“Behold, you are fair, my love, behold, you are fair; your eyes are doves behind your braid; your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down from Mount Gilad. Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes that have come up from bathing, that are all paired, and there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:1–2). “Behold, you are fair, my love, behold, you are fair” – behold you are fair in mitzvot, behold you are fair in performing acts of kindness. Behold you are fair in positive mitzvot, behold you are fair in negative mitzvot. Behold you are fair in the mitzvot of the house: in ḥalla, teruma, and tithes; behold you are fair in the mitzvot of the field: gleanings, forgotten sheaves, the corner,1The mitzva to leave produce in a corner of the field for the poor. This and the other mitzvot of the field mentioned here are found in Leviticus 19:9 and 23:22. tithe of the poor, and ownerless property.2The requirement to declare ownerless the produce that grows in one’s field during the Sabbatical Year. Behold you are fair in diverse kinds, behold you are fair in a cloak with ritual fringes. Behold you are fair in planting, behold you are fair in orla,3It is forbidden to eat and derive benefit from fruit that grows during the first three years after a tree is planted. behold you are fair in the fruit of a fourth-year sapling. Behold you are fair in circumcision, behold you are fair in uncovering.4After the foreskin is severed, the membrane underneath is pulled back, exposing the corona. Behold you are fair in the Amida prayer, behold you are fair in the recitation of Shema. Behold you are fair in mezuza, behold you are fair in phylacteries. Behold you are fair in sukka, behold you are fair in the palm branch and the citron. Behold you are fair in repentance, behold you are fair in good deeds. Behold you are fair in this world, behold you are fair in the World to Come.
“Your eyes are doves” – your eyes are the Sanhedrin, who are the eyes of the congregation. That is what is written: “It shall be, if from the eyes of the congregation” (Numbers 15:24). There are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, and all of them come and go only after the eyes. So too, Israel is unable to do anything without their Sanhedrin. “Doves” – just as this dove is faultless, so too, Israel is pleasant as they walk when they ascend on the occasions of the pilgrimage festivals. Just as the dove is conspicuous, so too, Israel is conspicuous in haircut, circumcision, and ritual fringes. Just as the dove is modest, so too, Israel is modest. Just as a dove extends its neck for slaughter, so too, Israel: “For we are killed for You all day” (Psalms 44:23). Just as the dove atones for evils, so too, Israel atones for the nations, as all the seventy bulls that they sacrifice on the festival [of Sukkot] correspond to the seventy nations, so that the world will not be bereft of them. That is what is written: “In return for my love, they accuse me; but I am all prayer” (Psalms 109:4). Just as the dove, from the time it meets its mate, it does not exchange it for another, so too Israel, from the time they came to know the Holy One blessed be He, they did not exchange Him for another. Just as the dove enters its nest and knows its nest, its dovecote, its fledglings, its chicks, and its windows, so are the three rows of Torah scholars when they sit before them,5Three rows of scholars would sit before the members of the Sanhedrin when the Sanhedrin would deliberate. When new judges for the Sanhedrin were needed, they were chosen from these scholars (see Sanhedrin 37a). each and every one knows his place. Just as the dove, even though you take its fledglings from beneath it, it will never forsake its dovecote, so too Israel, even though the Temple was destroyed, the three annual pilgrimage festivals were not abrogated. Just as the dove produces a new brood each and every month, so too Israel renew for themselves Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds each month. Just as the dove travels far afield and returns to its dovecote, so too Israel; that is what is written: “They will stir like a bird from Egypt” (Hosea 11:11) – this is the generation of the wilderness; “and like a dove from the land of Assyria” (Hosea 11:11) – these are the Ten Tribes. These and those, “I will settle them in their houses, the utterance of the Lord” (Hosea 11:11). Rabbi says: There is a type of dove that they feed it, and its counterparts smell it and come to its dovecote. So too, when an elder sits and teaches, many proselytes convert at that time, such as Yitro, who heard and came, and Raḥav heard and came. So too Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya, many proselytes converted at that time. What is the reason? “When he sees his children” (Isaiah 29:23); what is written thereafter? “Those of misguided spirit will attain understanding” (Isaiah 29:24). Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] was sitting and expounding, and the audience was dozing. He sought to rouse them. He said: A certain woman in Egypt bore six hundred thousand in a single womb. There was one student there, Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei was his name. He said to [Rabbi]: ‘For whom was it so?’ [Rabbi] said to him: ‘This is Yokheved, who bore Moses, who is the equivalent of six hundred thousand of Israel. That is what is written: “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel” (Exodus 15:1). “The children of Israel did according to everything that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did” (Numbers 1:54).6The verse does not say that God commanded Israel, but rather that He commanded Moses and Israel did what He commanded. “There has not arisen another prophet in Israel like Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:10).’7The verse is formulated such that the last phrase quoted here can be translated as “Israel is like Moses.” “Your eyes are doves” – like doves; your characteristic is like that of a dove; just as this dove brought light to the world, so too, Israel brings light to the world, as it is stated: “Nations will walk by your light” (Isaiah 60:3). When did the dove bring light to the world? In the days of Noah. That is what is written: “The dove came to him in the evening, and there was an olive leaf plucked in its mouth…” (Genesis 8:11). What is plucked [taraf]? Dead, just as you say: “Joseph has been torn apart [tarof toraf]” (Genesis 37:33). Rabbi Berekhya said: Had it not killed it,8Had the dove not plucked the olive leaf. it would have become a great tree. From where did it bring it? Rabbi Levi said: It brought it from the branches of the Land of Israel. That is what people say: The Land of Israel was not stricken with the water of the Flood. That is what was stated by Ezekiel: “Son of man, say to it: You are a land that has not been cleansed, that has not been rained upon on the day of fury” (Ezekiel 22:24). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Even the upper millstones were dissolved in the water.9This strengthens the question: If the destruction was so great, where did the dove find an olive branch (Maharzu). Alternatively, this supports Rabbi Levi’s answer: Since the destruction was so great, it must be that the olive branch was found in a place that remained unaffected by the Flood (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Taryi said: The gates of The Garden of Eden were opened for it, and from there it brought it. Rabbi Aivu said to him: Had it brought it from the Garden of Eden, should it not have brought a quality item such as cinnamon or balsam? Rather, it was hinting to Noah as though saying to him: My master Noah, [it is preferable to have] something bitter like this from the hand of the Holy One blessed be He and not something sweet from you.
“Behind [mibaad] your braid” – Rabbi Levi said: Any bride whose eyes are ugly, her entire body requires examination. One whose eyes are beautiful, her entire body does not require examination. When a woman braids her hair behind her, it is an ornament for her. So was the Great Sanhedrin, which convened behind the Temple, and it was an ornament of the Temple. Rabbi Abbahu said: They appeared crowded, but it was spacious for them, as in the great colloquium in Tzippori. Rabbi Levi said: [The word mibaad] is Arabic. When he wants to say: Make room for me, he says: Maved li. “Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” – the mountain from whose midst I directed away streams [shegalashti], I rendered a memorial [galed] for the nations of the world. Which is that? It is the Red Sea.10This is a reference to the splitting of the sea. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The mountain from whose midst you streamed. When a woman’s hair grows too much, she thins it [galshin]. When the flame in a lamp burns too bright, one thins [the wick].11These statements are cited in order to demonstrate that the root gimmel-lamed-shin means to thin out or strip away. What is it that I took away [higlashti] from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered [ketzuvot] ewes” – defined [ketzuvin] matters, the plunder of Egypt and the plunder of the sea. “That have come up from bathing” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai: Before the song [of Deborah], it is written: “The children of Israel continued to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord” (Judges 3:12). After the song it is written: “The children of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord” (Judges 6:1). Was this the beginning of their action?12Earlier it says they continued to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, indicating that they had already been doing so previously. But after the song it does not say they continued, rather only that they did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, implying that this was the beginning of their evil behavior. It is because the song had already atoned for the past. On a similar note it says: “These are David’s last words” (II Samuel 23:1). The first ones, where are they? Rather, the song13The song of David (II Samuel chap. 22). atoned for the past. “That are all paired [matimot]” – as they are all in the middle [metuamim] between the Divine Spirit and the angel. That is what is written: “The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved [and went behind them]” (Exodus 14:19). “And there is none missing among them” – that not one of them was harmed.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your speech is lovely; your temple is like a pomegranate slice behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3). “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” – when they sang the song: “Then sang Moses [and the children of Israel]” (Exodus 15:1). “Your speech is lovely [naveh]” – that they point with their finger and say: “This is my God and I will glorify Him [ve’anvehu]” (Exodus 15:2). At that moment, Moses began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” – even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
“Your neck is like the tower of David, built magnificently. One thousand bucklers are hung upon it, all the shields of the mighty” (Song of Songs 4:4). “Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which David elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “Who split the Red Sea asunder, [His mercy endures forever. He led Israel through its midst]” (Psalms 136:13).14The fact that Israel was the recipient of this great miracle is a credit to them. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – what is letalpiyot? It is the book that was stated by many mouths [piyot]. Ten people said the book of Psalms: Adam the first man, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon. Regarding these five there is no dispute. Who are the other five? Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan: Rav said: Asaf, Heiman, Yedutun, the three sons of Koraḥ,15The three sons of Koraḥ are counted as one. and Ezra; Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Asaf, Heiman, and Yedutun are one,16Asaf is one of the sons of Koraḥ, and Yedutun is not the name of an author, as explained below. each of the three sons of Koraḥ, and Ezra. In the opinion of Rav, Asaf is not included among the sons of Koraḥ. In the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, Asaf here is Asaf there;17The Asaf mentioned as an author of certain psalms (see, e.g., Psalms 50:1) is the same Asaf who was a son of Koraḥ (see Exodus 6:24, which mentions a son of Koraḥ named Aviasaf). however, because he was a Torah personality he was privileged to recite song with his brothers18The other sons of Koraḥ and to recite song on his own. In the opinion of Rav, it is a different Asaf, as it is stated: “With Asaf, who prophesied by means of the king” (I Chronicles 25:2).19The Asaf mentioned in this verse was a contemporary of King David and not a son of Koraḥ. “Who prophesied” – Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan: Rav said: “To Yedutun” (Psalms 39:1) – who prophesied;20This psalm was written by the individual named Yedutun who is mentioned as having prophesied (See I Chronicles 25:1). “regarding Yedutun” (Psalms 77:1) – regarding the punishments [dinin] that befell him and Israel. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “To Yedutun” [means] that [the psalmist] prophesied regarding the decrees [datin] and the punishment that befell him and Israel.21Even the Yedutun mentioned in Psalms 39 is not the name of a person. Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Even though ten people said the book of Psalms, of all of them, it is not attributed to them, but exclusively to David king of Israel. They stated a parable: to what is this matter analogous? It is to a group of people who seek to recite a hymn to the king. The king said: You are all pleasant, you are all pious, you are all qualified to recite a hymn before me. However, so-and-so will recite it on behalf of all of you. Why? Because his voice is sweet. So too, when ten righteous people sought to recite the book of Psalms, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: You are all pleasant, pious, and qualified to recite a hymn before Me; however, David will recite it on behalf of all of you. Why? Because his voice is sweet. That is what is written: “The sweet singer of Israel” (II Samuel 23:1). Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Who sweetly sings the psalms of Israel? It is David son of Yishai. “One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – all those thousands and tens of thousands who stood at the sea and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations.22The Torah was given after one thousand generations (see Bereshit Rabba 28:4; Kohelet Rabba 7:28). The first nine hundred seventy-four generations that were supposed to exist were erased because they were not worthy, and there were twenty-six generations from Adam to Moses. “All the shields of the mighty” – to include one who stands and controls his inclination and overcomes his inclination, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time; his entire generation depends upon him. By means of whom was the Red Sea split for you? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses and Aaron. Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding Israel before Mount Sinai: the flock that stood at Mount Sinai did not stand with lightheartedness. “Behind your braid [tzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – they would contract [metzamtzemin] themselves with each and every divine statement.23They would huddle together in an expression of humility and unity. They would not stand with lightheartedness, but rather with fear, trembling, and agitation. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan cites it from here:24This statement should appear after Rabbi Yehoshua’s statement that Israel was absolved of its sins at Sinai, which implies that the nations of the world, who did not receive the Torah, were still held accountable for their sins (Maharzu). It is written: “And the nations will be destroyed [ḥarov yeḥeravu]” (Isaiah 60:12) – from Ḥorev they will be destroyed, they received their death sentence. “Your hair is like a flock of goats [that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad]” (Song of Songs 4:1) – Rabbi Yehoshua said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashtem], I rendered it a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is Mount Sinai. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, two hundred and forty-eight positive commandments and three hundred and sixty-five negative commandments. “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – all of them were cleansed of iniquity. Rabbi Aḥa and Rabbi Mesharshiya say in the name of Rabbi Idi: In all the additional offerings it is written: “And one goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 28:15), “and [one] goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 28:22). However, regarding Shavuot it is not written that there is a sin offering, to teach you that they did not have sin or iniquity attributed to them. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: On the day that the Lord descended onto Mount Sinai to give the Torah to Israel, six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with him, and in the hand of each and every one of them was a crown with which to crown an Israelite, [one] for each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand ministering angels descended with the Holy One blessed be He to Sinai; one would adorn [an Israelite] with a crown and one would gird a zoni on him. What is a zoni? Rabbi Huna the Great of Tzippori said: It is a belt [zonam], just as it says: “He loosens the bonds of kings and girds a belt on their waists” (Job 12:18). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was harmed. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the voice before the divine speech; just as it says: “The entire people responded with one voice” (Exodus 24:3). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the voice that is after the divine speech, as it is stated: “The Lord heard the sound of your words…the Lord said to me: I heard the sound of the words…they did well in everything that they spoke” (Deuteronomy 5:25). What is “they did well [heitivu] in everything that they spoke”? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Ada and bar Kappara: one said it was done well like the removal [hatava] of the ashes from the lamps of the candelabrum,25This is performed after the flames are extinguished, a reference to what they said after the commandments. and one said it was done well like the preparation [hatava] of the incense.”26This is performed before the incense is burned, a reference to what they said before the commandments. At that moment, Moses began lauding them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you. “Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which David elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “God, when You emerged before Your people” (Psalms 68:8). What is written thereafter? “The earth quaked…[this is Sinai; at the presence of God, the God of Israel]” (Psalms 68:9). Likewise, “The mountains flowed before the Lord; [this is Sinai before the Lord, God of Israel]” (Judges 5:5), as the verse did not need to say: “This is Sinai before the Lord, God of Israel.”27It mentions Israel in order to accord them honor. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot]. “One thousand bucklers” – all those thousands and tens of thousands who stood before Mount Sinai and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations.28Moses You relied not only upon him, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – to include anyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time. Their entire generations depend upon them. By means of whom was the Torah given? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses and Aaron.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the Midianite war. “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the flocks that went to the Midianite war went only due to the merit of Moses and Pinḥas.29They were successful in the war against Midian only due to the merit of Moses and Pinḥas (Etz Yosef). That is what is written: “Moses and Elazar the priest took the gold from…” (Numbers 31:54).30Some suggest that the text should read: That is what is written: “Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Pinḥas” (Numbers 31:6). This verse may be understood as equating Pinḥas with the rest of those who went out to war (Matnot Kehuna). “That streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Midianite war. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, twelve thousand volunteers and twelve thousand conscripts, as it is stated: “One thousand per tribe from the thousands of Israel were provided, [twelve thousand mobilized soldiers]” (Numbers 31:5). Rabbi Ḥananya bar Yitzḥak said: They went to the Midianite war with twelve thousand. “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Huna said: Not one of them gave precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries,31The arm phylacteries are supposed to be donned before the head phylacteries. as, had one of them given precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries, Moses would not have praised them and they would not have ascended from there unharmed. That is to say that they were extremely righteous. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as when they would enter in pairs to the woman, one of them would blacken her face and one of them would remove her jewelry.32The war against Midian was fought in the aftermath of the events in Shitim, where Moavite and Midianite women enticed Israelites to engage in sexual immorality and idolatry. As a result, twenty-four thousand Israelites died in a plague (see Numbers 25:1–9). When the Israelites defeated the Midianite army and entered the private dwellings where the women were located to take the spoils of war, they would enter two at a time and would cause the women to look less enticing, so as to ensure that they would not sin. [The women] would say to them: ‘Are we not creations of the Holy One blessed be He that you do this to us?’ The Israelites would say to them: ‘Is it not enough for you that our people received their punishment because of you?’ That is what is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them” (Numbers 25:4). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was suspected of committing a transgression. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – when they said to Moses: “Your servants took a census of the men of war under our command, and not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49), in lewdness and in sin.33None of our men were killed, and none acted inappropriately with the captive women. “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – as they said to him: “We brought the offering of the Lord” (Numbers 31:50). Moses said to them: ‘Your statements contradict each other. You said: “Not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49) – in lewdness and in sin. And you said: “We brought the offering of the Lord.” If you did not sin, what is the purpose of this offering?’ They said to him: Moses our master, we would enter to the woman in pairs, and one of us would blacken her face and one would remove her jewelry. Is it possible that the evil inclination was not moved at all? For that moving of the evil inclination we say to bring an offering. At that moment, Moses began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate, for anyone who is confronted by the opportunity to commit a transgression and is spared from it and does not perform it has performed a great mitzva. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you. “Like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which [David] elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “Siḥon king of the Emorites.… and Og king of the Bashan.… and gave their land as an inheritance” (Psalms 136:19–21).34These verses state that God gave the land of Siḥon to Israel as an inheritance. Included in this territory was the land of Midian. The fact that Israel merited to inherit the land of Midian speaks positively of them. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot]. “One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – all those tens of thousands and those thousands who went to the Midianite war and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations. Not only you alone relied upon it, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – everyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, is called mighty, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time. Their entire generation depends upon them. By means of whom was the Midianite war waged? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses, the head of the Sanhedrin, and Pinḥas.
