Ecce quam bonum. The happiness of brotherly love and concord. A gradual canticle of David.
Fraternal concord is commended to al in the Church, as necessarie and delectable in it self, and blessed of God.
1Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity:Cantico de' gradi di Davidde. Oh quanto buona, e dolce cosa ell'è, che i fratelli siano insieme uniti!A gradual Canticle of Dauid. BEHOLD how good, and how pleasant a thing it is, for brethren to dwel in one:Canticum graduum David. Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum, / habitare fratres in unum ! 2Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, Which ran down to the skirt of his garment:Come quell'unguento sparso sulla testa, il quale cola fin sulla barba, sulla barba di Aronne, E cola fino all'estremità della sua veste:As oyntement on the head, which ranne downe vpon the beard, the beard of Aaron, which ranne downe vnto the hemme of his garment:Sicut unguentum in capite, / quod descendit in barbam, barbam Aaron, / quod descendit in oram vestimenti ejus; 3As the dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon mount Sion. For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore.come la rugiada dell'Hermon, che cade sul monte di Sion. Perchè quivi il Signore ha data benedizione, e vita fino in sempiterno.As the dew of Hermon, which runneth downe vpon mount Sion. Because there hath our Lord commanded blessing, and life euen for euer.sicut ros Hermon, / qui descendit in montem Sion. / Quoniam illic mandavit Dominus benedictionem, / et vitam usque in sæculum.
132:1
Houbigant
"Of David," as we read in Hebrew and the Alexandrian Septuagint, being composed by him, when all Israel acknowledged his dominion, (Berthier) after his third anointing. (Houbigant)
Calmet
Others explain it of the captives returned, and particularly of the sacred ministers resolving to perform their duties with unanimity. (Calmet)
Worthington
Esdras might propose the example "of David," for the imitation of others. (Worthington)
132:2
Precious. Is expressed in Hebrew. The name of Aaron would sufficiently denote that it was of this nature. (Berthier) See Exodus 30:23.
Haydock
Moses poured it on his head, with such profusion that it ran upon all his beard, and even be the skirt, or neck, as the Septuagint insinuate, though the Hebrew means "the mouth," or orifice, through which the head entered, (Calmet) as the robes resembled our sacred vestments. (Haydock)
Calmet
The union of priests is no less sweet. (Calmet)
Haydock
Of this we need no other proof than to behold the advantages of concord in every community, and especially in the Church of God. The unction of Aaron denoted grace and unity descending from the head of the Church, to the other priests, and to the meanest of the faithful; (Worthington) or that which Hebrew, "of Hermon descending on the mountains of Sion," Tsiyon. (Haydock)
Calmet
There is a hill written Ssiyon at the foot of Hermon, Exodus 4:48., and Ecclesiasticus 24:17. It is not probable that dew should flow 50 leagues across the Jordan. (Calmet)
Haydock
Unity is equally desirable, as moisture to a thirsty soil. (Haydock)
Muis
Sion may here denote any "dry" mountain. (Muis)
Haydock
There was also a Hermon in the tribe of Issachar, and the dews in that country resembled showers of rain. Such copiousness would be very refreshing, like fraternal concord. The enemies of Christianity observed how the disciples loved each other, being of one heart and soul, (Berthier) as their divine master had taught them to be thus distinguished. (Haydock)
Worthington
As the snow or dew which descends from Hermon, causes fruitfulness, so does concord promote piety. (Worthington)
Calmet
There, in concord, or in the temple. (Calmet)
Worthington
The holy Spirit came upon the disciples when they were together, Acts ii., and 4:32. (Worthington)
Life everlasting. Jonathan was not preserved from dying young, though he was so faithful to his friend, and the possession (Berthier) of temporal prosperity cannot satisfy the heart.
132:1
Dauid being a most peaceable man, euen tovvard his enimies, is added by Esdras in this title, as an example for others to imitate.
That concord is both good and pleasant, nedeth no other proofe, but only to consider, & to behold the fruict therof in euerie communitie, and especially in the Church of God.
132:2
The ointment, vvhervvith Aaron, and other High Priestes vvere consecrated, vvas precious, and most odori•erous, signifying grace bought by Christs blood, and producing vertues, vvhich make svvete sauoure:
vvas povvred vpon the High Priests head, vvho being head of the Church,
vnitie and concord descended from him to other Priestes,
and so to the people. euen to the lovvest, and meanest in Gods Church.
132:3
An other similitude to declare the excellencie of concord: As the devv of mount Hermon, vvhich is perpetually couered vvith snovv, that falleth from the heauen, thence descending refresheth & fructifieth the hil of Sion: so mutual concord, and fraternal charitie amongst the faithful, nourisheth each other, making them fructful in al good vvorkes.
