133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, 1
which flows down upon the hills of Zion. 2
Indeed 3 that is where the Lord has decreed
a blessing will be available – eternal life. 4
12:1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites defeated and drove from their land 9 on the east side of the Jordan, 10 from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern Arabah:
1 sn Hermon refers to Mount Hermon, located north of Israel.
2 sn The hills of Zion are those surrounding Zion (see Pss 87:1; 125:2). The 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.
3 tn Or “for.”
4 tn Heb “there the
5 sn Mount Hermon. This is the famous peak at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range known today as Jebel es-Sheik.
6 sn Sidonians were Phoenician inhabitants of the city of Sidon (now in Lebanon), about 47 mi (75 km) north of Mount Carmel.
7 sn Sirion. This name is attested in the Ugaritic texts as sryn. See UT 495.
8 sn Senir. Probably this was actually one of the peaks of Hermon and not the main mountain (Song of Songs 4:8; 1 Chr 5:23). It is mentioned in a royal inscription of Shalmaneser III of Assyria (saniru; see ANET 280).
9 tn Heb “and took possession of their land.”
10 tn Heb “beyond the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun.”