Rabbi Huna interpreted the verse regarding the Jordan. “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the flocks that crossed the Jordan crossed only due to the merit of Jacob our patriarch. That is what is written: “You shall inform your children, saying: Israel crossed [this Jordan] on dry land” (Joshua 4:22). Rabbi Huna said: Israel the patriarch.35The fact that the verse mentions Israel instead of the more common term for the nation, “children of Israel,” is meant to hint to the fact that they crossed in the merit of Israel, i.e., Jacob. Rabbi Yudan [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: We find in three places, in the Torah, in the Prophets, and in the Writings, that Israel crossed the Jordan due only to the merit of Jacob our patriarch. In the Torah: “For with my staff I crossed this Jordan” (Genesis 32:11); in the Prophets: “You shall inform your children, saying: Israel crossed this Jordan on dry land” (Joshua 4:22) – Israel the patriarch; in the Writings: “What is it, sea, that makes you flee? The Jordan, [that you turn back?]” (Psalms 114:5). [It retreats] “from before the God of Jacob” (Psalms 114:7). “That streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered it a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Jordan. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – the plunder of Siḥon and Og.36The midrash understands the reference to ordered ewes as referring to the rows of soldiers who fought against Siḥon and Og (Etz Yosef). This occurred before the Israelites crossed the Jordan. “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Elazar said: The land of Canaan was conquered with sixty thousand.37Commentaries struggle to explain how this is derived from the phrase of the verse cited here. Some suggest that the text should read “like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2). Rabbi Elazar then states that if this is an allusion to the army that conquered Canaan, they must have been sixty thousand, because if there were more they would not have been “ordered” and organized (Yefei Kol). This is the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, as Rabbi Elazar said: Every war that involves more than sixty thousand is a war of pandemonium. Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Ḥizkiya: Wherever it states about ten, about twenty, about thirty, about forty, it is saying either more or less. There it is stated: “About forty thousand, the vanguard of the army” (Joshua 4:13), and here it is stated: “Forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty” (I Chronicles 5:18). Rabbi Aḥa said: They were complete thousands, and the rest perished on the way.38Forty-five thousand soldiers actually went out to battle, but forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty returned. The verse in Joshua refers to this number as forty thousand. Those fifteen thousand, where are they?39The total number that went out to battle was forty-five thousand, whereas Rabbi Elazar said they would go out with sixty thousand. [Rabbi Elazar] said to them: They were guards of the equipment, and the verse did not include them in the tally. “That are all paired [matimot]” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as they were in the middle [metuamim] between the vanguard and the rearguard. That is what is written: “And the vanguard goes […and the rearguard goes]” (Joshua 6:9). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was harmed. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – when they said to Joshua: “Everything that you commanded us we will perform…” (Joshua 1:16). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – as they said to him: “Anyone who will defy your word…will die” (Joshua 1:18). At that moment, Joshua began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with Torahs like this pomegranate. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you. “Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – how did David elevate [gidel] you in his book: “Who smote great kings” (Psalms 136:17)! “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot]. “One thousand bucklers” – all those thousands and tens of thousands who crossed the Jordan and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of the one who came after one thousand generations.40Moses You relied not only upon him, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – anyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time; their entire generation depends upon them. Due to whom did Israel cross the Jordan? It was due to “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Joshua and Elazar.
Another matter: “Behind your braid your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashtem], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Temple, as it is stated: “You are awesome, God, from Your Temple” (Psalms 68:36). From where does awe emerge? Is it not from the Temple? This is what it says: “You shall observe My Sabbaths and you shall revere My Sanctuary” (Leviticus 26:2) – as it is sanctified in its destruction just as it was sanctified while it was built. The matters can be inferred a fortiori: If to His Temple the Holy One blessed be He did not show favor, when He will come to exact punishment upon its destroyers all the more so. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, these are the vestments of the High Priesthood, as we learned there:41Yoma 71b The High Priest serves in eight vestments and the common [priest] in four: tunic, trousers, mitre, and sash. The High Priest adds beyond these the breastplate, ephod, robe, and the sacred frontplate. The tunic would atone for murderers, just as it states: “They dipped the tunic in blood” (Genesis 37:31); some say for those who don garments of diverse kinds, just as it states: “He made for him a fine tunic” (Genesis 37:3).42This verse refers to the tunic that Jacob made for Joseph. According to one opinion, it contained wool and linen (see Bereshit Rabba 84:8). At the very least, its stripes could be reminiscent of different types of materials. The midrash takes this as an allusion to the fact that the tunic of the High Priest atones for the transgression of diverse kinds. The trousers atone for forbidden sexual relations, just as it states: “Make them linen trousers to cover the flesh of their nakedness” (Exodus 28:42). The mitre atones for the haughty, just as you say: “You shall place the mitre on his head” (Exodus 29:6). For what did the sash atone? For those with criminal thoughts.43Apparently text should be added here such that this sentence reads: For thieves, and some say for criminal thoughts (see Vayikra Rabba 10:6). The reason for the one who says for the thieves, it is because it was hollow, corresponding to thieves who perform their actions clandestinely.44There was space inside the sash, like a secret hiding place. According to the one who says it was for criminal thoughts, Rabbi Levi said: It was thirty-two cubits long, and he would twist it to this side and that.45He would wrap it all the way around himself multiple times, representing the twisted thoughts of those with criminal and dishonest intent. The breastplate would atone for those who distort justice, just as it says: “You shall place in the breastplate of judgment” (Exodus 28:30). The ephod would atone for idol worshippers, just as it says: “No ephod and no terafim” (Hosea 3:4).46Terafim are household idols. The robe would atone for evil speech. Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Yonatan of Beit Guvrin: There are two items for which there was no atonement47No offering designated to atone for it. but the Torah designated atonement for them, and these are: Evil speech and one who murders unwittingly. There was no atonement for evil speech, but the Torah designated atonement for it: the bell of the robe, as it is stated: “It shall be upon Aaron to serve, and its sound shall be heard…” (Exodus 28:35). Let the sound come and atone for the sound of evil speech. There was no atonement for one who murders unwittingly, but the Torah designated atonement for it, this is the death of the High Priest, as it stated: “He shall dwell in it until the death of the High Priest” (Numbers 35:25). The frontplate would atone for the impudent, and there is one who says for the blasphemers. The one who says for the impudent, just as it says: “On Aaron’s forehead [metzaḥ]” (Exodus 28:38), and below it says: “Yet you had the impudence [metzaḥ] of a harlot…” (Jeremiah 3:3). According to the one who says for the blasphemers, “it shall be on his forehead always” (Exodus 28:38), and below it says: “the stone penetrated his forehead” (I Samuel 17:49).48The stone shot by David penetrated the forehead of Goliath, who had blasphemed God. It is written: “He fell on his face to the ground” (I Samuel 17:49). Why is it that “he fell on his face”?49The force of the stone to his forehead should have caused him to fall backward. Rather, initially you learn: “His height was six cubits and one span” (I Samuel 17:4) – so that this righteous one will not be inconvenienced to walk his entire height, therefore, it is written: “He fell on his face to the ground.”50Divine providence had Goliath fall forward so that David would not have to walk too far in order to cut off his head. Rabbi Huna said: It is because Dagon his god was engraved on his heart, to fulfill what is stated: “I will cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols” (Leviticus 26:30). Another matter: “He fell on his face to the ground” (I Samuel 17:49) – Rabbi said: So that the disgusting mouth that cursed and blasphemed would be hidden [in the ground], like that which is stated: “Hide them in the dust together” (Job 40:13). Alternatively, “he fell on his face to the ground” – so that this righteous one would not have a troubled mind.51He would be certain that Goliath no longer posed a danger even though he was not yet dead. Alternatively, “he fell on his face” – so that this righteous one would come and step on [the back of] his neck, to fulfill what is stated: “You will trample their high places” (Deuteronomy 33:29). “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – they atone for Israel. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – these are the two braided chains of gold that emerge from the midst of the breastplate and appeared from its midst like two tassels. “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was tattered. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the sacred crown.52This is a reference to the blue threads that passed over the head of the High Priest and fastened the frontlet to his forehead. “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the frontplate. Rabbi Yonatan was ascending to pray in Jerusalem. When he reached a certain Pelatinus,53This is a reference to Mount Gerizim, which the Cuthites and Samaritans considered sacred. a certain Cuthite encountered him. He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Where are you going?’ [Rabbi Yonatan]said to him: ‘To pray in Jerusalem.’ He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Would it not be preferable for you to ascend and pray on this blessed mountain and not pray in those ruins [in Jerusalem]?’ [Rabbi Yonatan] said to him: ‘Why is this mountain blessed?’ He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Because it was not flooded with the Flood waters.’ That is what people say: The Land of Israel was not flooded with the Flood waters. An answer slipped the mind of Rabbi Yonatan at that moment and he did not respond to him. His donkey driver said to him: ‘Rabbi, allow me, and I will respond to him.’ He said to him: ‘Respond to him.’ He said to that Cuthite: ‘This mountain, what do you consider it? If it is one of the high mountains, is it not written: “All the high mountains were covered” (Genesis 7:19)? If it is one of the low mountains, it is written: “Fifteen cubits upward the waters intensified, and the mountains were covered” (Genesis 7:20). The verse did not address the low mountains. If regarding the high mountains it is written: “All the mountains were covered,” all the more so regarding the low ones.’ At that moment the Cuthite fell silent and was unable to find a response. At that moment, Rabbi Yonatan dismounted and drove his donkey driver three mil, and he read in his regard three verses: “You will be the most blessed of all the peoples; there will be no male or female infertile among you or among your animals” (Deuteronomy 7:14), even among those of you who work with animals; and this: “Any weapon crafted against you will not succeed…” (Isaiah 54:17); and this: “your temple is like a pomegranate slice [rakatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty [reikan] among Israel is packed with answers like a pomegranate. “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” – and it goes without saying regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
Another matter: “Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? These are the priestly watches. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, the twenty-four priestly watches, the twenty-four Levite watches, and twelve divisions.54These were divisions of men who would come for a month at a time to perform whatever labors the king would assign them (Etz Yosef). “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – who protect Israel. “That are all paired” – as we learned there: At three times during the year all the priestly watches were equal (Sukka 55b). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: “The first, the head and the hind leg…” (Tamid 31a).55Each of the priests had a role, and there were always enough priests to perform each task. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: [The High Priest] stooped to pour the libation, and the deputy waved the cloths, and ben Arza struck the cymbals (Tamid 33b).56This was the sign for the Levites to begin their song in the Temple. “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:2) – this is the song, as we learned there: The song that the Levites would recite in the Temple. On the first day they would recite: “The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains” (Psalms 24:1).57The intention is that on Sunday the Levites would recite the entire chapter of Psalms beginning with this verse. The same is true for all of the citations cited here; one psalm was recited each day of the week. On the second day: “Great is the Lord and highly to be praised in the city of God…” (Psalms 48:2). On the third day: “God stands in the divine congregation” (Psalms 82:1). On the fourth day: “Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth” (Psalms 94:1). On the fifth day: “Sing for joy to God, our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob” (Psalms 81:2). On the sixth day: “The Lord reigns: He is robed in majesty” (Psalms 93:1). On Shabbat they would recite: “A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day” (Psalms 92:1) – for the future, for the day that will be entirely Shabbat and rest for everlasting life.
Another matter: “Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? These are the sacrificial offerings. What is it that you took from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, “the one lamb you shall offer in the morning, [and the second lamb you shall offer in the afternoon]” (Numbers 28:4). “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that continually atone for Israel. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: A ram is offered with eleven…with fifteen (Yoma 26b).58The mishna states that when a ram is brought as a burnt-offering, eleven priests participate in bringing the different parts of the offering to the altar. It then states that twenty-four priests would participate in the offering of a bull, of which fifteen would assist in carrying the limbs of the bull to the altar. The midrash is calling attention to the fact that there were clear guidelines delineating all of these aspects of the offerings, and that the guidelines were tailored to the particular offering under discussion. “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: The intestines, the fine flour, and the wine are carried by three each (Yoma 26b).
Another matter: “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away, I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Sanhedrin. What is it that you took from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, these exonerate and these convict.59The Sanhedrin is compared to “ordered ewes” because there were a specific number of judges and specific guidelines for arriving at a verdict when the judges were split in their decision. “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – who exonerate Israel. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: If they found in his favor they exonerate him. But if not they delay to the following day, and spend [the time in] pairs (Sanhedrin 40a).60In cases of capital punishment, the judges would spend the interval in the case in pairs, deliberating about whether there was any way to exonerate the accused. “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Levi said: They infer one matter from another matter. Rabbi Abba said: That the halakha is not unclear to them. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – Rabbi Yudan said: The decree of the court is like the decree of the king; with their mouths they command stoning, burning, beheading, and strangulation. Rabbi Ḥunya said: Blood,61Rabbi Ḥunya interprets the phrase “your lips are like a scarlet thread” as praising Israel for their observance of the laws of sacrificial offerings. as we learned: A red line encircled in the middle [of the altar] to separate between the blood of the upper part [of the altar] and the blood of the lower part (Midot 3:1). Rabbi Azarya [said] in the name of Rabbi Yuda: Just as the red line separates between the upper and the lower blood, so the Sanhedrin distinguishes between impurity and purity, between the prohibited and the permitted, between exemption and liability.
Another matter: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the strip of crimson wool.62The reference is to the strip of crimson wool that would be tied to the scapegoat on Yom Kippur (see Yoma 41b). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the scapegoat. Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, we do not have the strip of crimson wool and the scapegoat.63After the destruction of the Temple these were discontinued. How, then, does Israel achieve atonement? He said to them: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – the murmuring of your mouth is as beloved to Me as the scarlet thread of crimson wool. Rabbi Abbahu said about this: “We will pay bulls with our lips” (Hosea 14:3). What will we pay in lieu of bulls and in lieu of the scapegoat? It is our lips. “Your speech [midbarekh] is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – your wilderness [midbarekh] is fine, your utterances [midabrotayikh] are fine.64Just as God is pleased with the ritual of sending the scapegoat to the wilderness, He is pleased with words of prayer and repentance in the absence of the ritual of the scapegoat. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Even though [the Temple] is desolate, one is liable for [entering] its boundary now when it is destroyed, just as one is liable for [entering] its boundary when it is standing. Rabbi Levi said: The Holy One blessed be He said: In its destruction it produced for Me righteous people and when it was standing it produced for Me wicked people. In its destruction it produced for Me righteous people: Daniel and his associates, Mordekhai and his associates, Ezra and his associates. When it is standing it produced for Me wicked people such as Aḥaz and his associates, Menashe and his associates, Amon and his associates. Rabbi Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan regarding this [statement] of Rabbi Levi: “For the children of the desolate are more than the children of the married woman” (Isaiah 54:1). That is, it produced more righteous people for Me in its destruction than the righteous people it produced for Me when it was standing. “Your temple is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Aḥa: one said: The most empty in the three rows65The three rows of Sages who sat before the Sanhedrin is packed with Torah like this pomegranate, and it goes without saying: “Behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding [the Sages of] the Sanhedrin itself. And one said: The most empty in the Sanhedrin is packed with Torah like this pomegranate, and it goes without saying: “Behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding those who sit beneath the olive tree and beneath the vine and the fig tree and engage in matters of Torah.66These scholars were unburdened by the responsibilities of the Sanhedrin and could thus be even more focused in advancing in their Torah study (Etz Yosef). “Your neck is like the tower of David” – this is the Temple. Why does [the verse] liken it to a neck? It is because all the days that the Temple was constructed and in existence, Israel’s neck was extended67They held their heads up high proudly. among the nations of the world. Once the Temple was destroyed, it is as though Israel’s neck was bowed. That is what is written: “I will break the power of your might” (Leviticus 26:19) – this is the Temple. Another matter: Just as the neck is situated at the height of the person, so too, the Temple is situated at the height of the world. Just as the neck has the most jewelry suspended from it, so priesthood is from the Temple and the Levites are from the Temple.68The uniqueness of the priests and the Levites was apparent only when they were able to perform their functions in the Temple. Just as the neck, if it is removed the person has no life, so too, from when the Temple was destroyed there is no life for the enemies of Israel.69This is a euphemism for Israel, to avoid saying there is no life for Israel. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – with four sides.70There were entrances [piyot] from all four directions. Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Bon said: It was beauty [yofi], and it became a mound [tel]. The Holy One blessed be He said: It is I who rendered it a mound in this world, and it is I who is destined to render it beautiful in the World to Come. Another matter: “Magnificently [talpiyot]” – a mound [tel] toward which all mouths [piyot] pray; from here they said: Those standing outside the Land of Israel and praying should turn their faces toward the Land of Israel, as it is stated: “They will pray to you by way of their land” (I Kings 8:48). Those standing in the Land of Israel turn their faces toward Jerusalem and pray, as it is stated: “They shall pray to you by way of this city” (II Chronicles 6:34). Those standing and praying in Jerusalem turn their faces toward the Temple, as it is stated: “He shall pray toward this house” (I Kings 8:42). Those standing on the Temple Mount turn their faces toward the Holy of Holies, as it is stated: “They shall pray toward this place” (I Kings 8:35). Thus, those standing in the north, their faces are to the south; those standing in the south, their faces are to the north; those standing in the east, their faces are to the west; and those standing in the west, their faces are to the east. The result is that all of Israel are praying toward one place. From where is it derived that all of Israel pray toward one place? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “This is the Sanctuary to the front [lifnai]” (I Kings 6:17) – this is the Sanctuary toward which all the faces [hapanim] are directed. To this point, when it is standing;71It has been proven that one prays facing the Temple when it is standing. in its destruction, from where is it derived? Rabbi Avin said: “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – this is the Sanctuary, as all mouths [piyot] pray toward it. In Shema, one recites Builder of Jerusalem.72In the second blessing following Shema in the evening prayer: Who spreads a canopy of peace…and over Jerusalem. In the Amida prayer, one recites Builder of Jerusalem. In Grace after Meals, one recites Builder of Jerusalem. Thus, all mouths pray for it before the Holy One blessed be He. He is destined to rebuild it and to rest His Divine Presence in it. One verse says: “My eyes and My heart will be there always” (I Kings 9:3), and one verse says: “I will go and return to My place” (Hosea 5:15).73In this verse, God says that He will return to heaven rather than rest His presence on earth. How can these two verses coexist? Rather, His face is on High and His heart is below, as it is taught: A person should direct his heart toward the Holy of the Holies. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta: Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great said: Toward the supernal Holy of Holies; and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: Toward the earthly Holy of Holies. Rabbi Pinḥas said: I will uphold both of your statements: Toward the supernal Holy of Holies, which is aligned with the earthly Holy of Holies. That is what is written; “The place [makhon] You fashioned for Your dwelling, Lord” (Exodus 15:17) – it is aligned [mekhuvan] with your dwelling place, this is the supernal Temple. Mount Moriah – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because bitterness [mara] emerged to the world from there;74It is called Mount Moriah because bitterness was destined to emerge from there due to the destruction of the Temple. and the other said: Because awe emerged to the world from there. Ark [aron] – Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because light [ora] emerged from there to the world; and one said: Because a curse [arira] emerged from it to the nations of the world.75The ark holds the Torah, and the nations of the world are at a disadvantage because they refused to accept the Torah. Sanctum [devir] – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because a plague [dever] emerged from there to the nations of the world.76This is because they demeaned the Torah and destroyed the Temple. One said: Because the precepts [diberot] emerged from there to the world. “One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy One blessed be He said: I shortened one thousand generations and I brought them that protection that their hearts desired.77The Torah was meant to be given after one thousand generations, but it was given after twenty-six generations. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Abraham said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, You have been a shield for me, but will You not be a shield for My children?78This question was in light of God’s statement to Abraham: “I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1), in which He did not mention Abraham’s descendants. . The Holy One blessed be He said to him: I have been one shield for you, as it is stated: “I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1), but for your children I will be many shields. That is what is written: “One thousand bucklers are hung upon it, all the shields of the mighty” – this is the priesthood and the monarchy.
“Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies” (Song of Songs 4:5). “Your two breasts” – these are Moses and Aaron. Just as the breasts are the splendor and the glory of a woman, so too, Moses and Aaron are the splendor and the glory of Israel. Just as the breasts are the beauty of the woman, so too, Moses and Aaron are the beauty of Israel. Just as the breasts are the honor and praise of a woman, so too, Moses and Aaron are the honor and the praise of Israel. Just as the breasts are filled with milk, so too, Moses and Aaron fill Israel with Torah. Just as the breasts, everything that the woman eats, the baby eats and suckles from them, so too, all the Torah that Moses our master studied, he taught to Aaron; that is what is written: “Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 4:28). The Rabbis say: He revealed to him the ineffable name. Just as the breasts, one of them is not larger than the other, so it was with Moses and Aaron. That is what is written: “That Moses and Aaron” (Exodus 6:27), and it is written: “That Aaron and Moses” (Exodus 6:26). Moses was not greater than Aaron, and Aaron was not greater than Moses in Torah. Rabbi Abba said: [This is analogous] to a king who had two fine pearls, and he placed them on the pans of a balance scale; this one was not greater than that one and that one was not greater than this one. So too, Moses and Aaron were equal. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Blessed is the Omnipresent who selected these two brothers, who were created only for the Torah and for the glory of Israel. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: There were two families of priests in Alexandria; the body temperature of one was cold and [that] of the other one’s was hot. There was an incident where doctors sent for some of them and they prepared a suspension from them with which they would heal.79They took tissue from bodies in each family, and the combination was just right and could be used as a healing ointment. So too, Moses and Aaron complemented each other in leading Israel. Rava in the name of Rabbi Shimon: Flesh and blood does not prepare a dressing until he sees the wound; however, He who spoke and the world came into being is not so, but rather He prepares the dressing and then strikes. That is what is written: “Behold I am bringing it a remedy and a cure, and I will heal them…” (Jeremiah 33:6),80He prepared the cure for Jerusalem before He struck it. and it is written: “When I will heal Israel” (Hosea 7:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: I came to heal the iniquities of Israel, “and the iniquity of Ephraim and the evils of Samaria will be revealed” (Hosea 7:1).81Only after preparing the cure will they be taken to task for their wickedness. However, the nations of the world, He strikes them and only then heals them, as it is stated: “The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing” (Isaiah 19:22). Striking by means of Aaron and healing by means of Moses. Blessed are these two brothers who were created only for the glory of Israel. That is what the prophet Samuel said: “The Lord who produced Moses and Aaron” (I Samuel 12:6). That is “your two breasts” – these are Moses and Aaron.
“Twins of a gazelle” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Just as these twins, when one of them withdraws from the breast, the breast is blocked, so it is written: “I will eliminate the three shepherds in a single month” (Zechariah 11:8).82This is a reference to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. But is it not so that they died only within the same year?83They died in one year, but not in the same month. Rather, in a single month, the decree was issued regarding the three of them. That is what is written: “The great ones of the people were gathered” (Psalms 47:10). Rabbi Yosei says: Three great providers arose for Israel, and these are: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Through their merit, three great gifts were given to them: The well, the manna, and the clouds of glory. The manna, through the merit of Moses; the well through the merit of Miriam; and through the merit of Aaron, the clouds of glory. Miriam died and the well ceased, and they said: “Not a place of seed, fig [and pomegranate, and there is no water to drink]” (Numbers 20:5). But it was restored due to the merit of Moses and Aaron. Aaron died, and the clouds of glory disappeared. That is what is written: “The entire congregation saw [vayiru] that Aaron had perished” (Numbers 20:29). Do not read it as “they saw [vayiru],” but rather as “they feared” [vayire’u].”84They were afraid because the protection of the clouds of glory had disappeared. They were restored through the merit of Moses. Moses died and all three of them disappeared and they were not restored. The hornet did not cross the Jordan with them85God promised to send hornets to assist in expelling the Canaanite nations (see Exodus 23:28). However, in the absence of Moses they did not cross the Jordan and assisted with Israel’s battles only east of the Jordan. and Israel did not experience peace of mind from that time forward. “That graze [haro’im] among the lilies” – Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Miriam and Yokheved were the midwives of Israel, and they would provide for [ro’ot] Israel as their hearts were as soft as lilies. Where was the pasture of Israel? It was in Egypt until the Red Sea.86It was there that Miriam and Yokheved tended to the needs of the birthing mothers and their offspring.
“Until the day is great and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense” (Song of Songs 4:6). “Until the day is great” – Rabbi Abbahu and Rabbi Levi: one said: When Abraham our patriarch circumcised himself, his sons, and the members of his household, he made a hill of their foreskins, and the sun shone upon it and they became infested with worms. Their scent ascended before the Holy One blessed be He like the fragrance of the incense of spices and like the fragrance of the handful of frankincense that is burned upon the fires.87It was as pleasing to God as the scent of the incense and the frankincense burned together with a portion of the meal offering in the Temple. The Holy One blessed be He said: When this one’s descendants will commit sins and evil deeds, I will remember this scent and I will be filled with mercy toward them and I will transform the attribute of justice into the attribute of mercy. What is the reason? “I will go to the mountain of myrrh [and to the hill of frankincense].” Rabbi Levi said: When Joshua circumcised the children of Israel, he made a hill of their foreskins, and the sun shone upon it and they became infested with worms. Their scent ascended before the Holy One blessed be He like the fragrance of the incense of the spices and like the fragrance of the handful of frankincense that is burned upon the fires. At that moment the Holy One blessed be He said: When the descendants of these will commit sins and evil deeds, I will remember this scent and I will be filled with mercy over them and I will transform the attribute of justice into the attribute of mercy. What is the reason? “I will go to the mountain of myrrh [and to the hill of frankincense].” It is written: “On that very day, Abraham was circumcised” (Genesis 17:26). Rabbi Berekhya said: Had Abraham circumcised himself at night, his generation would have said: Had we seen him we would not have allowed him. Instead, “on that very day Abraham was circumcised” – anyone who is bothered by it, let him speak. Rabbi Abbahu bar Kahana and Rabbi Levi:88These Sages address the question of why the verse states that Abraham “was circumcised” rather than stating that he circumcised himself. Rabbi Abbahu said: He felt it and he suffered,89The verse states that Abraham “was circumcised” in order to indicate that he suffered like anyone else who undergoes circumcision. so that the Holy One blessed be He would multiply his reward. It is written: “One born in your house or purchased with your money shall be circumcised [himol yimol]” (Genesis 17:13). The Holy One blessed be He said: Shall one impure come and tend to one who is pure; is that possible?90Shall an uncircumcised person circumcise one who is in the process of purification? Rather, one who is circumcised [hamul] shall circumcise [yimol]. I am pure and Abraham is pure; it is appropriate for the pure to tend to the pure. Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Shimon: The Holy One blessed be He joined His right hand to Abraham’s and circumcised him, as it is stated: “You established the covenant with him” (Nehemiah 9:8).
“Another matter: “I will go to the mountain of myrrh” – this is Abraham, who is the first of all the righteous.91Just as myrrh is the first of the spices in the anointing oil (see Exodus 30:23). “And to the hill of frankincense” – this is Isaac, who was sacrificed like a handful of frankincense on the altar.
“All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you” (Song of Songs 4:7). “All of you is fair, my love” – this is Jacob our patriarch, whose bed was unflawed and no waste was found among it.92Unlike his father and grandfather, all his offspring were righteous. What is, “all of you is fair, my love”? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: When Israel stood before Mount Sinai and said: “Everything that God spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7), at that moment there were in their midst neither zav, nor leper, nor lame, nor blind, nor mute, nor deaf, nor imbecile, nor depressed, nor fool, nor doubter. Regarding that moment it is stated: “All of you is fair, my love.” When they sinned, there were not easy times, and there were in their midst zav, leper, lame, blind, mute, deaf, imbecile, and fool. At that moment it is stated: “They shall banish from the camp every leper and every zav” (Numbers 5:2). Rabbi Ḥelbo said: It is written: “The one who presented his offering on the first day was [Naḥshon son of Aminadav of the tribe of Judah. And his offering was…]” (Numbers 7:12–13). “On the second day, presented Netanel [son of Tzuar].… his offering was…” (Numbers 7:18–19). Why did the Torah depict Judah as secondary?93In relating Naḥshon’s offering the Torah uses a vav, meaning “and,” in the term vekorbano, “and his offering was,” indicating that there had been someone before him, although there had not been. Regarding Netanel the Torah does not use a vav even though there had been someone before him. It is so Judah would not become arrogant and say: I presented first, I am the greatest of them all. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He treated them as though they all presented on the first day and on the last day. Rabbi Elazar said: It is written: “This was the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed” (Numbers 7:84). But did each of them not offer one bowl, one ladle? Why does the verse state: “twelve silver bowls, twelve silver basins, twelve golden ladles” (Numbers 7:84)? It was so that Judah would not say: I presented first, I am the greatest of them all. Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He treated them as though they all presented on the first day and on the last day. Rabbi Berekhya said: It is written: “All these are the tribes of Israel, twelve, [and this is that which their father spoke to them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them]” (Genesis 49:28). After he blessed them did he bless them again? Rather, it teaches that Jacob our patriarch sat and likened them to beasts. He likened Judah to a lion, as it is stated: “Judah is a lion cub” (Genesis 49:9). Dan to a snake, as it is stated: “Dan will be a serpent on the road” (Genesis 49:17). Naphtali to a hind, as it is stated: “Naphtali is a hind let loose” (Genesis 49:21). Benjamin to a wolf, as it is stated: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf” (Genesis 49:27). Then he called them all wolves, all of them snakes, all of them fiery serpents, all of them scorpions. Know that it is so, as Dan, whom he called a snake, he94Moses then called a lion, as it is stated: “Dan is a lion cub” (Deuteronomy 33:22). Rabbi Idi said: We have found in the offerings of the princes that what this one offered that one offered. This one sacrificed a burnt offering, and that one sacrificed a burnt-offering; this one a meal offering and that one a meal offering; this one a sin offering and that one a sin offering; this one a peace offering and that one a peace offering. Why? It is because all of them are faultless and equal to one another. What led the verse to delineate their genealogy in the book [of Exodus], Reuben, Simeon, and Levi?95The verses delineate the genealogies of only these three tribes (see Exodus 6:14–25). Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Levi: one said: It is because their father reprimanded them,96When Jacob gave blessings to his sons before his death, he reprimanded Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (see Genesis 49:3–7). In order to emphasize that these tribes were not inferior, the verses list their genealogies as they introduce Moses and Aaron. and one said: It was because it delineated the genealogy of Moses and Aaron.97Because the Torah sought to address the genealogy of Aaron and Moses from the tribe of Levi, it began with Reuben, the first of the tribes, and continued through Levi. We do not know who said this and who said that. However, from the fact that Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Huna: “An ear that heeds life’s reprimand will rest among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31), it is Rabbi Huna98This is possibly an alternate pronunciation of the name of Rabbi Ḥanina. Alternatively, the text should either state Rabbi Ḥanina here or Rabbi Huna above. who said because their father reprimanded them. Because they accepted their father’s reprimand they were privileged to have their genealogy delineated alongside Moses and Aaron. That is why it is stated: “All of you is fair.” Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda said: It is because all the tribes did not preserve their genealogies in Egypt, but Reuben, Simeon, and Levi preserved their genealogy.99They married only with families that could prove they were of pure lineage. Rabbi Neḥemya said: It is because all the tribes engaged in idol worship in Egypt, but the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi did not engage in idol worship. The Rabbis say: It is because the other tribes did not exercise authority in Egypt, but these tribes exercised authority. How so? When Reuben died,100Joseph had been the authority figure among the brothers and their descendants in Egypt, but he died before his brothers. At that point, Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, became the authority figure. authority was transferred to Simeon. When Simeon died, authority was transferred to Levi. When Levi died, authority was going to be transferred to Judah. A Divine voice emerged and said: Leave it until its time arrives. When did its time arrive? After the death of Joshua. That is what is written: “It was after the death of Joshua.… the Lord said: Judah shall ascend” (Judges 1:1–2). He was called three names: Judah, Otniel, and Yabetz. Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Levi [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina: This101Yabetz is Boaz. Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: This102Yabetz is Otniel. It is written: “Son of man, the House of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all…” (Ezekiel 22:18). Zechariah said: I saw them, and they were pure gold: “I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety, with a bowl [gulah] atop it.… and there are two olive trees over it” (Zechariah 4:2–3). There were two amora’im; one said exile [gola], and one said their Redeemer [go’alah]. The one who said gola: As they were exiled to Babylon, and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. The one who said go’alah: It is their redemption, as it is written: “Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name…” (Isaiah 47:4). The Holy One blessed be He said: Since that is the case:103Since in the future they will all be comparable to pure gold, as envisioned by Zechariah. “All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you.”
“Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon; look from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Ḥermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards” (Song of Songs 4:8). “With me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon” – the Holy One blessed be He said: Come with Me from Lebanon.104The term Lebanon [Levanon] is expounded to mean bricks [levenim]. We learned there: One gives a virgin twelve months from when the husband asked to marry her in order to provide for herself (Ketubot 57a).105She is to provide herself with all her needs for the wedding and marriage. But I did not do so; rather, while you were still engaged in mortar and bricks, I hastened and redeemed you. The repugnant opinion of Aḥashverosh said: “Six months with myrrh oil [shemen hamor], [and six months with perfumes, and with women’s cosmetics]” (Esther 2:12). Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: [Shemen hamor] is oil of the boxwood. Rabbi Yannai said: It is the oil of unripe olives, which removes the hair and softens the flesh of the body. But I did not do so. Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: Rabbi Levi ben Sisi expounded in Neharde’a: “They saw the God of Israel, and under His feet [was like the craftsmanship [kemaaseh] of sapphire brickwork]” (Exodus 24:10). That was before they were redeemed; however, after they were redeemed, where was it? It was placed in the location where it is appropriate to place a brick.106After the redemption from Egypt, the heavenly brick, representing the bricks of enslavement, was stored away. Rabbi Berekhya said: It is not written here, “the craftsmanship [maaseh],” but rather, “like the craftsmanship [kemaaseh]” – it and all its accessories were placed there; it, its basket, and its trowel were placed. Bar Kappara said: Until Israel departed from Egypt, its impression was in the sky. Once Israel departed from Egypt, it was no longer visible in the cloud. What is the reason? “And like the very heavens in purity” – as it is when it is clear of clouds.107See Targum Yerushalmi (Exodus 24:10). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: When you were exiled to Babylon, I was with you, as it is stated: “For your sake I was sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14). When you return to the chosen House108The Temple in the near future, I am with you. That is what is written: “With me from Lebanon,109The Temple is referred to as Lebanon because the first Temple was built with the cedars of Lebanon. my bride.” Rabbi Levi said: The verse should have rather said: “With me to Lebanon, my bride,” but you say, “from Lebanon”? Rather, initially, He bounds from the Temple, and then He exacts retribution from the nations of the world. Rabbi Berekhya said: At three junctures the Holy One blessed be He exacts retribution from Esau and his chieftains. What is the reason? “Now I will arise, the Lord will say, [now I will ascend, now I will be exalted]” (Isaiah 33:10).110There are three verbs each accompanied by the adverb “now,” referring to three different times. Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yannai: “Now I will arise” – as long as [Israel] is wallowing in the ashes, as it were, so is [the Holy One blessed be] He. That is what Isaiah said: “Shake the dust from you, arise and sit, Jerusalem” (Isaiah 52:2). At that moment, “Be silent all flesh before the Lord” (Zechariah 2:17). Why? “For He is roused from His holy abode (Zechariah 2:17); Rabbi Aḥa said: Like this hen that shakes its wings free from the midst of the ashes.
“Look from the peak of Amana” – Rabbi Ḥunya said in the name of Rabbi Yusta: The exiles are destined to reach Mount Amana111This is the same as the Mount Hor mentioned in Numbers 34:7–8 (see Targum Yerushalmi there). and recite song, and the nations of the world are destined to bring them like ministers to the messianic king. What is the reason? “Look [tashuri] from the peak of Amana.” Tashuri means nothing other than offering, just as it says: “We have no gift [teshura] to bring to the man” (I Samuel 9:7). It is fitting, but it is not fitting for Me.112This is stated from the perspective of God: Whereas it is fitting for the nations of the world to bring valuable gifts to the messianic king, that is not sufficient from God’s perspective. Did I not do this to you already in the days of Ḥazael? “Ḥazael went to meet him, taking with him as tribute all the good of Damascus, forty camel-loads” (II Kings 8:9). Rabbi Yehuda said: Was all the good of Damascus a burden borne by forty camels? Rather, it is to teach you that he had in his possession a gem and pearls that were worth the monetary value of all the good of Damascus, and [thus] it says: “Taking with him as tribute all the good of Damascus.”113If it already occurred that Ḥazael brought such a valuable gift to Elisha, the gift to the messianic king will have to be that much greater. Therefore, the nations of the world will bring him the Jewish exiles as a gift. Rather, they are destined to bring [the Jews] themselves as gifts to the messianic king. What is the reason? “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, with horses and with chariots and with covered wagons [uvakirkarot]” (Isaiah 66:20). What is uvakirkarot? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: Like those elders who are unable to ride covered wagons and they carry them on sedan chairs. That is what is written: “Render to the Lord, families of the peoples, [render to the Lord glory and splendor]” (Psalms 96:7). Rabbi Aḥa said: It is not written here, “Peoples, render to the Lord families,” but rather, “families of the peoples, render to the Lord glory and splendor” – when you bring them, do not bring them in a demeaning way, but rather with glory and splendor. By what merit? By the merit that they recited song at the sea. Rav Naḥman said: By the merit of the faith that Abraham had, as it is stated: “And he believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “Israel saw the great power […and they believed in the Lord]” (Exodus 14:31). He was still leading them; could they not believe? Is there a person who sees and does not believe? Rather, it is due to the merit of the faith that Israel had while in Egypt, as it is stated: “The people believed” (Exodus 4:31).
