Bloggin in class? hehehee

i'm blogging in my hebrew class right now where we're talking about Psalm 133. Taken from the NET Bible (www.bible.org)
133:1 Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together!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.133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Indeed that is where the Lord has decreed a blessing will be available – eternal life.
A Breakdown:
133:1The english translation does not really do justice to this really short psalm. In verse one, the verse in Hebrew depicts how good/excellent/joyous/beautiful/pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony. It refers to the extended family structure of ancient Israel where brothers would often live in proximity to one another (Deut 25:5), giving the famjily greater social prominence and also, security. In its later application however, it probably envisions unity within the covenant community.
133:2Aaron who is described in this verse was the high-priest of ancient Israel. During that time, high-priests were annointed into service - Aaron was. It was a mixture of 4 litres of olive oil with myrrh, frankincense and other fragrances, when mixed together, formed a very special perfume. This was poured out onto the head of the person (Aaron, in this case) and it would literally soak the person who was being annointed. He would then live the next few days without washing this off.
133:3The 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.
End! :)