Kaisipang Hudyo sa Mga Awit 133:1: Akeidat Yitzchak

Bereshit Rabbah 66, apparently aware of this difficulty, attempts to view the material possessions mentioned in these blessings as merely paraphrasing spiritual blessings; for instance, "dew of the heavens" is understood to refer to the manna the Jews would eat in the desert. All this is really not necessary, as the material blessings should be viewed merely as auxiliary to the main blessing, which was spiritual in nature. The Torah states, "He blessed him," meaning he bestowed a spiritual blessing. Only afterwards do we read "He smelled the odor of his clothing...and may the Lord give you from the dew of heaven etc." When material wealth is in the hands of persons amply endowed with spiritual qualities, such material wealth may enhance the spiritual qualities, enabling the owner to employ his wealth in the service of G-d. When the material wealth is given to persons lacking in virtues however, this wealth tends to corrupt the owner even further. The fact that Isaac blessed Jacob twice before touching on material aspects (compare verses 23, 27) may indicate that our language is inadequate to express the exact nature of these spiritual blessings. Material goods are promised only afterwards. Chapter 133 in Psalms, referring as it does to "dews of Mount Hermon descending on the mountains of Zion, outpourings of the Lord's blessing for eternal life," probably reflects the same approach we have suggested.