Another matter: “Look from the peak of Amana” – this is Abraham in whose regard it is written: “And he believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). “From the peak of Senir” – this is Isaac. Just as Senir is hostile to plowing [soneh nir], so too, Isaac was subject to an ordeal only once. “And Ḥermon” – this is Jacob. Just as all the good of the Ḥermon is in its lower reaches, so too, priesthood is from Jacob, Levites are from Jacob, kingdom is from Jacob.114Jacob was the last of the patriarchs. “From the dens of lions” – these are Siḥon and Og; just as the lion is haughty, so Siḥon and Og were haughty and mighty, as there was a distance of only one day’s walk between this one and that one, and this one did not come to the aid of that one, and that one did not come to the aid of this one. “From the mountains of leopards” – these are the Canaanites. Just as this leopard is impudent, so the Canaanites were impudent. That is what is written: “Not a man remained in the Ai [or Beit El who did not come out after Israel]” (Joshua 8:17). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: It would have been fitting for Israel to have sung song over the downfall of Siḥon and Og, and it would have been fitting for Hezekiah to have sung song over the downfall of Sennacherib, as it is written: “But Hezekiah did not reciprocate according to the reward bestowed upon him” (II Chronicles 32:25). “As his heart had grown haughty” (II Chronicles 32:25). You see Hezekiah, a king and a righteous man, and you say “as his heart had grown haughty”? Rather, his heart had grown too haughty to sing a song. Isaiah came to Hezekiah and his associates. He said to them: “Sing to the Lord” (Isaiah 12:5). They said to him: Why? “For He has performed grandeur” (Isaiah 12:5). They said to him: It is already “known throughout the land” (Isaiah 12:5). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Hezekiah said: The Torah in which I engage atones for the [absence of] song.115Hezekiah thought that because he had caused Torah to be known throughout the land, he was above singing songs of praise. Rabbi Levi said: Hezekiah said: Why do we need to recount the miracles and mighty exploits of the Holy One blessed be He? They are already known from one end of the world to the other. Has the sun not stood in the middle of the sky116See II Kings 20:11. and they [thus] saw the miracles and mighty exploits of the Holy One blessed be He to the end of the world? Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei says in the name of Rabbi Abba: Pharaoh king of Egypt and Tirhaka king of Kush were already involved in that miracle and came to aid Hezekiah. Sennacherib sensed their presence. What did the wicked Sennacherib do to them? At nightfall he bound them; at midnight, the angel emerged and struck Sennacherib’s troops. That is what is written: “The angel of the Lord emerged and smote the Assyrian camp” (Isaiah 37:36). In the morning, Hezekiah arose early and found them bound. He said: It seems that these came only to aid me. He untied them and they went and related the miracles and mighty exploits of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “Thus says the Lord: The product of Egypt and the merchandise of Kush” (Isaiah 45:14). “The product of Egypt” – this is Pharaoh king of Egypt; “and the merchandise of Kush” – this is Tirhaka king of Kush. “And the Sabeans, men of stature” (Isaiah 45:14) – these are their armies. “Will pass over to you” (Isaiah 45:14) – this is Hezekiah and his associates. “They will be yours (Isaiah 45:14)” – they are already at peace with you. “They will follow you and pass in chains (Isaiah 45:14)” – in manacles. “They will prostrate themselves to you” (Isaiah 45:14) – this is Jerusalem. “They will pray before you” (Isaiah 45:14) – this is the Temple. What would they say? “There is only God with you; there is none other except for God” (Isaiah 45:14). Isaiah said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, “indeed [akhen] You are God who conceals Himself” (Isaiah 45:15). What is “akhen”? Where [ekhan] are You hiding, God? Indeed, You have the dynamism, and You conceal Yourself? [God] said to him: “God of Israel, Savior” (Isaiah 45:15) – I will then take vengeance. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Had Hezekiah recited song over the downfall of Sennacherib, he would have become the messianic king and Sennacherib [would have been] Gog and Magog, but he did not do so. Rather, he said: “Now I know that the Lord has rescued His anointed one.… Some come on chariots [and some on horses but we will make mention of the name of the Lord our God]” (Psalms 20:7–8). What is written thereafter? “Deliver us, Lord. The King will answer us on the day we call” (Psalms 20:10).117These verses are attributed here to Hezekiah, and he refers to a future king as “His anointed one [meshiḥo],” an allusion to the Messiah, in realization that he himself would no longer be able to be the Messiah (Maharzu).
“You have charmed me, my sister, my bride; you have charmed me with one of your eyes, with one bead of your necklace” (Song of Songs 4:9). “You have charmed me [libavtini],118This word is spelled in Hebrew with the letter bet doubled, which is expounded as an allusion to two hearts [levavot]: the good inclination and the evil inclination. my sister, my bride; you have charmed me” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev]119The Sages refer to a person as having two hearts due to the capacity one has to do good or evil. When acting properly, one is referring to as serving God with both of one’s hearts. When sinning, one is referred to as serving God with only one heart while rebelling against God with one’s other heart. in Egypt, but you [eventually] gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – with the blood of the paschal offering and the blood of circumcision; “with one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes. Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini], my sister, my bride” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] at the sea, but you [eventually] gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – as you stood before Me on Mount Sinai and said: “Everything that God spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7); “with one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes. Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini]” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] in the wilderness, but you [eventually] gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – with the establishment of the Tabernacle, as it is stated: “On the day the Tabernacle was established, [the cloud covered the tabernacle]” (Numbers 9:15);120The cloud symbolized God’s Presence resting on the Tabernacle. He was “charmed” by the people’s generosity in donating toward the building of the Tabernacle. In rabbinic Hebrew donating generously can be referred to as donating “with a good eye.” “with one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes. Some say [the verse is referring to] the women of the generation of the wilderness, who were upright. When they encountered that incident they paused, considered the matter, and did not give any of their nose rings for the incident of the Golden Calf. When they heard that they were forbidden to their husbands they immediately locked their doors.121When they heard about the laws of family purity, according to which there are times when a woman is forbidden to her husband, they accepted these laws immediately and refused to have relations with their husbands during those times. Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini], my sister, my bride” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] with the scouts, but you gave Me two hearts. These are Joshua and Caleb, as it is stated: “Except Caleb son of Yefuneh the Kenizite, and Joshua son of Nun…” (Numbers 32:12). “With one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes. Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini], my sister, my bride” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] in the Shitim, but you gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – this is Pinḥas, as it is stated: “Pinḥas stood up to carry out judgment.… and it was considered righteousness for him” (Psalms 106:30–31). “With one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses.
“How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride; how much better is your loving than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all spices” (Song of Songs 4:10). “How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: In ten places Israel is called bride; six here and four in the prophets. Six here: “With me from Lebanon, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:8), “you have charmed me, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:9), “how fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:10), “your lips drip [nectar] my bride (Song of Songs 4:11), “a locked garden is my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:12), “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride (Song of Songs 5:1); these are six. And four in the prophets: “The sound of gladness and the sound of joy, the sound of a groom and the sound of a bride” (Jeremiah 33:11), “like a bride who bedecks herself with her jewelry” (Isaiah 61:10), “you will tie them like a bride” (Isaiah 49:18), “like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride” (Isaiah 62:5). Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He donned ten garments. “The Lord reigns; He is clothed in grandeur” (Psalms 93:1); this is one. “The Lord is clothed with strength” (Psalms 93:1); this is two. “Girded” (Psalms 93:1); this is three. “He donned righteousness like armor” (Isaiah 59:17); this is four. “He donned garments of vengeance” (Isaiah 59:17); this is five. “Attire” (Isaiah 59:17); this is six. “He clothed Himself with zealotry like a coat” (Isaiah 59:17); this is seven. “This that is majestic in attire” (Isaiah 63:1); this is eight. “Why is there red on Your attire” (Isaiah 63:2); this is nine. “You are clothed in splendor and glory” (Psalms 104:1); this is ten. This is in order to exact retribution from the nations of the world who prevented Israel from fulfilling the Ten Commandments, which [Israel] was holding close to them like a bride. “And the fragrance of your oils than all spices” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Just like this oil is odorless, but, by means of scenting it you smell several fragrances, so too, you expound this verse and find several good ideas.
“Your lips drip nectar, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue, and the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon” (Song of Songs 4:11). “Your lips drip nectar, my bride” – Rabbi Derosa and Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak: Six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel in the days of Elijah. Rabbi Yaakov said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From Gevat to Antipatris122These are the borders of the kingdom of Judah. were six hundred thousand cities. There were none among them as tainted as Beit El and Jericho; [Jericho] because Joshua cursed it, Beit El, as the two golden calves of Yerovam were situated there. One verse says: “The disciples of the prophets who were in Beit El came out to Elisha” (II Kings 2:3). “Prophets” connote no fewer than two.123If in Beit El there were two, certainly in each of the untainted cities there were at least two. Two prophets per city times six hundred thousand cities equals one million two hundred thousand prophets. Why were their prophecies not publicized?124Why were they not included among the books of Prophets? Because they were not required for the generations. On this basis, say: Every prophecy that was at its time and was needed for the generations was publicized, and every prophecy that was at its time but was not needed for the generations was not publicized. However, in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will bring them and publicize their prophecy. That is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: Just as six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel, so too, six hundred thousand prophetesses arose for them. Solomon came and publicized them, as it is stated: “Your lips drip nectar, my bride.”125The drop of nectar on the lips represents prophecy, and “my bride” is an allusion to prophetesses. Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Ḥalafta of Caesarea say in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Just as this bride ornaments herself with twenty-four ornaments126See Isaiah 3:18–24 and if she is missing one item [it is as though] she has nothing, so too, a Torah scholar must be familiar with the twenty-four books [of the Bible], and if he is missing one of them [it is as though] he has nothing. Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Just as a bride is modest, so a Torah scholar must be modest. Rabbi Ḥalafta in the name of Reish Lakish: Just as a bride sits on a divan and says: See that I am pure, this is my testimony that attests in my regard; so too, there must not be any fault in a Torah scholar. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Elazar says: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this fine flour that adheres to a sieve [nafa],127This is an expounding of the word nectar [nofet]. it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. Rabbi Yosei says: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this honey that comes from nectar [tzuf],128This, too, is an expounding of the word nectar [nofet tzufim] (see Psalms 19:11). it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. The Rabbis say: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this honey and milk that are intermingled, it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this bride who is pleasant to the people at her wedding canopy, it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. Reish Lakish said: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this bride who is pleasant to her husband at her wedding canopy, it would have been preferable for him had he not said them.
“Honey and milk are under your tongue” – Rabbi Berekhya said: There is no beverage that is more disgusting than a beverage that is under the tongue, and you say: “Honey and milk are under your tongue”? Rather, if the halakhot that are dull under your tongue129The halakhot that are unclear to you. are honey and milk, the halakhot that are fortified, all the more so. Rabbi Levi said: Even one who reads a verse in its pleasantness and in its melody, the verse says in his regard: “Honey and milk are under your tongue.” “And the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon” – it is written: “He came near, and he kissed him. He smelled the scent of his garments” (Genesis 27:27). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: You have no item whose odor is fouler and harsher than washed goatskin, and it says: “He smelled the scent of his garments”? Rather, when Jacob our patriarch entered, the Garden of Eden entered with him. That is what he said to him: “See, the scent of my son is as the scent of a field that the Lord blessed” (Genesis 27:27). When the wicked Esau entered to his father, Gehenna entered with him. What is the reason? “With the arrival of malice, disgrace has arrived” (Proverbs 11:2). That is what he said to him: “Who then [efo]” (Genesis 27:33), who is baked [ne’efeh] in this oven? The Divine Spirit answered him: “The one who hunted game” (Genesis 27:33). Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon asked Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yosei ben Lakonya, his father-in-law: ‘Did weaving utensils depart with Israel to the wilderness?’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to him: ‘From where did they have what to wear all those forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness?’ He said to him: ‘It was from what the ministering angels clad them.130After they said: “We will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). That is what is written: “I clad them in embroidery”’ (Ezekiel 16:10). Rav Simi said: A purple woolen garment. Akilas translated: A multi-colored embroidered garment. He said to him: ‘But did they not grow worn?’ He said to him: ‘Have you never studied Bible? “Your garment did not grow worn from upon you”’ (Deuteronomy 8:4). He said to him: ‘But did they not grow?’ He said to him: ‘Go out and learn from the snail, for as long as it grows, its shell grows with it.’ He said to him: ‘Did they not require laundering?’ He said to him: ‘The cloud would rub them clean and iron them.’ He said to him: ‘But would they not burn?’131From contact with the cloud that was fire. He said to him: ‘Go out and learn from this garment made of stone fibers, which is ironed only in fire.’ He said to him: ‘But did they not grow lice?’ He said to them: ‘If in their deaths they did not,132The bodies of everyone who heard the voice of God at Sinai were not infested with worms and maggots after their deaths (Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer 41). did they in their lifetimes?’ [Rabbi Elazar asked:] ‘Did they not give off a foul odor from the perspiration of their bodies?’ He said to him: ‘They would roll in the grass [produced due to the water of] the well. That is what is written: “He has me lie down in green pastures” (Psalms 23:2). Their fragrance would waft from the end of the world to its end. Solomon came and articulated: “And the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.”’
“A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountainhead, a sealed spring. Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates, with delicious fruit, henna with nard” (Song of Songs 4:12–13). “A locked garden is my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: [This is analogous] to a king who had two daughters, one older and one younger, and he did not devote attention to arranging their marriages. The king left them for many years and went overseas. The girls arose and asserted themselves and married themselves to men. Each of them would take her husband’s seal and his signet. Years later, the king returned from overseas and he heard the voices of the people slandering his daughters and saying that the king’s daughters had engaged in licentiousness. What did he do? He issued a proclamation and said: The entire people shall go out to the assembly hall. He came and sat in the vestibule. He said to them: ‘My daughters, is this what you have done; have you tainted yourselves?’ Immediately, each of them produced her husband’s seal and his signet. He called his son-in-law and said to him: ‘To whom are you a bridegroom?’ He said to him: ‘I am your first son-in-law, [married] to your older daughter.’ He said to him: ‘What is this?’ He said to him: ‘This is my seal and this is my signet,’ and likewise [occurred with] the second [son-in-law]. At that moment, the king said: My daughters are sheltered from immorality and you slander and demean them? By your lives, I will administer justice against you. So it is with the nations, because they would taunt Israel and say: “Egypt enslaved the children of Israel [with harshness]” (Exodus 1:13); if they compelled them to perform labor, all the more so [they must have dominated] their bodies and their wives. At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said: My sister, My bride, a locked garden. What is a locked garden? The Holy One blessed be He said: My garden is locked and it is being condemned?133This is a metaphor meaning: The women of Israel have not had relations with anyone other than their husbands, and yet they are being maligned? Rabbi Pinḥas said: At that moment the Holy One blessed be He called the angel appointed over pregnancy and said: Go and shape [the children] with all the features of their fathers. Who did the fathers themselves resemble? The paterfamilias of the families. That is what is written regarding Reuben: “The families of the Reubenites [haReuveni]” (Numbers 26:7). Rabbi Hoshaya said: Reuben, Reubenite [haReuveni], Simeon, Simeonite [haShimoni].134See Numbers 26:14. The members of the tribes are referred to in this way in order to imply that they looked like Reuben and Simeon. This was proof that they were actually the descendants of their fathers. Rabbi Marinos ben Rabbi Hoshaya said: Like you say: Baronite, Savronite, Sivoyite.135These were names common at the time of the writing of the midrash. Just as Baronite means a member of the Baron family, the same is true of Reubenite. Alternatively, Rabbi Marinos is disputing Rabbi Hoshaya’s point and saying that just as members of any family can be referred to in this manner, the term Reubenite does not mean anything special (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Idi: Heh at the beginning of the word and yod at the end; God [yod-heh] attests for them that they were indeed the sons of their fathers. Rabbi Pinḥas said: “A locked garden” – these are the virgins. “A locked fountainhead” – these are the non-virgins.136Although there is an opening – gal means door in Aramaic – it remains locked before men other than her husband. “A sealed spring” – these are the males.137They did not engage in illicit sexual activity. It was taught in the name of Rabbi Natan: “A locked garden, a locked fountainhead” – why was it [written] twice? Rather, it connotes two acts of intercourse for the woman; one in the typical manner and one in the atypical manner.138Vaginal intercourse and anal intercourse. Rabbi Huna said in the name of bar Kappara: By virtue of four matters, Israel was redeemed from Egypt: That they did not change their name, they did not change their language, they did not speak slander, and not one of them was steeped in licentiousness. They did not change their name: Reuben and Simeon descended [to Egypt]; Reuben and Simeon ascended. They did not call Reuben Rufus, they did not call Simeon Luleyani, Joseph, Listis, or Benjamin, Alexandra. They did not change their language. There, it is written: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13), and here it is written: “The God of the Hebrews has called upon us” (Exodus 5:3), and it is written: “That it is my mouth speaking to you” (Genesis 45:12), in the sacred tongue. They did not speak slander, as it is stated: “Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask each man from his neighbor” (Exodus 11:2). You find that this matter had been entrusted to them for twelve months, and not one of them was found to have informed on his counterpart.139The Israelites knew twelve months before the Exodus that they would ask to borrow goods from the Egyptians and that they would then leave Egypt never to return. Nonetheless, none of them told the Egyptians about this plan. Not one of them was steeped in licentiousness, as it is stated: “The son of an Israelite woman, [whose father was an Egyptian.…] the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed” (Leviticus 24:10–11), to apprise in praise of Israel that not one of them was found except for this one, and the verse publicized her.140The verse specifies that this woman had conceived from an Egyptian man in order to emphasize that she was the exception; no other Israelite women had intercourse with Egyptian men. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Sarah descended to Egypt141See Genesis 12:10–20. and sheltered herself from licentiousness, and all the [Israelite] women were sheltered by her merit. Joseph descended to Egypt and sheltered himself from licentiousness, and all the males were sheltered by his merit. Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya: The sheltering from licentiousness was itself sufficient that by its merit Israel would have been redeemed from Egypt. What is the reason? “A locked garden is my sister, my bride.” What is written thereafter? “Your branches [shelaḥayikh]142They merited to be sent [lehishalaḥ] from Egypt. are an orchard of pomegranates.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: [This is analogous] to one to whom an inheritance fell at the site of a garbage dump. The heir was indolent and he sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and industriously excavated there and found a treasure. He built a large palace. The purchaser began walking in the marketplace with servants following him [all due] to the treasure that he had purchased there. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent (Exodus 13:17).143Pharaoh shouted woe [vay] is me. Rabbi Yonatan said: [This is analogous] to one who had a field capable of producing a kor, and he went and sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and excavated springs and planted gardens and orchards there. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent” (Exodus 13:17). Rabbi Yosei said: [This is analogous] to one who had chopped-down cedars, and he sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and crafted from them trunks, closets, chests, and wagons. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent” (Exodus 13:17).
