preceded, might very well be diverted to Jerusalem by the operation of the cold current of air, sweeping down from the north over Hermon. We know, indeed, of our own experience how far a cold air coming from the Alps is perceptible and produces its effects.” But setting aside the amount of scientific observation required for such a perception of fact, would any one speak of the dew of Mont Blanc descending on the Jura? We must evidently take “the dew of Hermon” as a poetical synonym for “choice dew.” No doubt the height of Hermon, and the fact of its being so conspicuous, determined the expression. This choice dew, from its freshness, abundance, and its connection with life and growth, is a symbol, as the sacred oil also is, of the covenant blessing in its nature. The descent of the moisture offered itself, as the flowing down of the oil did, as an emblem of the operation of the blessing”. But the conclusion of the simile is only implied. No doubt the poet intended to write, “As the oil poured on Aaron’s head flowed down to his beard, and as the dew of Hermon flowed down on Mount Zion, so the covenant blessing descended on Jehovah’s people;” but at the mention of Mount Zion he breaks off the simile, to make the statement, “for there Jehovah,” &c. Hebrew poetry did not greatly favour the simile, and often confuses it with metaphor. (See Notes, Psalms 58:9; Son 8:12.)

Verse 3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion] This was not Mount Zion, ציון tsiyon, in Jerusalem, but Sion, שיאן which is a part of Hermon, see Deuteronomy 4:48: "Mount Sion, which is Hermon." On this mountain the dew is very copious. Mr. Maundrell says that "with this dew, even in dry weather, their tents were as wet as if it had rained the whole night." This seems to show the strength of the comparison. For there] Where this unity is. The Lord commanded the blessing] That is, an everlasting life. There he pours out his blessings, and gives a long and happy life. For other particulars, see the commentators passim, and the following analysis. ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THIRD PSALM In this Psalm the blessings of peace and unity are recommended and described, whether in the Church, family, or kingdom. I. It is, says the prophet, a good and pleasant thing, c., Psalms 133:1. II. He declares both by similitudes. 1. The pleasantness, by the ointment with which the high priest was anointed. 2. The goodness, by the dew which fell upon the mountains. 3. But in plainer terms, by the blessing of God upon the head of the peaceful. 1. The prophet begins with an encomium of peace, unity, and concord. 1. "Behold." Take notice of it in its effects. 2. "How good and pleasant," c. He admires, but cannot express it. 3. The encomium itself is expressed by two epithets: 1. It is good, and brings much profit. 2. It is pleasant, and brings much content with it. 4. The concord itself is thus expressed: Brethren, either in a Church, family, or kingdom, should be of one soul, and intent on the common good. II. The pleasantness is compared to "the precious ointment upon the head." 1. All benefit from this concord princes, nobles, and people. The head, beard, and skirts. 2. It sends forth a sweet and reviving savour. 3. It is as balsam poured into wounds. The profit he compares to the dews: "As the dew of Hermon," c., gently descending, and fructifying and enriching the ground. And this he sets down without any metaphor: "For there the Lord commanded the blessing," &c. which approbation he manifests by the abundance he pours where concord and unity are found. 1. He commands his blessing. Makes all creatures useful to them. 2. His blessing is prosperity, good success. To bless is to benefit. 3. This he calls life for with troubles, griefs, &c., a man's life is no life. A quiet life those shall have who live in peace, without dissensions respecting religion or in matters connected with the state.

3. Like dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon the mountains of Zion] There is no justification for inserting the words and as the dew, as in A.V. “The dews of Syrian nights are excessive; on many mornings it looks as if there had been heavy rain” (G. A. Smith, Hist. Geogr. p. 65); and the dew that falls on the slopes of the snow-clad Hermon is particularly copious. Dew is a symbol for what is refreshing, quickening, invigorating; and the Psalmist compares the influence of brotherly unity upon the nation to the effect of the dew upon vegetation. From such dwelling together individuals draw fresh energy; the life of the community, social and religious, is revived and quickened. It need not be supposed that the poet imagined that the dew which fell upon the mountains of Zion was in any way physically due to the influence of Mount Hermon (though it is possible that it was popularly supposed that there was some connexion); all he means is that the life-giving effect of harmonious unity upon the nation is as though the most abundant dews fell upon the dry mountain of Zion. for there &c.] In Jerusalem. Cp. Psalms 132:17. Jehovah has connected he blessing of a vigorous national life with the religious centre of His choice. life for evermore] Cp. Sir 37:25, “The days of Israel are innumerable.” But perhaps for evermore should be connected with commanded. For life cp. Psalms 36:9.

As the dew of Hermon ... - On the situation of Mount Hermon, see the notes at Psalms 89:12.

3. As the dew of Hermon—There can be no doubt that the copiousness and the refreshing effect of oriental dews are here referred to, but why Hermon and Zion are specially mentioned is not so clear.