Psalms 133:2

It is like the goodly oil upon the head descending upon the beard, even Aaron's beard,

Which descendeth upon the collar of his garments.

Oil was a symbol of joy and festivity (Psalms 45:7), but it is not common oil that is mentioned here. The brotherly concord of the dwellers in Jerusalem is compared to the sacred oil with which the High-priest was anointed (Exodus 30:23 ff.). This sacred oil was pouredupon Aaron's head (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12; Leviticus 21:10) when he was consecrated to the office of high-priest, whereas the ordinary priests were only sprinkled with it (Exodus 29:21). It would flow down upon his beard and on to his shoulders and his breast, upon which he bore the names of the Twelve Tribes (Exodus 28:9-12; Exodus 28:17-21), symbolising thereby the consecration of the whole nation of which he was the representative. The stream of perfumed oil, carefully compounded with aromatic spices, would diffuse its fragrance all around, symbolising the holy influence which should emanate from the chief religious representative of Israel, and from the nation which he represented. The point of the simile then seems to be, that as the sacred oil flowed down over Aaron's shoulders, so the harmonious unity of those who dwell in Jerusalem will influence the whole nation for good. The same spirit will be diffused throughout the whole community. Cp. Psalms 122.

Aaronmight denote any high-priest; but the Psalmist by the use of the present participles seems rather to intend to recall the scene of the consecration of Aaron himself (Leviticus 8). It might have been thought that he was alluding to some recent ceremony; but according to Jewish tradition, the sacred oil was wanting in the time of the Second Temple, and the high-priest was consecrated by investiture with the pontifical robes only.

It is a question whether the clause which descendeth upon the collar of his garmentsrefers to the oil or to Aaron's beard. The Massoretic accentuation (unless it is to be regarded as rhythmical and not syntactical) makes it refer to Aaron's beard: the Ancient Versions take it to refer to the oil. In the former case the beard is thought of as connecting the head and the garments; but the latter interpretation is the more natural, and is supported by the fondness of the Psalms of Ascent for the repetition of words.

The collarnot the skirtsof the high-priest's garment is denoted by the Heb. word, which means literally -mouth" or -opening," i.e. the hole through which the head passed, or its bordering. Cp. Exodus 28:32; Exodus 39:23; Job 30:18.