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates” – this is likened to a pomegranate orchard.144The midrash interprets the term “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” to mean “your gifts [shiluḥayikh].” In the common vernacular: What did so-and-so send to his betrothed?145This is an allegory likening the relationship of God and Israel to the relationship of a man to his fiancée. Pomegranates. Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Simon: one said she146This is a reference to the Israelites. brought Him thirteen and He brought her thirteen. She brought Him thirteen that are articulated in the book of Exodus: “This is the gift [that you shall take from them:] Gold, silver, and bronze, sky blue, purple, and scarlet wool, linen, and goat hair, rams’ hides dyed red, taḥash hides, and acacia wood.… onyx stones and stones for setting” (Exodus 25:3–5, 7). He brought her thirteen that are articulated in Ezekiel: “I clad you in embroidery” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Simi said: A purple woolen garment. Akilas translated: A multi-colored embroidered garment. “I shod you with taḥash” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the taḥash hides. “I wrapped you in linen” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the linen and goat hair. “I covered you with silk [meshi]” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Aivu said: He rendered them substantial [mamash] in the world. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: He enveloped them in clouds of glory, just as it says: “The pillar of cloud would not move” (Exodus 13:22). “I decked you with ornaments” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are weapons. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The weapon that was given them at Ḥorev, the ineffable name was etched upon it. When they sinned it was taken from them. How was it taken? Rabbi Aivu said: It was peeled off on its own. The Rabbis say: An angel descended and peeled it off. “I placed bracelets on your hands” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the tablets of the covenant upon which the Ten Commandments are engraved, just as it says: “The tablets were the work of God [and the script was the script of God engraved on the tablets]” (Exodus 32:16). “And a chain upon your neck” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the words of Torah, just as it says: “Bind them upon your heart always” (Proverbs 6:21). “I put a ring” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the crown of sanctity. “And earrings in your ears” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the frontplate,147The frontplate itself is referred to as the crown of sanctity (see Exodus 39:30). They are counted separately here because the midrash considers the front part of the frontplate separate from its sides. Alternatively, it counts the gold frontplate separate from the sky blue wool threads that held it in place on the forehead, and were themselves a sort of decorative crown (Rabbi David Luria; Midrash HaMevo’ar). as we learned: The frontplate is a type of plate of gold that is two fingerbreadths wide and stretches from ear to ear (Sukka 5a). “And a crown of splendor on your head” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the Divine Presence, just as it says: “You will be a crown of splendor in the hand of the Lord” (Isaiah 62:3), and it is written: “Their king passed before them and the Lord is at their head” (Micah 2:13). What are the other three? “You were decked with gold and silver.… your renown emerged among the nations” (Ezekiel 16:13–14), “henna with nard.”148This is not included in the count. Some suggest that these words should appear before Rabbi Aḥa’s upcoming statement. Rabbi Huna said: She brought Him thirteen and He brought her twenty-six, just as it is the way of a bridegroom to double the dowry of the bride. Rabbi Aḥa said: She brought Him vessels and spices149These are the vessels of the Tabernacle and the spices of the incense offered in the Tabernacle. and He brought her vessels and spices, vessels by means of Moses150The holy vessels that the Israelites took with them in their victorious war against Midian (see Numbers 31:6) (Maharzu). and spices by means of Solomon; that is what is written: “She then gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, very many spices, and precious stones; there has never again come like that spice in terms of quantity like what the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon” (I Kings 10:10). Rabbi Simon said: She brought Him a limited quantity of vessels and spices, but He brought her vessels and spices without limit. Solomon came and articulated: “Henna with nard.”
Another matter: “Your branches [shelaḥayikh] are an orchard of pomegranates” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to transform your desolation [shelaḥayikh] into a pomegranate orchard in the future. What is that?151What is the source of water with which God will accomplish this? It is the well. From where did Israel pour libations all the forty years that they spent in the wilderness? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From the well,152Most libations in the Tabernacle and Temple were from wine. The midrash is saying that the well facilitated the growth of vineyards in the wilderness. and most of their pleasure was from there, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The well would produce for them types of vegetation, types of grains, types of trees. Know that it is so, as when Miriam died and the well ceased for them, they would say: “Not a place of seed, figs, or wine” (Numbers 20:5). Rabbi Levi said: From the cluster, on the basis of: “They cut from there a vine with one cluster of grapes [and they bore it upon a pole between the two]” (Numbers 13:23). Is that possible? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Fruits were larger at that time. The Rabbis say: It was from what the idolatrous merchants would sell to Israel. Rabbi Yishmael taught: The wine of idolaters had not yet been forbidden for Israel.
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates [shelaḥayikh]” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to transform your desolation [sheluḥayikh] into a pomegranate orchard in the future. What is that? It is the stream, as it is written: “Along the stream upon its bank…and its leaf for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12). What is “for healing [litrufa]”? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is for a laxative [litrafyon]; one sucks its leaves and his food will be expelled. Rav and Shmuel: one said it is to open the upper mouth, and one said the lower mouth.153Litrufa is a portmanteau of lehatir peh, to open the mouth. Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi:154Their two opinions correspond to the opinions of Rav and Shmuel. one said: To open the mouth of the mute, and one said: To open the mouth of barrenness.
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates [shelaḥayikh]” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to transform your rejected ones [shiluḥayikh] into a pomegranate orchard in the future. What is that? This is Elijah of blessed memory, as we learned there: There was a family from Beit Tzereifa on the eastern side of the Jordan, and the people of Zion admitted it by force, and there was another that they rejected by force.155The family from Beit Tzereifa was of tainted lineage and should not have been allowed to freely marry other Jews, but the leaders of that time forcefully prevented publicity of this fact. A different family was of pure lineage, but their reputation was besmirched and they became known as being of tainted lineage. In circumstances like these, Elijah will come to purify, to impurify, to reject, and to admit. Rabbi Yehuda said: To admit and not to reject. Rabbi Shimon said: [Elijah will come] to resolve disputes. The Sages say: Not to admit and not to reject, but to bring peace in the world, as it is stated: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet.… and he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children [and the heart of the children to their fathers]” (Malachi 3:23–24).
“Nard [nerd] and saffron [karkom], fragrant cane [kaneh] and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh [mor] and aloe [vaahalot], with all the finest spices” (Song of Songs 4:14). “Nerd and karkom” – nerd is nard oil, karkom in its plain meaning;156Saffron was commonly called karkom when the midrash was written. “kaneh” – this is fragrant cane, as it is stated: “And fragrant cane [keneh bosem]” (Exodus 30:23). “And cinnamon” – Rabbi Huna says in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Cinnamon would grow in the Land of Israel, and goats and gazelles would eat from it. “Mor” is myrrh oil. “Vaahalot” – Rabbi Yesa said: It is balsam oil. Why is it called ahalot? Rabbi Abba bar Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: It is because it grows under tents [ohalim].157Protected from sun and rain. The Rabbis say: It is because it spreads like a tent. From where did the daughters of Israel ornament themselves and bring joy to their husbands all the forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From the well. That is what is written: “A garden spring, a well of fresh water” (Song of Songs 4:15). Rabbi Abbahu said: From the manna; that is what is written: “Myrrh, aloes, and cassia were on all your garments [as you went from ivory [shen] halls]” (Psalms 45:9) – from what is placed under the tooth [shen],158This is a reference to the manna. This is consistent with the statement of the Midrash (Shemot Rabba 21:10) that spices and gems were provided to the Israelites along with the manna. from that would the chaste and upright daughters of Israel ornament themselves and bring joy to their husbands all the forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness. It is written: “For, behold, the Lord commands, and He will strike the great house into splinters [and the small house into chips]” (Amos 6:11). Splintering is not the same as chipping; there are shards from splintering, but there are no shards from chipping.159Some suggest that this passage is out of place here (Matnot Kehuna).
“A garden spring, a well of fresh water, and flowing streams from Lebanon” (Song of Songs 4:15). “A garden spring, a well of fresh water” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Forty-eight times it is written in the Torah, “well,” “well,” corresponding to the forty-eight matters through which Torah is acquired. That is what is written: “A garden spring, a well of fresh water.” “And flowing streams from Lebanon” – Rabbi Azarya said: This one contributes a trickle toward the matter, and that one contributes a trickle toward the matter, until the halakha emerges as though from Lebanon.160Lebanon is expounded as though it is from the word lavan, white. Together, the students clarify the matter under discussion until it is absolutely clear [melubenet]. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: This one welds part of the matter, and that one welds part of the matter, until the halakha emerges like joined beams.
“Awake, north wind, and come, south wind; blow upon my garden, that its perfume will spread. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat his delicious fruits” (Song of Songs 4:16). “Awake, north wind, and come, south wind” – Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: Rabbi Elazar said: The descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings. Rabbi Yosei said: The descendants of Noah sacrificed burnt offerings.161All agree that Noah and his descendants sacrificed burnt offerings, as this is explicit in the text (see, e.g., Genesis 8:20). The dispute is whether they also sacrificed peace offerings. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei: “Abel, too, brought from the firstborn of his flock and from the choicest of them [umeḥelvehen]” (Genesis 4:4).162The understanding is that Abel sacrificed offerings from which only the fats [ḥelev] are burned, i.e., peace offerings. What does Rabbi Yosei do with this? He says: From the fattest among them. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei: “He sent the young men of the children of Israel [and they offered up burnt offerings and they slaughtered peace offerings [shelamim] of oxen to the Lord]” (Exodus 24:5).163This verse explicitly states that they offered peace offerings, despite the fact that this took place before the giving of the Torah, when even the Israelites were considered no more than descendants of Noah (Etz Yosef). What does Rabbi Yosei do with this? Their bodies were whole [shelemim], without flaying and cutting.164This is in contrast to standard burnt offerings, which require flaying and cutting. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection: It is written: “Yitro took…a burnt offering and a peace offering” (Exodus 18:12), a burnt offering for the sake of a burnt offering and a peace offering for the sake of a peace offering.165The offerings were sacrificed properly. If an offering is sacrificed with the understanding that it is a different offering, e.g., if an animal designated as a burnt offering is sacrificed as a peace offering, one has not fulfilled one’s vow to bring the burnt offering. What does Rabbi Yosei do with this? He would say to you: Two amora’im disagree. One says: Yitro came after the giving of the Torah;166When there were both burnt offerings and peace offerings. the other says: Yitro came before the giving of the Torah. The one who said Yitro came before the giving of the Torah [must hold that] the descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings. The one who said: Yitro came after the giving of the Torah [holds that] the descendants of Noah sacrificed [only] burnt offerings. This supports Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “Awake, north wind, and come, south wind.” “Awake north wind” – this is the burnt offering, which is slaughtered in the north.167The north side of the Temple Courtyard. Why was the term “awake” addressed to it? [Because] it is something that was asleep and awakened.168The patriarchs sacrificed burnt offerings, but the Israelites did not sacrifice burnt offerings while they were in Egypt. “Come, south wind” – this is the peace offering, which is slaughtered in the south.169Unlike the burnt offering, the peace offering could be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple Courtyard. Why was the term “come” addressed to it? Because it was something new. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana, Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa, and Rabbi Yehoshua say in the name of Rabbi Levi: This verse, too, supports Rabbi Yosei. “This is the law of the burnt offering; it is the burnt offering” (Leviticus 6:2) that the descendants of Noah sacrificed initially. When it arrives at the peace offering, it says: “This is the law of the peace offering [that one shall offer to the Lord]” (Leviticus 7:11). It is not written here, “that they offered,” but rather, that they shall offer, from here forward. How does Rabbi Elazar interpret this verse: “Awake, north wind, and come, south wind”? When the exiles situated in the north will awaken and they will come and encamp in the south, just as it says: “Behold, I am bringing them from the land of the north, and I will gather them from the ends of the earth” (Jeremiah 31:7). When Gog and Magog, which are situated in the north, will awaken and come and fall in the south, just as it says: “I will lead you astray and I will entice you, and I will take you up” (Ezekiel 39:2). When the messianic king, who is situated in the north, will awaken and come build the Temple, which is located in the south, just as it says: “I have roused one from the north and he came” (Isaiah 41:25). “Blow upon my garden, that its perfume will spread” – Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Binyamin bar Levi: Because in this world when the southern wind blows the northern wind does not blow, and when the northern wind blows the southern wind does not blow. However, in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will bring an unusual wind to the world, and it will lead two winds simultaneously and both will serve. That is what is written: “I will say to the north: Give, and to the south: Do not withhold” (Isaiah 43:6). “Let my beloved come to his garden” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Torah teaches you proper etiquette, that a bridegroom should not enter the wedding canopy until the bride gives him permission. What is the reason? “Let my beloved come to his garden.”170The next verse begins “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride,” which is an indication that he came only after receiving permission from his bride.
הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה, הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמִצְווֹת, הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמִצְווֹת הַבַּיִת, בְּחַלָּה תְּרוּמָה וּמַעַשְׂרוֹת. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמִצְווֹת הַשָֹּׂדֶה, בְּלֶקֶט שִׁכְחָה וּפֵאָה, וּמַעֲשַׂר עָנִי וְהַהֶפְקֵר. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּכִלְאַיִם. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּסַדִּין בְּצִיצִית. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּנְטִיעָה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּעָרְלָה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּנֶטַע רְבָעי. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמִילָה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּפְרִיעָה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּתְפִלָּה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּמְזוּזָה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּתְפִלִּין. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּסֻכָּה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּלוּלָב וְאֶתְרוֹג. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בִּתְשׁוּבָה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בְּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. הִנָּךְ יָפָה בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
“Behold, you are fair, my love, behold, you are fair; your eyes are doves behind your braid; your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down from Mount Gilad. Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes that have come up from bathing, that are all paired, and there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:1–2).
“Behold, you are fair, my love, behold, you are fair” – behold you are fair in mitzvot, behold you are fair in performing acts of kindness. Behold you are fair in positive mitzvot, behold you are fair in negative mitzvot. Behold you are fair in the mitzvot of the house: in ḥalla, teruma, and tithes; behold you are fair in the mitzvot of the field: gleanings, forgotten sheaves, the corner,1The mitzva to leave produce in a corner of the field for the poor. This and the other mitzvot of the field mentioned here are found in Leviticus 19:9 and 23:22. tithe of the poor, and ownerless property.2The requirement to declare ownerless the produce that grows in one’s field during the Sabbatical Year. Behold you are fair in diverse kinds, behold you are fair in a cloak with ritual fringes. Behold you are fair in planting, behold you are fair in orla,3It is forbidden to eat and derive benefit from fruit that grows during the first three years after a tree is planted. behold you are fair in the fruit of a fourth-year sapling. Behold you are fair in circumcision, behold you are fair in uncovering.4After the foreskin is severed, the membrane underneath is pulled back, exposing the corona. Behold you are fair in the Amida prayer, behold you are fair in the recitation of Shema. Behold you are fair in mezuza, behold you are fair in phylacteries. Behold you are fair in sukka, behold you are fair in the palm branch and the citron. Behold you are fair in repentance, behold you are fair in good deeds. Behold you are fair in this world, behold you are fair in the World to Come.
עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִים, עֵינַיִךְ הֵן סַנְהֶדְּרִין, שֶׁהֵם עֵינַיִם לָעֵדָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר טו, כד): וְהָיָה אִם מֵעֵינֵי הָעֵדָה. מָאתַיִם אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה אֵבָרִים יֵשׁ בָּאָדָם, וְכֻלָּם אֵינָם הוֹלְכִין וְחוֹזְרִין אֶלָּא אַחַר הָעֵינַיִם, כָּךְ אֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכוֹלִים לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר חוּץ מִסַּנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁלָּהֶם. יוֹנִים, מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ תַּמָּה, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל נָאִים בְּהִלּוּכָן כְּשֶׁהֵן עוֹלִין לְפַעֲמֵי רְגָלִים. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ מְצֻיֶּנֶת, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְצֻיָּנִין, בְּתִגְלַחַת, בְּמִילָה, וְצִיצִית. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ צְנוּעָה, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל צְנוּעִים. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ פּוֹשֶׁטֶת צַוָּארָהּ לִשְׁחִיטָה, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל, (תהלים מד, כג): כִּי עָלֶיךָ הֹרַגְנוּ כָל הַיּוֹם. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל הָעֲוָלִים, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְכַפְּרִים עַל הָאֻמּוֹת, שֶׁכָּל אוֹתָן שִׁבְעִים פָּרִים שֶׁמַּקְרִיבִים בֶּחָג, כְּנֶגֶד שִׁבְעִים אֻמּוֹת שֶׁלֹא יִצְדֶּה הָעוֹלָם מֵהֶן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים קט, ד): תַּחַת אַהֲבָתִי יִשְׂטְנוּנִי וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּה. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁמַּכֶּרֶת בֶּן זוּגָהּ, עוֹד אֵינָהּ מְמִירָה אוֹתוֹ בְּאַחֵר, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהִכִּירוּ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לֹא הֵמִירוּהוּ בְּאַחֵר. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ נִכְנֶסֶת לְקִנָּהּ וּמַכֶּרֶת קִנָּהּ וְשׁוֹבָכָהּ וְגוֹזָלֶיהָ וְאֶפְרוֹחֶיהָ וְחַלּוֹנוֹתֶיהָ, כָּךְ הֵן שָׁלשׁ שׁוּרוֹת שֶׁל תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים כְּשֶׁהֵן יוֹשְׁבִין לִפְנֵיהֶם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מַכִּיר אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאַתְּ נוֹטֵל גּוֹזָלֶיהָ מִתַּחְתֶּיהָ, אֵין מַנַּחַת שׁוֹבָכָהּ לְעוֹלָם, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לֹא בָּטְלוּ שָׁלשׁ רְגָלִים בַּשָּׁנָה. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ מְחַדֶּשֶׁת לָהּ בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ וְחֹדֶשׁ גֹּרֶן, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְחַדְּשִׁים לָהֶם בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ תּוֹרָה וּמִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ מְשׁוֹגֶרֶת רוֹגְלִיּוֹת הַרְבֵּה וְחוֹזֶרֶת לְשׁוֹבָכָהּ, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (הושע יא, יא): יֶחֶרְדוּ כְצִפּוֹר מִמִּצְרַיִם, זֶה דּוֹר הַמִּדְבָּר. וּכְיוֹנָה מֵאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר, אֵלּוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים. אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ וְהוֹשַׁבְתִּים עַל בָּתֵּיהֶם נְאֻם ה'. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר יֵשׁ מִין יוֹנָה שֶׁמַּאֲכִילִין אוֹתָהּ, וְחַבְרוֹתֶיהָ מְרִיחוֹת אוֹתָהּ וּבָאוֹת אֶצְלָהּ לְשׁוֹבָכָהּ. כָּךְ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַזָּקֵן יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ הַרְבֵּה גֵרִים מִתְגַּיְרִין בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, כְּגוֹן יִתְרוֹ, הָא שָׁמַע וְאָתֵי, רָחָב שָׁמְעָה וְאָתְיָא, אַף בַּחֲנַנְיָא מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה, הַרְבֵּה גֵרִים נִתְגַּיְּרוּ בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, מַה טַּעְמָא (ישעיה כט, כג): כִּי בִרְאוֹתוֹ יְלָדָיו, מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיה (ישעיה כט, כד): וְיָדְעוּ תֹעֵי רוּחַ. רַבִּי הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ וְנִתְנַמְנֵם הַצִּבּוּר, בִּקֵּשׁ לְעוֹרְרָן, אָמַר יָלְדָה אִשָּׁה אַחַת בְּמִצְרַיִם שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא בְּכָרֵס אֶחָת, וְהָיָה שָׁם תַּלְמִיד אֶחָד וְרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי שְׁמוֹ, אָמַר לֵיהּ מַאן הֲוָת כָּךְ, אָמַר לֵיהּ זוֹ יוֹכֶבֶד שֶׁיָּלְדָה אֶת משֶׁה שֶׁשָּׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שֶׁהֵם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות טו, א): אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, (שמות לט, לב) (במדבר א, נד): וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' אֶת משֶׁה, (דברים לד, י): וְלֹא קָם נָבִיא עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמשֶׁה. עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִים, כְּיוֹנִים, דּוּגְמָא דִידָךְ דָּמְיָיה לַהֲדָא יוֹנָה, מַה יּוֹנָה זוֹ הֵבִיאָה אוֹרָה לָעוֹלָם, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְבִיאִין אוֹרָה לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ס, ג): וְהָלְכוּ גּוֹיִם לְאוֹרֵךְ. וְאֵימָתַי הֵבִיאָה יוֹנָה אוֹרָה לָעוֹלָם, בִּימֵי נֹחַ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ח, יא): וַתָּבֹא אֵלָיו הַיּוֹנָה לְעֵת עֶרֶב וְהִנֵּה עֲלֵה זַיִת טָרָף בְּפִיהָ וגו', מַהוּ טָרָף בְּפִיהָ, קְטִיל, כְּמָה דְתֵימַר (בראשית לז, לג): טָרֹף טֹרַף יוֹסֵף. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אִלּוּלֵי קְטַלְתִּינֵיהּ אִילָן רַב הֲוָה מִתְעֲבֵד. וּמֵהֵיכָן הֵבִיאָה אוֹתוֹ, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מִשַּׁמְטוּטֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הֱבִיאַתּוּ, הֲדָא הִיא דְּאָמְרִין בְּרִיָּיתָא, אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא לְקָת בְּמוֹי דְמַבּוּלָא, הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַל יְדֵי יְחֶזְקֵאל (יחזקאל כב, כד): בֶּן אָדָם אֱמָר לָהּ אַתְּ אֶרֶץ לֹא מְטֹהָרָה הִיא לֹא גֻשְׁמָהּ בְּיוֹם זָעַם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֲפִלּוּ אִצְטְרוֹבִּלִין שֶׁל רֵיחַיִם נִמְחוּ בַּמַּיִם. רַבִּי טַרְיִי אָמַר, שַׁעֲרֵי גַּן עֵדֶן נִפְתְּחוּ לָהּ וּמִשָּׁם הֵבִיאָה אוֹתוֹ. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אִלּוּ מִגַּן עֵדֶן הֵבִיאָה אוֹתוֹ, לֹא הָיָה לָה לְהָבִיא דָּבָר מְעֻלֶּה, כְּגוֹן קִנָּמוֹן וּבַלְסְמוֹן, אֶלָּא רֶמֶז רָמְזָה לְנֹחַ וְאָמְרָה לוֹ, מָרִי נֹחַ, מַר מִזֶּה מִתַּחַת יָדוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְלֹא מָתוֹק מִתַּחַת יָדֶיךָ.
