TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 133

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1A song of ascents. Of David. How good and how pleasant it is that brothers dwell together.

אשִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד הִנֵּה מַה־טּוֹב וּמַה־נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם־יָחַד׃

2It is like fine oil on the head running down onto the beard, the beard of Aharon, that comes down over the collar of his robe;

בכַּשֶּׁמֶן הַטּוֹב עַל־הָרֹאשׁ יֹרֵד עַל־הַזָּקָן זְקַן־אַהֲרֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד עַל־פִּי מִדּוֹתָיו׃

3like the dew of Chermon that falls upon the mountains of Tzion. There Hashe ordained blessing, everlasting life.

k'-tal kher-MON she-yo-RAYD al ha-r'-RAY tzi-YON KEE SHAM tzi-VAH a-do-NAI et ha-b'-ra-KHAH kha-YEEM ad ha-o-LAM

גכְּטַל־חֶרְמוֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד עַל־הַרְרֵי צִיּוֹן כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־הַבְּרָכָה חַיִּים עַד־הָעוֹלָם׃

 133:3   Like the dew of Chermon

Morning dew on an almond blossom. By Yehoshua Halevi.

Tal (טל), ‘dew,’ is a common biblical symbol of Hashem’s bountiful blessings. Rain is another sign of God’s love for mankind. What is the difference between rain and dew? According to Jewish mysticism, rain is a sign of God showering his abundant blessings freely from above. Dew, which forms below from condensation of atmospheric water vapor, is related to the divine blessings which are a result of man’s own efforts and achievements. This psalm teaches that Hashem’s blessing from above allows for the flowering of man’s work below.