VVhere there is vnitie God geueth abundance of grace, as vvhere the Apostles vvith other faithful vvere geathered, and continued in prayer, the Holie Ghost came vpon them al. And the multitude of beleuers [then increasing] had one hart and one soule. Act 2. &. 4. v. 32.
132:1
Tertullian † AD 220 The Five Books Against Marcion 2.19
… depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it:” be angry, and sin not; that is, not persevere in anger, or be enraged: “walk not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stand in the way of sinners; nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” Where then? “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity;”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 74.1
… Whence in another place also it is made manifest, that among the saints there is great and desirous love for assembling together. “Behold,” he says, “how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.87
In Ecclesiasticus, in Solomon: “He that cleaveth firewood shall be endangered by it if the iron shall fall off.” Also in Exodus: “In one house shall it be eaten: ye shall not cast forth the flesh abroad out of the house.” Also in the cxxxiid Psalm: “Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is that brethren should dwell in unity!”
St Jerome † AD 420 The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary 17
… But, to be brief, I will return to the last of the four classes of brethren, those, namely, who are brethren by affection, and these again fall into two divisions, those of the spiritual and those of the general relationship. I say spiritual because all of us Christians are called brethren, as in the verse,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Correction of the Donatists 9
… "They were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." Let us love what we sing: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 133.1
1. This is a short Psalm, but one well known and quoted. “Behold, how good and how pleasant is it, that brethren should dwell together in unity” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 134.3
3. “The Lord out of Zion bless thee, who made heaven and earth” ( ver. 3 ). He exhorts many to bless, and Himself blesseth one, because He maketh one out of many, since “it is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in one.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 16.3
… And if you also wish to keep this unbroken, you must be careful that having first got rid of your faults, you mortify your own desires, and with united zeal and purpose diligently fulfil that in which the prophet specially delights: “Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
Early Popes (Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals) The Epistles of Zephyrinus 2.1
… nor let any one remove his hand from the help of a brother, since “by this,” saith the Lord, “shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Whence, too, He speaks by the prophet, saying, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
132:2
St Hippolytus † AD 235 The Refutation of All Heresies 7.10
… So the Holy Spirit has continued without any share in the Sonship, and separated (from it), and has in itself, similarly with ointment, its own power, a savour of Sonship. And this is what has been declared: “As the ointment upon the head which descended to the beard of Aaron.”
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 12.2
… Why is it that you have begged for one to share your shepherd’s toil? For my speech shall begin with you, O dear and honoured head, worthy of that of Aaron, down which runs that spiritual and priestly ointment upon his beard and clothing.
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Mysteries 6
29. After this, you went up to the priest, consider what followed. Was it not that of which David speaks: “Like the ointment upon the head, which went down to the beard, even Aaron’s beard”?
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 133.6
6. Let the Psalm tell us what they are like. “As the ointment on the head, which descended to the beard, to Aaron’s beard, which descended to the fringe of his garment” (
John Cassian † AD 435 The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults 9.3
… as it is said, “It is like the ointment upon the head which ran down upon Aaron’s beard, which ran down to the skirts of his clothing.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 14.14
… And so the vessel of our bosom unless it has first been purified from all the foul stains of sin will not be worthy to receive that blessed ointment of which it is said by the prophet: “Like the ointment upon the head, which ran down upon the beard of Aaron, which ran down upon the edge of his garment,”
132:3
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 133.7
7. “As the dew of Hermon, which fell upon the hills of Sion” (
132:1
… It is like fragrant oil poured on the head and spreading over the beard... like the dew of Hermon... because there the Lord bestows blessing and life forever" (Ps. 132, 1-4). "Make yourself amiable in the assemblies of the poor; lend the poor your ear without annoyance and answer him in a friendly way" (Eccl. 4, 7-8). Affability is therefore a matter …
132:3
… The goliards have often been identified with the clerici vagantes of medieval tradition, late epigones - in a different environment - of the circumcelliones of whom St. Augustine speaks (Enarr. in Ps. 132, 3) and of the wandering monks (semper vagi et numquam stabiles et propriis voluntatibus et gulae inlecebris servientes) to whom the Benedictine Rule alludes (ch. 1) and on whom …
… In the Bible the H. is designated as the north-eastern boundary of the Palestinian conquest under Moses and Joshua (Deut. 3, 8; Jos. 11, 3, 7; 12, 5; 13, 11; I Par. 5, 23). In Hebrew poetry the H. is associated with Thabor (Ps. 88, 13), with Sion (Ps. 132, 3), with Amana and Sanir (Cant. 4, 8).
132:8
… At the third mile from Bethlehem, Ps. 132, 8; Is. 7, 10-15; Gal. 3, 29-4, 7 are recited; alleluia, Ps. 110, 1; Lk. 2, 1-7." Furthermore, a homily by Chrysippus, a priest of Jerusalem, delivered on a feast day of the Madonna to …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.