“Your eyes are doves” – your eyes are the Sanhedrin, who are the eyes of the congregation. That is what is written: “It shall be, if from the eyes of the congregation” (Numbers 15:24). There are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, and all of them come and go only after the eyes. So too, Israel is unable to do anything without their Sanhedrin. “Doves” – just as this dove is faultless, so too, Israel is pleasant as they walk when they ascend on the occasions of the pilgrimage festivals. Just as the dove is conspicuous, so too, Israel is conspicuous in haircut, circumcision, and ritual fringes. Just as the dove is modest, so too, Israel is modest. Just as a dove extends its neck for slaughter, so too, Israel: “For we are killed for You all day” (Psalms 44:23). Just as the dove atones for evils, so too, Israel atones for the nations, as all the seventy bulls that they sacrifice on the festival [of Sukkot] correspond to the seventy nations, so that the world will not be bereft of them. That is what is written: “In return for my love, they accuse me; but I am all prayer” (Psalms 109:4).
Just as the dove, from the time it meets its mate, it does not exchange it for another, so too Israel, from the time they came to know the Holy One blessed be He, they did not exchange Him for another. Just as the dove enters its nest and knows its nest, its dovecote, its fledglings, its chicks, and its windows, so are the three rows of Torah scholars when they sit before them,5Three rows of scholars would sit before the members of the Sanhedrin when the Sanhedrin would deliberate. When new judges for the Sanhedrin were needed, they were chosen from these scholars (see Sanhedrin 37a). each and every one knows his place. Just as the dove, even though you take its fledglings from beneath it, it will never forsake its dovecote, so too Israel, even though the Temple was destroyed, the three annual pilgrimage festivals were not abrogated. Just as the dove produces a new brood each and every month, so too Israel renew for themselves Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds each month. Just as the dove travels far afield and returns to its dovecote, so too Israel; that is what is written: “They will stir like a bird from Egypt” (Hosea 11:11) – this is the generation of the wilderness; “and like a dove from the land of Assyria” (Hosea 11:11) – these are the Ten Tribes. These and those, “I will settle them in their houses, the utterance of the Lord” (Hosea 11:11).
Rabbi says: There is a type of dove that they feed it, and its counterparts smell it and come to its dovecote. So too, when an elder sits and teaches, many proselytes convert at that time, such as Yitro, who heard and came, and Raḥav heard and came. So too Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya, many proselytes converted at that time. What is the reason? “When he sees his children” (Isaiah 29:23); what is written thereafter? “Those of misguided spirit will attain understanding” (Isaiah 29:24).
Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] was sitting and expounding, and the audience was dozing. He sought to rouse them. He said: A certain woman in Egypt bore six hundred thousand in a single womb. There was one student there, Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei was his name. He said to [Rabbi]: ‘For whom was it so?’ [Rabbi] said to him: ‘This is Yokheved, who bore Moses, who is the equivalent of six hundred thousand of Israel. That is what is written: “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel” (Exodus 15:1). “The children of Israel did according to everything that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did” (Numbers 1:54).6The verse does not say that God commanded Israel, but rather that He commanded Moses and Israel did what He commanded. “There has not arisen another prophet in Israel like Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:10).’7The verse is formulated such that the last phrase quoted here can be translated as “Israel is like Moses.”
“Your eyes are doves” – like doves; your characteristic is like that of a dove; just as this dove brought light to the world, so too, Israel brings light to the world, as it is stated: “Nations will walk by your light” (Isaiah 60:3). When did the dove bring light to the world? In the days of Noah. That is what is written: “The dove came to him in the evening, and there was an olive leaf plucked in its mouth…” (Genesis 8:11). What is plucked [taraf]? Dead, just as you say: “Joseph has been torn apart [tarof toraf]” (Genesis 37:33). Rabbi Berekhya said: Had it not killed it,8Had the dove not plucked the olive leaf. it would have become a great tree.
From where did it bring it? Rabbi Levi said: It brought it from the branches of the Land of Israel. That is what people say: The Land of Israel was not stricken with the water of the Flood. That is what was stated by Ezekiel: “Son of man, say to it: You are a land that has not been cleansed, that has not been rained upon on the day of fury” (Ezekiel 22:24). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Even the upper millstones were dissolved in the water.9This strengthens the question: If the destruction was so great, where did the dove find an olive branch (Maharzu). Alternatively, this supports Rabbi Levi’s answer: Since the destruction was so great, it must be that the olive branch was found in a place that remained unaffected by the Flood (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Taryi said: The gates of The Garden of Eden were opened for it, and from there it brought it. Rabbi Aivu said to him: Had it brought it from the Garden of Eden, should it not have brought a quality item such as cinnamon or balsam? Rather, it was hinting to Noah as though saying to him: My master Noah, [it is preferable to have] something bitter like this from the hand of the Holy One blessed be He and not something sweet from you.
מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי כָּל כַּלָּה שֶׁעֵינֶיהָ כְּעוּרוֹת כָּל גּוּפָהּ צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה, וְשֶׁעֵינֶיהָ יָפוֹת, אֵין כָּל גּוּפָהּ צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה, וְהָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת כְּשֶׁמְצַמֵּת שַׂעֲרָהּ לַאֲחוֹרֶיהָ וְהוּא תַּכְשִׁיט לָהּ, כָּךְ הָיְתָה סַנְהֶדְרֵי גְדוֹלָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת אֲחוֹרֵי בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהִיא הָיְתָה תַּכְשִׁיט שֶׁל בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ נִרְאִין מְצֻמָּדִין וְהֵן מְרֻוָּחִין כַּהֲדֵין רַבָּה דְּצִפּוֹרִין, וְרַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר לְשׁוֹן עֲרָבִי הוּא אִין בָּעֵי לֵיהּ מֵימְרָא אַרְוַח לִי, הוּא אוֹמֵר מַבְעֵד לִי. שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, הַר שֶׁגָּלַשְׁתִּי מִתּוֹכוֹ עָשִׂיתִי אוֹתוֹ גַּלְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה יַם סוּף. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר טוּרָא דְּאִתְנַהַרְתּוּן מִן גַּוָּוהּ, הֲדָא אִתְּתָא כַּד שַׂעְרָהּ סַגְּיָן הִיא עָבְדָה לָהּ גַּלְשִׁין גַּלְשִׁין, הֲדָא מוֹצִינָא כְּהַהוּא לְפִי טַבָאוּת הוּא עָבֵד גַּלְשִׁין גַּלְשִׁין וּמַה גַּלְשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתִּי מִתּוֹכָהּ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִלִּין קְצוּבִין, בִּזַּת מִצְרַיִם וּבִזַּת הַיָּם. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעָאי, לִפְנֵי הַשִּׁירָה כְּתִיב (שופטים ג, יב): וַיֹּסִפוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה', לְאַחַר הַשִּׁירָה כְּתִיב (שופטים ו, א): וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה', תְּחִלַּת עֲשִׂיָּה, אֶלָּא כְּבָר מָחֲלָה שִׁירָה לְשֶׁעָבַר. כַּיּוֹצֵא בַּדָּבָר אַתָּה אוֹמֵר (שמואל ב כג, א): וְאֵלֶּה דִבְרֵי דָוִד הָאַחֲרֹנִים, וְהָרִאשׁוֹנִים הֵיכָן הֵם, אֶלָּא כְּבָר מָחֲלָה שִׁירָה לְשֶׁעָבַר. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, שֶׁהָיוּ כֻּלָּן מֻתְאָמִים בֵּין שְׁכִינָה לַמַּלְאָךְ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות יד, יט): וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ וגו'. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא נִזַּק אֶחָד מֵהֶם.
“Behind [mibaad] your braid” – Rabbi Levi said: Any bride whose eyes are ugly, her entire body requires examination. One whose eyes are beautiful, her entire body does not require examination. When a woman braids her hair behind her, it is an ornament for her. So was the Great Sanhedrin, which convened behind the Temple, and it was an ornament of the Temple. Rabbi Abbahu said: They appeared crowded, but it was spacious for them, as in the great colloquium in Tzippori. Rabbi Levi said: [The word mibaad] is Arabic. When he wants to say: Make room for me, he says: Maved li.
“Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” – the mountain from whose midst I directed away streams [shegalashti], I rendered a memorial [galed] for the nations of the world. Which is that? It is the Red Sea.10This is a reference to the splitting of the sea. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The mountain from whose midst you streamed. When a woman’s hair grows too much, she thins it [galshin]. When the flame in a lamp burns too bright, one thins [the wick].11These statements are cited in order to demonstrate that the root gimmel-lamed-shin means to thin out or strip away.
What is it that I took away [higlashti] from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered [ketzuvot] ewes” – defined [ketzuvin] matters, the plunder of Egypt and the plunder of the sea. “That have come up from bathing” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai: Before the song [of Deborah], it is written: “The children of Israel continued to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord” (Judges 3:12). After the song it is written: “The children of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord” (Judges 6:1). Was this the beginning of their action?12Earlier it says they continued to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, indicating that they had already been doing so previously. But after the song it does not say they continued, rather only that they did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, implying that this was the beginning of their evil behavior. It is because the song had already atoned for the past. On a similar note it says: “These are David’s last words” (II Samuel 23:1). The first ones, where are they? Rather, the song13The song of David (II Samuel chap. 22). atoned for the past.
“That are all paired [matimot]” – as they are all in the middle [metuamim] between the Divine Spirit and the angel. That is what is written: “The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved [and went behind them]” (Exodus 14:19). “And there is none missing among them” – that not one of them was harmed.
כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ אֶת הַשִּׁירָה (שמות טו, א): אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, שֶׁמַּרְאִין בָּאֶצְבַּע וְאוֹמְרִים (שמות טו, ב): זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הִתְחִיל משֶׁה מְשַׁבְּחָן: כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, הָרֵיקָן שֶׁבָּכֶם רָצוּף מִצְווֹת כָּרִמּוֹן הַזֶּה, אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ עַל הַצְּנוּעִין וְהַמְצֻמָּתִין שֶׁבָּכֶם.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your speech is lovely; your temple is like a pomegranate slice behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3).
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” – when they sang the song: “Then sang Moses [and the children of Israel]” (Exodus 15:1). “Your speech is lovely [naveh]” – that they point with their finger and say: “This is my God and I will glorify Him [ve’anvehu]” (Exodus 15:2). At that moment, Moses began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” – even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִיד צַוָּארֵךְ, מַה שֶּׁגִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם דָּוִד בְּסִפְרוֹ, וּמַה גִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם דָּוִד בְּסִפְרוֹ (תהלים קלו, יג): לְגֹזֵר יַם סוּף לִגְזָרִים. בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, מַהוּ לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, סֵפֶר שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ פִּיּוֹת הַרְבֵּה, עֲשָׂרָה בְּנֵי אָדָם אָמְרוּ סֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים, אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְאַבְרָהָם, משֶׁה, וְדָוִד, וּשְׁלֹמֹה. עַל אִילֵּין חַמְשָׁה לָא אִתְפַּלְגוּן, אִילֵּין חַמְשָׁה אָחְרָנַיְיתָא מָאן אִינוּן, רַב וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, רַב אָמַר: אָסָף, וְהֵימָן, וִידוּתוּן, וּשְׁלשָׁה בְּנֵי קֹרַח וְעֶזְרָא. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: אָסָף, וְהֵימָן, וִידוּתוּן אֶחָד, וּשְׁלשָׁה בְּנֵי קֹרַח אֶחָד, וְעֶזְרָא. עַל דַּעַת רַב אֵין אָסָף בִּכְלַל בְּנֵי קֹרַח, עַל דַּעַת רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הוּא אָסָף דְּהָכָא הוּא אָסָף דְּתַמָּן, אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן תּוֹרָה זָכָה לוֹמַר שִׁירָה עִם אֶחָיו וְזָכָה לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. עַל דַּעַת רַב אָסָף אַחֵר הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א כה, ב): עַל יַד אָסָף הַנִּבָּא עַל יְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. הַנִּבָּא, רַב וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, רַב אָמַר לִידוּתוּן הַנִּבָּא עַל הַיְּדוּתוּן, עַל הַדִּינִין שֶׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו וְעַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר לִידוּתוּן הַנִּבָּא עַל הַדָּתִין עַל הַדִּינִין שֶׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו וְעַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַחָא, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲשָׂרָה בְּנֵי אָדָם אָמְרוּ סֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים, מִכֻּלְּהוֹן לֹא נֶאֱמַר עַל שְׁמוֹתָם אֶלָא עַל יְדֵי דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מָשְׁלוּ מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה, לַחֲבוּרָה שֶׁל אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁמְּבַקְּשִׁים לוֹמַר הִימְנוֹן לַמֶּלֶךְ, אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ, כֻּלְּכֶם נְעִימִים, כֻּלְּכֶם חֲסִידִים, כֻּלְּכֶם מְשֻׁבָּחִין לוֹמַר הִימְנוֹן לְפָנַי, אֶלָּא אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי יֹאמַר עַל יְדֵי כֻּלְּכֶם, לָמָּה, שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ עָרֵב. כָּךְ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבִּקְּשׁוּ עֲשָׂרָה צַדִּיקִים לוֹמַר סֵפֶר הַתְּהִלִּים, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כֻּלְּכֶם נְעִימִים וַחֲסִידִים וּמְשֻׁבָּחִים לוֹמַר הִימְנוֹן לְפָנַי, אֶלָּא דָּוִד יֹאמַר עַל יְדֵי כֻּלְּכֶם, לָמָּה שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמואל ב כג, א): וּנְעִים זְמִרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַחָא אָמַר מִי מַנְעִים זְמִירוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, דָּוִד בֶּן יִשַׁי. אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן תָּלוּי עָלָיו, כָּל אוֹתָן הָאֲלָפִים וְהָרְבָבוֹת שֶׁעָמְדוּ עַל הַיָּם וְהֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם, לֹא הֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבָּא לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר, כֹּל שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבֹּרִים, לְהָבִיא מִי שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד וְיִשְׁלֹט בְּיִצְרוֹ וְיִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרוֹ, כְּגוֹן משֶׁה בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, דָּוִד בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, עֶזְרָא בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, כָּל דּוֹרוֹ נִתְלָה בּוֹ, וְעַל יְדֵי מִי נִקְרַע לָכֶם יַם סוּף, עַל יְדֵי שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ, אֵלּוּ הֵם משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן פָּתַר קְרָיָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי, עֵדֶר שֶׁעָמְדוּ עַל הַר סִינַי לֹא הָיוּ עוֹמְדִים בַּאֲלִירָא, מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, שֶׁהָיוּ מְצַמְצְמִין עַצְמָן עַל כָּל דִּבּוּר וְדִבּוּר, וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹמְדִין בַּאֲלִירָא, אֶלָּא בְּיִרְאָה וּרְתֵת וְזִיעַ. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מַיְתֵי לָהּ מִן הָכָא, כְּתִיב (ישעיה ס, יב): וְהַגּוֹיִם חָרֹב יֶחֱרָבוּ, מֵחוֹרֵב נֶחְרָבוּ, נָטְלוּ אֶפּוֹפָּסִים שֶׁלָּהֶם לְמִיתָה. שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר טוּרָא דְּאִתְנַהַרְתּוּן מִן גַּוֵּויהּ, הַר שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּם מִתּוֹכוֹ, עָשִׂיתִי אוֹתוֹ גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה הַר סִינַי, וּמָה הַגְלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִילִין קְצִיבִין, מָאתַיִם אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת שִׁשִּׁים וְחָמֵשׁ מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, שֶׁהָיוּ כֻּלָּן מְרוּחָצִין מִן הָעֲוֹנוֹת. רַבִּי אַחָא וְרַבִּי מְשַׁרְשְׁיָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אִידֵי אוֹמֵר בְּכָל הַמּוּסָפִין כְּתִיב (במדבר כח, טו, כב): וּשְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת, וּשְׂעִיר חַטָּאת, אֲבָל בַּעֲצֶרֶת אֵין כְּתִיב חַטָּאת, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בְּיָדָם לֹא חֵטְא וְלֹא עָוֹן. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בַּיּוֹם שֶׁיָּרַד ה' עַל הַר סִינַי לִתֵּן תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יָרְדוּ עִמּוֹ שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שֶׁל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, וּבְיַד כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן עֲטָרָה לְעַטֵּר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִין רִבּוֹא שֶׁל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת יָרְדוּ עִם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְסִינַי, אֶחָד מַלְבִּישׁוֹ עֲטָרָה וְאֶחָד אוֹסְרוֹ זוֹנִי, מַהוּ זוֹנִי, רַבִּי הוּנָא רַבָּה דְצִפּוֹרִי אָמַר זוֹנָם, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (איוב יב, יח): מוּסַר מְלָכִים פִּתֵּחַ וַיֶּאְסֹר אֵזוֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶם. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה נִזּוֹק אֶחָד מֵהֶם. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, זֶה הַקּוֹל שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַדִּבּוּר, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כד, ג): וַיַּעַן כָּל הָעָם קוֹל אֶחָד. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, זֶה הַקּוֹל שֶׁל אַחַר הַדִבּוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ה, כה): וַיִּשְׁמַע ה' אֶת קוֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶם וגו' וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֵלַי שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת קוֹל דִּבְרֵי וגו' הֵיטִיבוּ כָּל אֲשֶׁר דִבֵּרוּ, מַהוּ הֵיטִיבוּ כָּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּרוּ, רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַדָּא וּבַר קַפָּרָא חַד אָמַר הֲטָבָה כַּהֲטָבַת נֵרוֹת, וְחַד אָמַר הֲטָבָה כַּהֲטָבַת הַקְּטֹרֶת. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הִתְחִיל משֶׁה מְקַלְּסָן, כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, הָרֵיקָן שֶׁבָּךְ רָצוּף הוּא תּוֹרוֹת כָּרִמּוֹן הַזֶּה, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, עַל הַצְּנוּעִין שֶׁבָּכֶם וְעַל הַמְצֻמָּתִין שֶׁבָּכֶם. כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִיד צַוָּארֵךְ, מַה שֶּׁגִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם דָּוִד בְּסִפְרוֹ, וּמַה גִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם דָּוִד בְּסִפְרוֹ (תהלים סח, ח): אֱלֹהִים בְּצֵאתְךָ לִפְנֵי עַמֶּךָ. מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ (תהלים סח, ט): אֶרֶץ רָעָשָׁה וגו', וְכֵן (שופטים ה, ה): הָרִים נָזְלוּ מִפְּנֵי ה' וגו', שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר זֶה סִינַי מִפְּנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, סֵפֶר שֶׁאֲמָרוּהוּ פִּיּוֹת הַרְבֵּה. אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן, כָּל אוֹתָן הָאֲלָפִים וְהָרְבָבוֹת שֶׁעָמְדוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי וְהֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם, לֹא הֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת אוֹתוֹ הַבָּא לְאֶלֶף דוֹר, וְלֹא אַתֶּם בְּעַצְמְכֶם נִתְלֵיתֶם בּוֹ, אֶלָּא כֹּל שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבֹּרִים, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד וְיִשְׁלֹט וְיִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרוֹ, כְּגוֹן משֶׁה בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, דָּוִד בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, עֶזְרָא בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, כָּל דּוֹרָן נִתְלָה בָּהֶם, וְעַל יְדֵי מִי נָתַן הַתּוֹרָה עַל יְדֵי שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ אֵלּוּ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן.
