שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד הִנֵּה מַה טּוֹב וּמַה נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם יָחַד

A song of ascents, by David. Indeed, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity. How good it is when all of the people of Israel, and the people of Jerusalem in particular, are in the place where they belong, enjoying one another’s company.

כַּשֶּׁמֶן הַטּוֹב עַל הָרֹאשׁ יֹרֵד עַל הַזָּקָן זְקַן אַהֲרֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד עַל פִּי מִדּוֹתָיו

These people, sitting at ease and in good fellowship, behold the priests in their glory as they anoint their heads with fragrant oil; this is a description of both dignity and ease. It is like fine oil applied on the head, which subsequently drips and goes running down the beard, in this case the beard of Aaron as well as those of his descendants the priests, coming down onto his robes. The image of precious scented oil, glistening from the top of the head to the bottom of the beard, is a symbol of greatness and contentment. In the case of Aaron and his sons, their beards, and hence the scented oil, reached their priestly garments. This, too, is a depiction of abundance and tranquility.

כְּטַל חֶרְמוֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד עַל הַרְרֵי צִיּוֹן כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה ה' אֶת הַבְּרָכָה חַיִּים עַד הָעוֹלָם

like the dew of Hermon, a place of great moisture, descending upon the more arid mountains of Zion, for it is there that the Lord commanded the blessing of life, for eternity, that is, life in all its fullness.