Mazmur 87:1

Psalm 87 ¹ 

Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.

87:1 The Lord’s city is in the holy hills. ² 

Mazmur 125:2

125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, ³ 

so the Lord surrounds his people,

now and forevermore.

Mazmur 133:3

133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, ⁴ 

which flows down upon the hills of Zion. ⁵ 

Indeed ⁶  that is where the Lord has decreed

a blessing will be available – eternal life. ⁷ 

[87:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 87. The psalmist celebrates the Lord’s presence in Zion and the special status of its citizens.

[87:1]  ² tn Heb “his foundation [is] in the hills of holiness.” The expression “his foundation” refers here by metonymy to the Lord’s dwelling place in Zion. The “hills” are the ones surrounding Zion (see Pss 125:2; 133:3).

[125:2]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[133:3]  ⁴ sn Hermon refers to Mount Hermon, located north of Israel.

[133:3]  ⁵ 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.

[133:3]  ⁶ tn Or “for.”

[133:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forever.”