“Your neck is like the tower of David, built magnificently. One thousand bucklers are hung upon it, all the shields of the mighty” (Song of Songs 4:4).
“Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which David elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “Who split the Red Sea asunder, [His mercy endures forever. He led Israel through its midst]” (Psalms 136:13).14The fact that Israel was the recipient of this great miracle is a credit to them. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – what is letalpiyot? It is the book that was stated by many mouths [piyot]. Ten people said the book of Psalms: Adam the first man, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon. Regarding these five there is no dispute. Who are the other five? Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan: Rav said: Asaf, Heiman, Yedutun, the three sons of Koraḥ,15The three sons of Koraḥ are counted as one. and Ezra; Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Asaf, Heiman, and Yedutun are one,16Asaf is one of the sons of Koraḥ, and Yedutun is not the name of an author, as explained below. each of the three sons of Koraḥ, and Ezra. In the opinion of Rav, Asaf is not included among the sons of Koraḥ. In the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, Asaf here is Asaf there;17The Asaf mentioned as an author of certain psalms (see, e.g., Psalms 50:1) is the same Asaf who was a son of Koraḥ (see Exodus 6:24, which mentions a son of Koraḥ named Aviasaf). however, because he was a Torah personality he was privileged to recite song with his brothers18The other sons of Koraḥ and to recite song on his own. In the opinion of Rav, it is a different Asaf, as it is stated: “With Asaf, who prophesied by means of the king” (I Chronicles 25:2).19The Asaf mentioned in this verse was a contemporary of King David and not a son of Koraḥ.
“Who prophesied” – Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan: Rav said: “To Yedutun” (Psalms 39:1) – who prophesied;20This psalm was written by the individual named Yedutun who is mentioned as having prophesied (See I Chronicles 25:1). “regarding Yedutun” (Psalms 77:1) – regarding the punishments [dinin] that befell him and Israel. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “To Yedutun” [means] that [the psalmist] prophesied regarding the decrees [datin] and the punishment that befell him and Israel.21Even the Yedutun mentioned in Psalms 39 is not the name of a person. Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Even though ten people said the book of Psalms, of all of them, it is not attributed to them, but exclusively to David king of Israel. They stated a parable: to what is this matter analogous? It is to a group of people who seek to recite a hymn to the king. The king said: You are all pleasant, you are all pious, you are all qualified to recite a hymn before me. However, so-and-so will recite it on behalf of all of you. Why? Because his voice is sweet. So too, when ten righteous people sought to recite the book of Psalms, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: You are all pleasant, pious, and qualified to recite a hymn before Me; however, David will recite it on behalf of all of you. Why? Because his voice is sweet. That is what is written: “The sweet singer of Israel” (II Samuel 23:1). Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Who sweetly sings the psalms of Israel? It is David son of Yishai.
“One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – all those thousands and tens of thousands who stood at the sea and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations.22The Torah was given after one thousand generations (see Bereshit Rabba 28:4; Kohelet Rabba 7:28). The first nine hundred seventy-four generations that were supposed to exist were erased because they were not worthy, and there were twenty-six generations from Adam to Moses.
“All the shields of the mighty” – to include one who stands and controls his inclination and overcomes his inclination, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time; his entire generation depends upon him. By means of whom was the Red Sea split for you? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses and Aaron.
Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding Israel before Mount Sinai: the flock that stood at Mount Sinai did not stand with lightheartedness. “Behind your braid [tzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – they would contract [metzamtzemin] themselves with each and every divine statement.23They would huddle together in an expression of humility and unity. They would not stand with lightheartedness, but rather with fear, trembling, and agitation. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan cites it from here:24This statement should appear after Rabbi Yehoshua’s statement that Israel was absolved of its sins at Sinai, which implies that the nations of the world, who did not receive the Torah, were still held accountable for their sins (Maharzu). It is written: “And the nations will be destroyed [ḥarov yeḥeravu]” (Isaiah 60:12) – from Ḥorev they will be destroyed, they received their death sentence.
“Your hair is like a flock of goats [that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad]” (Song of Songs 4:1) – Rabbi Yehoshua said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashtem], I rendered it a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is Mount Sinai. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, two hundred and forty-eight positive commandments and three hundred and sixty-five negative commandments. “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – all of them were cleansed of iniquity. Rabbi Aḥa and Rabbi Mesharshiya say in the name of Rabbi Idi: In all the additional offerings it is written: “And one goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 28:15), “and [one] goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 28:22). However, regarding Shavuot it is not written that there is a sin offering, to teach you that they did not have sin or iniquity attributed to them.
“That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: On the day that the Lord descended onto Mount Sinai to give the Torah to Israel, six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with him, and in the hand of each and every one of them was a crown with which to crown an Israelite, [one] for each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand ministering angels descended with the Holy One blessed be He to Sinai; one would adorn [an Israelite] with a crown and one would gird a zoni on him. What is a zoni? Rabbi Huna the Great of Tzippori said: It is a belt [zonam], just as it says: “He loosens the bonds of kings and girds a belt on their waists” (Job 12:18). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was harmed.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the voice before the divine speech; just as it says: “The entire people responded with one voice” (Exodus 24:3). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the voice that is after the divine speech, as it is stated: “The Lord heard the sound of your words…the Lord said to me: I heard the sound of the words…they did well in everything that they spoke” (Deuteronomy 5:25). What is “they did well [heitivu] in everything that they spoke”? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Ada and bar Kappara: one said it was done well like the removal [hatava] of the ashes from the lamps of the candelabrum,25This is performed after the flames are extinguished, a reference to what they said after the commandments. and one said it was done well like the preparation [hatava] of the incense.”26This is performed before the incense is burned, a reference to what they said before the commandments. At that moment, Moses began lauding them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
“Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which David elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “God, when You emerged before Your people” (Psalms 68:8). What is written thereafter? “The earth quaked…[this is Sinai; at the presence of God, the God of Israel]” (Psalms 68:9). Likewise, “The mountains flowed before the Lord; [this is Sinai before the Lord, God of Israel]” (Judges 5:5), as the verse did not need to say: “This is Sinai before the Lord, God of Israel.”27It mentions Israel in order to accord them honor. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot].
“One thousand bucklers” – all those thousands and tens of thousands who stood before Mount Sinai and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations.28Moses You relied not only upon him, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – to include anyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time. Their entire generations depend upon them. By means of whom was the Torah given? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses and Aaron.
רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַר קְרָיָה בְּמִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן, שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים, עֲדָרִים שֶׁהָלְכוּ לְמִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן לֹא הָלְכוּ אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת משֶׁה וּפִנְחָס, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר לא, נד): וַיִּקַּח משֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַזָּהָב מֵאֵת. שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, הַר. שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ עֲשִׂיתִיו גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אֵיזוֹ זוֹ, זוֹ מִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן, וּמַה הַגְּלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִלִּין קְצוּבִים, שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֶלֶף בִּנְדָבָה וּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֶלֶף בִּמְסִירָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר לא, ה): וַיִּמָּסְרוּ מֵאַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה, אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בַּר יִצְחָק בִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֶלֶף הָלְכוּ לְמִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, רַבִּי הוּנָא אָמַר שֶׁלֹא הִקְדִּים אֶחָד מֵהֶן תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ לִתְפִלִּין שֶׁל יַד, שֶׁאִלּוּ הִקְדִּים אֶחָד מֵהֶן תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ לִתְפִלִּין שֶׁל יַד לֹא הָיָה משֶׁה מְשַׁבְּחָן וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹלִין מִשָּׁם בְּשָׁלוֹם, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר שֶׁהָיוּ צַדִּיקִים בְּיוֹתֵר. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָסִין זוּגוֹת זוּגוֹת אֵצֶל הָאִשָּׁה הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן מְפַחֵם פָּנֶיהָ, וְאֶחָד מֵהֶם מְפָרֵק נְזָמֶיהָ, וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרוֹת לָהֶם אֵין אָנוּ מִבְּרִיּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ לָנוּ כָךְ, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם לֹא דַיְּכֶם שֶׁנָּטְלוּ שֶׁלָּנוּ מִתַּחַת יְדֵיכֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר כה, ד): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה קַח אֶת כָּל רָאשֵׁי הָעָם וְהוֹקַע אוֹתָם. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא נֶחֱשַׁד מֵהֶם אֶחָד בַּעֲבֵרָה. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ לְמשֶׁה (במדבר לא, מט): עֲבָדֶיךָ נָשְׂאוּ אֶת רֹאשׁ אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדֵנוּ וְלֹא נִפְקַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ, לְעֶרְיָה וּלְחֵטְא. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ (במדבר לא, נ): וַנַּקְרֵב אֶת קָרְבַּן ה', אָמַר לָהֶם משֶׁה דִּבְרֵיכֶם סוֹתְרִים זֶה אֶת זֶה, אֲמַרְתֶּם: וְלֹא נִפְקַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ, לְעֶרְיָה וּלְחֵטְא, וַאֲמַרְתֶּם: וַנַּקְרֵב אֶת קָרְבַּן ה', אִלּוּ לֹא חֲטָאתֶם קָרְבָּן זֶה לָמָּה. אָמְרוּ לוֹ משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ זוּגוֹת זוּגוֹת הָיִינוּ נִכְנָסִין אֵצֶל הָאִשָּׁה וְהָיָה אֶחָד מִמֶּנּוּ מְפַחֵם אֶת פָּנֶיהָ וְאֶחָד מְפָרֵק נְזָמֶיהָ, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹא הִזִּיעַ יֵצֶר הָרָע קִמְעָה, עַל אוֹתָה הַזִּיעָה שֶׁל יֵצֶר הָרָע אָנוּ אוֹמְרִים לְהָבִיא קָרְבָּן, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הִתְחִיל משֶׁה מְשַׁבְּחָן: כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, רֵיקָנִין שֶׁבָּכֶם רְצוּפִין מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים כָּרִמּוֹן הַזֶּה, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁבָּא עֲבֵרָה לְיָדוֹ וְנִצַּל מִמֶּנָּהּ וְלֹא עָשָׂה אוֹתָהּ, מִצְוָה גְדוֹלָה עָשָׂה. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, עַל הַצְּנוּעִין וְעַל הַמְּצֻמָּתִין שֶׁבָּכֶם. כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִיד, מַה שֶּׁגִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם בְּסִפְרוֹ, וּמַה גִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם דָּוִד בְּסִפְרוֹ (תהלים קלו, יט): לְסִיחוֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי, וּלְעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן, וְנָתַן אַרְצָם לְנַחֲלָה. בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, סֵפֶר שֶׁאֲמָרוּהוּ פִּיּוֹת הַרְבֵּה. אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן תָּלוּי עָלָיו, כָּל הָרְבָבוֹת וְהָאֲלָפִים שֶׁהָלְכוּ לְמִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן וְהֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם, לֹא הֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבָּא לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר, וְלֹא אַתֶּם בְּעַצְמְכֶם נִתְלֵיתֶם בּוֹ, אֶלָּא כֹּל שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבֹּרִים, כָּל שֶׁעוֹמֵד וְשׁוֹלֵט וּמִתְגַּבֵּר בְּיִצְרוֹ קָרוּי גִּבּוֹר, כְּגוֹן משֶׁה בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, דָּוִד בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, עֶזְרָא בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, כָּל דּוֹרָן נִתְלָה בָּהֶם, וְעַל יְדֵי מִי נַעֲשֵׂית מִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן, עַל יְדֵי שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ, עַל יְדֵי סַנֶדְרָנָא משֶׁה וּפִנְחָס.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the Midianite war. “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the flocks that went to the Midianite war went only due to the merit of Moses and Pinḥas.29They were successful in the war against Midian only due to the merit of Moses and Pinḥas (Etz Yosef). That is what is written: “Moses and Elazar the priest took the gold from…” (Numbers 31:54).30Some suggest that the text should read: That is what is written: “Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Pinḥas” (Numbers 31:6). This verse may be understood as equating Pinḥas with the rest of those who went out to war (Matnot Kehuna). “That streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Midianite war. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, twelve thousand volunteers and twelve thousand conscripts, as it is stated: “One thousand per tribe from the thousands of Israel were provided, [twelve thousand mobilized soldiers]” (Numbers 31:5). Rabbi Ḥananya bar Yitzḥak said: They went to the Midianite war with twelve thousand.
“That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Huna said: Not one of them gave precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries,31The arm phylacteries are supposed to be donned before the head phylacteries. as, had one of them given precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries, Moses would not have praised them and they would not have ascended from there unharmed. That is to say that they were extremely righteous.
“That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as when they would enter in pairs to the woman, one of them would blacken her face and one of them would remove her jewelry.32The war against Midian was fought in the aftermath of the events in Shitim, where Moavite and Midianite women enticed Israelites to engage in sexual immorality and idolatry. As a result, twenty-four thousand Israelites died in a plague (see Numbers 25:1–9). When the Israelites defeated the Midianite army and entered the private dwellings where the women were located to take the spoils of war, they would enter two at a time and would cause the women to look less enticing, so as to ensure that they would not sin. [The women] would say to them: ‘Are we not creations of the Holy One blessed be He that you do this to us?’ The Israelites would say to them: ‘Is it not enough for you that our people received their punishment because of you?’ That is what is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them” (Numbers 25:4). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was suspected of committing a transgression.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – when they said to Moses: “Your servants took a census of the men of war under our command, and not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49), in lewdness and in sin.33None of our men were killed, and none acted inappropriately with the captive women.
“Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – as they said to him: “We brought the offering of the Lord” (Numbers 31:50). Moses said to them: ‘Your statements contradict each other. You said: “Not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49) – in lewdness and in sin. And you said: “We brought the offering of the Lord.” If you did not sin, what is the purpose of this offering?’ They said to him: Moses our master, we would enter to the woman in pairs, and one of us would blacken her face and one would remove her jewelry. Is it possible that the evil inclination was not moved at all? For that moving of the evil inclination we say to bring an offering.
At that moment, Moses began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate, for anyone who is confronted by the opportunity to commit a transgression and is spared from it and does not perform it has performed a great mitzva. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
“Like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which [David] elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “Siḥon king of the Emorites.… and Og king of the Bashan.… and gave their land as an inheritance” (Psalms 136:19–21).34These verses state that God gave the land of Siḥon to Israel as an inheritance. Included in this territory was the land of Midian. The fact that Israel merited to inherit the land of Midian speaks positively of them. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot].
“One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – all those tens of thousands and those thousands who went to the Midianite war and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations. Not only you alone relied upon it, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – everyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, is called mighty, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time. Their entire generation depends upon them. By means of whom was the Midianite war waged? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses, the head of the Sanhedrin, and Pinḥas.
