Tehillim 133 | Harmony

This brief psalm joyfully describes a scene of pleasant unity. The opening verse praises the beauty of brothers dwelling together. The second verse describes the blessing of oil descending on the head — either oil for pleasure (Sforno) or the anointing oil used to consecrate Aharon the High Priest (Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and others). According to the latter, the continuation of the verse, “That flows down over the collar of his robes,” describes the oil running down the High Priest’s garments. The third verse shifts to the dew descending on the mountains of Zion — a blessing bestowed by God.

Commentators have suggested various ways to connect the three verses. For our purposes, it suffices that the psalm conveys a sense of blessing experienced on several levels: in the gathering of brothers (likely in the Temple and in Jerusalem), in the anointing oil and the figure of the High Priest, and in the broader blessing that characterizes Jerusalem. The presence of blessing across these dimensions gives the reader — even if the logical connection between the verses is unclear — a profound sense of harmony.

This aligns with Rashi’s interpretation of the first verse. He explains that the “brothers dwelling together” refers to the union of the people of Israel with God: “When the Holy One, blessed be He, resides in the Temple with Israel, who are called brothers and companions, He too is together with them.” Whether or not this is the verse’s literal meaning, Rashi’s commentary captures the atmosphere the psalm evokes: a spirit of blessing and harmony—within Israel and between them and God.