Jacob thus did not wish to stay and transgress the command of his Master.’ R. Abba further discoursed on the verse: For the Leader; of the sons of Korah, upon Alamoth. A song (Ps. 46, 1). ‘This verse,’ he said, ‘if properly considered, will be found to contain a deep mystical allusion. And, indeed, all the songs and hymns sung by the sons of Korah were ancient songs and hymns sung anew; and all the songs and hymns sung by David and his associates contain deep allusions of wisdom.
Now God has made the lower world after the pattern of the upper world, and all the arrangements laid down by David and Solomon and by all the true prophets were after the supernal pattern.
Observe that in the same manner as there are watches of the night on earth, so are there in heaven relays of angels who sing praises to their Master and intone hymns continually; they all stand ranged in rows, facing each other, and producing one harmony of song and praise. Thus the companions have interpreted
the phrase “upon Alamoth. A song”. The term “Alamoth”, according to them, has a meaning similar to its homonym in the verse: “There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and maidens (‘alamoth) without number” (S. S. 6, 8), whilst the phrase “without number” finds its echo in the passage: “Is there any number in his armies?” (Job 25, 3). Hence “maidens without number”
all standing in rows upon rows, facing each other, to sing hymns and praises to their Master. These are called “the maidens of song” because there are other maidens who do not chant hymns like these.
תָּא חֲזֵי כְּתִיב, (בראשית ל׳:כ״ב) וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת רָחֵל וְגו', פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (תהילים מ״ו:א׳) לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִבְנֵי קֹרַח עַל עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר. הַאי קְרָא, אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בֵּיהּ, דְּרָזָא דְּחָכְמְתָא אִיהוּ. וְכָל הַנֵּי שִׁירִין וְתוּשְׁבְּחָן, דְּהֲווּ אָמְרֵי בְּנֵי קֹרַח, כֻּלְּהוּ מֵחַדְתִּין אִינוּן שִׁירִין וְתוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּהֲווּ מִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְכֵן כָּל אִינוּן שִׁירִין וְתוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּאָמַר דָּוִד וְכָל אִינוּן דְּהֲווּ עִמֵּיהּ, כֻּלְּהוּ הֲווּ בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה, בְּרָזָא דְחָכְמְתָא.
Jacob thus did not wish to stay and transgress the command of his Master.’ R. Abba further discoursed on the verse: For the Leader; of the sons of Korah, upon Alamoth. A song (Ps. 46, 1). ‘This verse,’ he said, ‘if properly considered, will be found to contain a deep mystical allusion. And, indeed, all the songs and hymns sung by the sons of Korah were ancient songs and hymns sung anew; and all the songs and hymns sung by David and his associates contain deep allusions of wisdom.
תָּא חֲזֵי, עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַלְמָא תַּתָּאָה כְּגַוְונָא דְּעַלְמָא עִלָּאָה, וְכָל אִינוּן סִדְּרִין דְּסִדְּרוּ דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה בְּרֵיהּ, וְכָל אִינוּן נְבִיאֵי קְשׁוֹט כֻּלְּהוּ סִדְּרוּ כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא.
Now God has made the lower world after the pattern of the upper world, and all the arrangements laid down by David and Solomon and by all the true prophets were after the supernal pattern.
תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּגַוְונָא דְאִיכָּא מִשְׁמָרוֹת בְּאַרְעָא, הָכִי נָמֵי בִּרְקִיעָא. דִּמְזַמְּרֵי לְמָרַיְיהוּ, וְאָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא תָּדִיר. וְכֻלְּהוּ קָיְימִין אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵל אִלֵּין, וְכֹלָּא בְּסִדְּרָן דְּשִׁירִין וְתוּשְׁבְּחָן, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָיא.
Observe that in the same manner as there are watches of the night on earth, so are there in heaven relays of angels who sing praises to their Master and intone hymns continually; they all stand ranged in rows, facing each other, and producing one harmony of song and praise. Thus the companions have interpreted
עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר, מַאי עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר. אֶלָא כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (שיר השירים ו׳:ח׳) שִׁשִּׁים הֵמָּה מְלָכוֹת וּשְׁמוֹנִים פִּלַגְשִׁים וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר. מַאי וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר. כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (איוב כ״ה:ג׳) הֲיֵשׁ מִסְפָּר לִגְדוּדָיו. וּבְגִין דְּלֵית לוֹן חוּשְׁבְּנָא, כְּתִיב וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר.
the phrase “upon Alamoth. A song”. The term “Alamoth”, according to them, has a meaning similar to its homonym in the verse: “There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and maidens (‘alamoth) without number” (S. S. 6, 8), whilst the phrase “without number” finds its echo in the passage: “Is there any number in his armies?” (Job 25, 3). Hence “maidens without number”
וְכֻלְּהוּ שׁוּרִין שׁוּרִין, מְסַחֲרָן סְדָרִין, אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵיל אִלֵּין, לְזַמְּרָא וּלְשַׁבָּחָא לְמָרֵיהוֹן, וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר. וּבְגִין דְּאִית עֲלָמוֹת דְּלָא מְזַמְּרִין כְּאִלֵּין, אִלֵּין אִקְרוּן עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר.
all standing in rows upon rows, facing each other, to sing hymns and praises to their Master. These are called “the maidens of song” because there are other maidens who do not chant hymns like these.