Psalm 133/Notes/Grammar.v. 3.945201
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
v. 3c – The final alternative represents the quite remarkable reading provided by both Qumran witnesses to the psalm. In place of the MT's "because there YHWH commanded the blessing, life everlasting," both 11Q5 and 11Q6 read "because there YHWH commanded the blessing forever, peace upon Israel." It is not certain whether the final three words (שלום על ישראל) are intended as a final blessing, detached from the previous sentence (i.e., "May peace be upon Israel"), or as an appositive, similar to our preferred reading of the MT. If comparable to Ps 125:5; 128:6, however, the former reading is most likely.