Psalm 133:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 133:1-3

Here see, I. What it is that is commended?brethren's dwelling together in unity, not only not quarrelling, and devouring one another, but delighting in each other with mutual endearments, and promoting each other's welfare with mutual services. Sometimes it is chosen, as the best expedient for preserving peace, that brethren should live asunder and at a distance from each other; that indeed may prevent enmity and strife (Gen. 13:9), but the goodness and pleasantness are for brethren to dwell... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 133:2

It is like the precious ointment upon the head ,.... The composition which Moses was ordered to make of the principal spices, and therefore called precious; and which was poured on the heads of kings and priests, when they were anointed with it, Exodus 30:23 ; that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard ; this was put upon the head of Aaron when he was anointed, and so on any other high priest, and trickled down to his beard; see Exodus 29:7 . The reasons Kimchi and Ben... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 133:2

Like the precious ointment - The composition of this holy anointing oil may be seen, Exodus 30:23 ; sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia lignea, and olive oil. The odour of this must have been very agreeable, and serves here as a metaphor to point out the exquisite excellence of brotherly love. Ran down upon the beard - The oil was poured upon the head of Aaron so profusely as to run down upon his garments. It is customary in the east to pour out the oil on the head so profusely as to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 133:1-3

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 133:1-3

Unity in the Church. Applying the words of the psalm to a Christian community gathered together for the worship and the work of our Lord, we may regard— I. THAT IN WHICH UNITY CONSISTS . This we find in: 1. The acceptance of the same truth in the same sense. It is not enough that all subscribe to the same Creed, or agree to use the same words in prayer or sacred song,—that is only a formal and outward unity; there must be a substantial, intelligent agreement. Not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 133:1-3

Unity. This most delightful little psalm summons our attention to the exceeding excellence of this grace of unity, and by so doing it invites us to consider what are its elements and conditions. Now, we all of us have a general idea of what unity is; we need not labor after an exact definition, and we are ready to subscribe our assent to the declaration of the psalm, and say of it, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is!" These two qualities do not always go together; there are many things... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 133:1-3

Unity. Herder says of this exquisite little song that "it has the fragrance of a lovely rose." Nowhere has the nature of true unity—that unity which binds men together, not by artificial restraints, but as brethren of one heart—been more faithfully described, nowhere so gracefully illustrated, as in this short ode. True concord, we are here taught, is a holy thing, a sacred oil, a rich perfume, which, flowing down from the head to the beard, from the beard to the garment, sanctifies the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 133:2

It is like the precious ointment upon the head . The anointing oil of the sanctuary was an ointment composed of many "precious" ingredients, as myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, and cassia, besides oil olive, which was its basis ( Exodus 30:23 , Exodus 30:24 ). Not only Aaron (Le 8:12), but all later high priests, were anointed with it ( Exodus 30:30 ). That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard . This would be the natural result of a copious "pouring" of the oil upon the top of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 133:2

Fragrance of the brotherhood. "True concord is a holy thing, a sacred oil, a rich perfume which, flowing down from the head to the beard, from the beard to the garment, sanctifies the whole body." We get a better idea of the figure if we think of scent, or perfume, rather than oil, which Western people dislike, save for special uses. There can be little room for doubting that the psalm is a rejoicing over the restored unity of the Jewish nation. "Ephraim no longer vexed Judah, or Judah... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 133:2

It is like the precious ointment upon the head - That is, which was poured upon the head of the high priest, when consecrated to the holy office. The Hebrew is, “the good ointment.” For a description of the ointment which was used in the consecration of the high priest, and the holy things of the sanctuary, see Exodus 30:22-30. Compare the notes at Isaiah 61:3, on the phrase “oil of joy.” Anointing with oil was common on festivals and joyous occasions (see the notes at Psalms 23:5), and hence,... read more

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