רַבִּי הוּנָא פָּתַר קְרָיָה בַּיַּרְדֵּן, שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים, עֵדֶר שֶׁעָבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן לֹא עָבְרוּ אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יהושע ד, כב): וְהוֹדַעְתֶּם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם לֵאמֹר בַּיַּבָּשָׁה עָבַר יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי הוּנָא אָמַר יִשְׂרָאֵל סָבָא. רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת מָצָאנוּ בַּתּוֹרָה בַּנְּבִיאִים בַּכְּתוּבִים שֶׁלֹא עָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, בַּתּוֹרָה (בראשית לב, י): כִּי בְמַקְלִי עָבַרְתִּי אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה. בַּנְּבִיאִים (יהושע ד, כב): וְהוֹדַעְתֶּם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם לֵאמֹר בַּיַּבָּשָׁה עָבַר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה, עָבַר יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִשְׂרָאֵל סָבָא. בַּכְּתוּבִים (תהלים קיד, ה): מַה לְּךָ הַיָּם כִּי תָנוּס הַיַּרְדֵּן וגו' מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלוֹהַּ יַעֲקֹב וגו'. שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, הַר שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ עֲשִׂיתִיו גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אֵי זֶה זֶה, זֶה הַיַּרְדֵּן, וּמָה הַגְלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּם מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, בִּזַּת סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשִׁשִּׁים אֶלֶף נִכְבְּשָׁה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן, הִיא דַעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כָּל מִלְחָמָה שֶׁהִיא יְתֵרָה עַל שִׁשִּׁים אֶלֶף, מִלְחֶמֶת עִרְבּוּבְיָא הִיא. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּשֵׁם חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כְּעֶשֶׂר כְּעֶשְׂרִים כִּשְׁלשִׁים כְּאַרְבָּעִים, אָמַר אוֹ חָסֵר אוֹ יָתֵר, תַּמָּן אִתְּמָר (יהושע ד, יג): כְּאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף חֲלוּצֵי הַצָּבָא, וְהָכָא אִתְּמָר (דברי הימים א ה, יח): אַרְבָּעִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת וְשִׁשִּׁים, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא אֶלֶף שָׁלֵם הָיוּ וְהַשְּׁאָר כָּלוּ בַּדְּרָכִים. אוֹתָן חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף אֵיכָן הֵם, אָמַר לָהֶם שׁוֹמְרֵי כֵלִים הָיוּ וְלֹא מְנָאָן הַכָּתוּב. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, שֶׁהָיוּ מֻתְאָמִים בֵּין הֶחָלוּץ לַמְּאַסֵּף, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יהושע ו, ט): וְהֶחָלוּץ הֹלֵךְ וגו'. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם וגו', שֶׁלֹא הָיָה נִזָּק אֶחָד מֵהֶן. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, כְּשֶׁאָמְרוּ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ (יהושע א, טז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָנוּ נַעֲשֶׂה וגו'. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, שֶׁאָמְרוּ (יהושע א, יח): כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַמְרֶה אֶת פִּיךָ וגו' יוּמָת, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הִתְחִיל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מְשַׁבְּחָן, כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, הָרֵיקָן שֶׁבָּךְ רָצוּף הוּא תּוֹרוֹת כָּרִמּוֹן הַזֶּה, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, עַל הַצְּנוּעִין שֶׁבָּכֶם וְעַל הַמְּצֻמָּתִים שֶׁבָּכֶם. כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִיד צַוָּארֵךְ, כַּמָּה גִּדֵּל אֶתְכֶם דָּוִד בְּסִפְרוֹ (תהלים קלו, יז): לְמַכֵּה מְלָכִים גְּדֹלִים. בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, סֵפֶר שֶׁאֲמָרוּהוּ פִּיּוֹת הַרְבֵּה. אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן, כָּל אוֹתָן הָאֲלָפִים וְהָרְבָבוֹת שֶׁעָבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן וְהֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם, לֹא הֵגַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת אוֹתוֹ הַבָּא לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר, וְלֹא אַתֶּם בְּעַצְמְכֶם נִתְלֵיתֶם בּוֹ אֶלָּא שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבֹּרִים, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד וְיִשְׁלֹט וְיִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרוֹ, כְּגוֹן משֶׁה בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, דָּוִד בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, עֶזְרָא בִּשְׁעָתוֹ, כָּל דּוֹרָן נִתְלָה בָּהֶן, וְעַל יְדֵי מִי עָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן עַל יְדֵי שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ, אֵלּוּ הֵן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְאֶלְעָזָר.
Rabbi Huna interpreted the verse regarding the Jordan. “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the flocks that crossed the Jordan crossed only due to the merit of Jacob our patriarch. That is what is written: “You shall inform your children, saying: Israel crossed [this Jordan] on dry land” (Joshua 4:22). Rabbi Huna said: Israel the patriarch.35The fact that the verse mentions Israel instead of the more common term for the nation, “children of Israel,” is meant to hint to the fact that they crossed in the merit of Israel, i.e., Jacob. Rabbi Yudan [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: We find in three places, in the Torah, in the Prophets, and in the Writings, that Israel crossed the Jordan due only to the merit of Jacob our patriarch. In the Torah: “For with my staff I crossed this Jordan” (Genesis 32:11); in the Prophets: “You shall inform your children, saying: Israel crossed this Jordan on dry land” (Joshua 4:22) – Israel the patriarch; in the Writings: “What is it, sea, that makes you flee? The Jordan, [that you turn back?]” (Psalms 114:5). [It retreats] “from before the God of Jacob” (Psalms 114:7).
“That streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered it a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Jordan. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – the plunder of Siḥon and Og.36The midrash understands the reference to ordered ewes as referring to the rows of soldiers who fought against Siḥon and Og (Etz Yosef). This occurred before the Israelites crossed the Jordan.
“That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Elazar said: The land of Canaan was conquered with sixty thousand.37Commentaries struggle to explain how this is derived from the phrase of the verse cited here. Some suggest that the text should read “like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2). Rabbi Elazar then states that if this is an allusion to the army that conquered Canaan, they must have been sixty thousand, because if there were more they would not have been “ordered” and organized (Yefei Kol). This is the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, as Rabbi Elazar said: Every war that involves more than sixty thousand is a war of pandemonium. Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Ḥizkiya: Wherever it states about ten, about twenty, about thirty, about forty, it is saying either more or less. There it is stated: “About forty thousand, the vanguard of the army” (Joshua 4:13), and here it is stated: “Forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty” (I Chronicles 5:18). Rabbi Aḥa said: They were complete thousands, and the rest perished on the way.38Forty-five thousand soldiers actually went out to battle, but forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty returned. The verse in Joshua refers to this number as forty thousand. Those fifteen thousand, where are they?39The total number that went out to battle was forty-five thousand, whereas Rabbi Elazar said they would go out with sixty thousand. [Rabbi Elazar] said to them: They were guards of the equipment, and the verse did not include them in the tally. “That are all paired [matimot]” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as they were in the middle [metuamim] between the vanguard and the rearguard. That is what is written: “And the vanguard goes […and the rearguard goes]” (Joshua 6:9). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was harmed.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – when they said to Joshua: “Everything that you commanded us we will perform…” (Joshua 1:16). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – as they said to him: “Anyone who will defy your word…will die” (Joshua 1:18). At that moment, Joshua began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with Torahs like this pomegranate. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
“Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – how did David elevate [gidel] you in his book: “Who smote great kings” (Psalms 136:17)! “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot].
“One thousand bucklers” – all those thousands and tens of thousands who crossed the Jordan and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of the one who came after one thousand generations.40Moses You relied not only upon him, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – anyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time; their entire generation depends upon them. Due to whom did Israel cross the Jordan? It was due to “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Joshua and Elazar.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, הַר שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּם מִתּוֹכוֹ עֲשִׂיתִיו גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה, זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים סח, לו): נוֹרָא אֱלֹהִים מִמִּקְדָּשֶׁיךָ מֵאֵיכָן מוֹרָא יוֹצֵא, לֹא מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הֲדָא דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ויקרא כו, ב): אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁי תִּירָאוּ, שֶׁהוּא מְקֻדָּשׁ בְּחֻרְבָּנוֹ כְּשֶׁהָיָה מְקֻדָּשׁ בְּבִנְיָנוֹ, וַהֲרֵי דְבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר, וּמָה אִם לְמִקְדָּשׁוֹ לֹא נָשָׂא לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פָּנִים, לִכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא לְהִפָּרַע מִמַּחֲרִיבָיו עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, וּמַה הַגְּלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִלִּין קְצוּבִין, אֵלּוּ בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, דִּתְנֵינַן תַּמָּן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּשְׁמוֹנָה בְּגָדִים וְהַהֶדְיוֹט בְּאַרְבָּעָה, בִּכְתֹנֶת, וּמִכְנָסַיִם, מִצְנֶפֶת וְאַבְנֵט. מוֹסִיף עָלָיו כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, חשֶׁן, וְאֵפוֹד, וּמְעִיל, וְצִיץ נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ. כְּתֹנֶת הָיְתָה מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית לז, לא): וַיִּטְבְּלוּ אֶת הַכֻּתֹּנֶת בַּדָּם. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים עַל לוֹבְשֵׁי כִּלְאַיִם, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית לז, ג): וְעָשָׂה לוֹ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים. מִכְנָסַיִם מְכַפְּרִים עַל גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כח, מב): וַעֲשֵׂה לָהֶם מִכְנְסֵי בָד לְכַסּוֹת בְּשַׂר עֶרְוָה. מִצְנֶפֶת מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל גַּסֵּי הָרוּחַ, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כט, ו): וְשַׂמְתָּ הַמִּצְנֶפֶת עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. אַבְנֵט עַל מָה הָיָה מְכַפֵּר עַל הָעוֹקְמָנִין, טַעְמָא מַאן דְּאָמַר עַל הַגַּנָּבִים, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה חָלוּל כְּנֶגֶד הַגַּנָּבִים שֶׁעוֹשִׂין מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם בַּסֵּתֶר, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל הָעוֹקְמָנִין, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי שְׁלשִׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם אַמּוֹת הָיָה בוֹ וְהָיָה מְעַקְּמוֹ לְכָאן וּלְכָאן. חשֶׁן הָיָה מְכַפֵּר עַל מַטֵּי דִין, הֲדָא דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כח, ל): וְנָתַתָּ אֶל חשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט. אֵפוֹד הָיָה מְכַפֵּר עַל עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (הושע ג, ד): וְאֵין אֵפוֹד וּתְרָפִים. מְעִיל הָיָה מְכַפֵּר עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן דְּבֵית גּוּבְרִין שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם כַּפָּרָה וְקָבְעָה לָהֶם הַתּוֹרָה כַּפָּרָה, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: לָשׁוֹן הָרָע וְהַהוֹרֵג נֶפֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָה. לָשׁוֹן הָרָע לֹא הָיָה לָהּ כַּפָּרָה וְקָבְעָה הַתּוֹרָה כַּפָּרָה, זוֹג הַמְּעִיל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כח, לה): וְהָיָה עַל אַהֲרֹן לְשָׁרֵת וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ וגו', יָבוֹא קוֹל וִיכַפֵּר עַל קוֹל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. וְהַהוֹרֵג בִּשְׁגָגָה לֹא הָיָה לוֹ כַּפָּרָה וְקָבְעָה לוֹ הַתּוֹרָה כַּפָּרָה, זוֹ מִיתַת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר לה, כה): וְיָשַׁב בָּהּ עַד מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹל צִיץ הָיָה מְכַפֵּר עַל עַזֵּי פָּנִים, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל הַגּוֹדְפָנִים, מַאן דְּאָמַר עַל עַזֵּי פָּנִים, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כח, לח): עַל מֵצַח אַהֲרֹן, וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ירמיה ג, ג): וּמֵצַח אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה הָיָה לָךְ וגו', וּמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל הַגּוֹדְפָנִין (שמות כח, לח): וְהָיָה עַל מִצְחוֹ תָּמִיד, וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל א יז, מט): וַתִּטְבַּע הָאֶבֶן בְּמִצְחוֹ. כְּתִיב (שמואל א יז, מט): וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו אָרְצָה, לָמָּה וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו, אֶלָּא מִתְּחִלָּה אַתָּה דוֹרֵשׁ (שמואל א יז, ד): גָּבְהוֹ שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת וָזָרֶת, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יִצְטַעֵר אוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק וִיהַלֵּךְ מְלֹא קוֹמָתוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב: וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו אָרְצָה, אָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה דָּגוֹן אֱלֹהָיו חָקוּק עַל לִבּוֹ, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כו, ל): וְנָתַתִּי אֶת פִּגְרֵיכֶם עַל פִּגְרֵי גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו אָרְצָה, אָמַר רַבִּי כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּטָּמֵן אוֹתוֹ פֶּה סָרוּחַ שֶׁחֵרֵף וְגִדֵּף, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב מ, יג): טָמְנֵם בֶּעָפָר יָחַד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו אָרְצָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יִצְטַעֵר אוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק בְּתוֹךְ יִשּׁוּבוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו, כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּבוֹא אוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק וְיִדְרֹךְ עַל צַוָּארוֹ, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לג, כט): וְאַתָּה עַל בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרֹךְ. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, שֶׁמְּכַפְּרִין עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, אֵלּוּ שְׁתֵּי שַׁרְשְׁרוֹת גַּבְלוּת שֶׁל זָהָב שֶׁיּוֹצְאוֹת מִבֵּין הַחשֶׁן וְהָיוּ נִרְאִין מִתּוֹכוֹ כְּמִין שְׁתַּיִם נַרְתֵּיקוֹת. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלָה אַחַת מֵהֶן. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, זֶה נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, זֶה הַצִּיץ. רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן הֲוָה סָלֵיק לְצַלוֹיֵי בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, כֵּיוָן דִּמְטָא גַּבֵּי חַד פְּלָאטִינוֹס פָּגַע בֵּיהּ חַד כּוּתִי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְאָן אַתְּ אָזֵיל, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לִמְצַלֵּי בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלָא טַב לָךְ תִּיסוֹק וּתְצַלֵּי בַּהֲדֵין טוּרָא בְּרִיכָא וְלָא תְצַלֵּי בְּהַהִיא קִיקַלְתָּא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלָמָּה הוּא בְּרִיךְ טוּרָא הָדֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ דְּלָא טַף בְּמוֹי דְּמַבּוּלָא, הֲדָא הִיא דִּבְרִיָּיתָא אָמְרִין אַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא טָפַת בְּמוֹי דְּמַבּוּלָא. אִתְעַלְּמַת מִלְּתָא מִן רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא וְלֹא הֱשִׁיבוֹ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ חַמָּרֵיהּ, רַבִּי תַּרְשֵׁנִי וַאֲנִי מְשִׁיבוֹ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ הֲשִׁיבוֹ, אֲמַר לְהַהוּא כּוּתִי, הָדֵין טוּרָא מִמָּה אַתְּ עָבֵיד לֵיהּ, אִי מִן טוּרָא רָמְמַיָּא הָא כְתִיב (בראשית ז, יט): וַיְכֻסּוּ כָּל הֶהָרִים הַגְּבֹהִים, אִי מִן מַכִּיכַיָּא הָא כְתִיב (בראשית ז, כ): חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה מִלְמַעְלָה גָּבְרוּ הַמָּיִם וַיְכֻסּוּ הֶהָרִים, וְלָא אַשְׁגַּח בֵּיהּ עֲלוֹי קְרָיָה בֶּהָרִים הַנְּמוּכִים, אִם הֶהָרִים שֶׁהָיוּ גְּבוֹהִים מִלְמַעְלָה כְּתִיב: וַיְכֻסּוּ כָּל הֶהָרִים, קַל וָחֹמֶר לַנְּמוּכִים. בְּהַהִיא עָנָתָא נִשְׁתַּתֵּק אוֹתוֹ כּוּתִי וְלָא אַשְׁכַּח מַה לְּהָשִׁיב. בְּהַהִיא עָנָתָא נְחַת לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן וְאַרְכְּבֵיהּ לְחַמָּרֵיהּ תְּלָתָא מִילִין, וְקָרָא עֲלֵיהּ תְּלָתָא קְרָיָין (דברים ז, יד): בָּרוּךְ תִּהְיֶה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ עָקָר וַעֲקָרָה וּבִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ, אֲפִלּוּ בַּבֶּהָמִין שֶׁבָּכֶם. וְהָדֵין (ישעיה נד, יז): כָּל כְּלִי יוּצַר עָלַיִךְ לֹא יִצְלָח וגו'. וְהָדֵין: כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, רֵיקָן שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מָלֵא תְּשׁוּבוֹת כְּרִמּוֹן. מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר עַל הַצְּנוּעִין וְהַמְּצֻמָּתִין שֶׁבָּכֶם.
Another matter: “Behind your braid your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashtem], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Temple, as it is stated: “You are awesome, God, from Your Temple” (Psalms 68:36). From where does awe emerge? Is it not from the Temple? This is what it says: “You shall observe My Sabbaths and you shall revere My Sanctuary” (Leviticus 26:2) – as it is sanctified in its destruction just as it was sanctified while it was built. The matters can be inferred a fortiori: If to His Temple the Holy One blessed be He did not show favor, when He will come to exact punishment upon its destroyers all the more so.
What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, these are the vestments of the High Priesthood, as we learned there:41Yoma 71b The High Priest serves in eight vestments and the common [priest] in four: tunic, trousers, mitre, and sash. The High Priest adds beyond these the breastplate, ephod, robe, and the sacred frontplate.
The tunic would atone for murderers, just as it states: “They dipped the tunic in blood” (Genesis 37:31); some say for those who don garments of diverse kinds, just as it states: “He made for him a fine tunic” (Genesis 37:3).42This verse refers to the tunic that Jacob made for Joseph. According to one opinion, it contained wool and linen (see Bereshit Rabba 84:8). At the very least, its stripes could be reminiscent of different types of materials. The midrash takes this as an allusion to the fact that the tunic of the High Priest atones for the transgression of diverse kinds. The trousers atone for forbidden sexual relations, just as it states: “Make them linen trousers to cover the flesh of their nakedness” (Exodus 28:42). The mitre atones for the haughty, just as you say: “You shall place the mitre on his head” (Exodus 29:6). For what did the sash atone? For those with criminal thoughts.43Apparently text should be added here such that this sentence reads: For thieves, and some say for criminal thoughts (see Vayikra Rabba 10:6). The reason for the one who says for the thieves, it is because it was hollow, corresponding to thieves who perform their actions clandestinely.44There was space inside the sash, like a secret hiding place. According to the one who says it was for criminal thoughts, Rabbi Levi said: It was thirty-two cubits long, and he would twist it to this side and that.45He would wrap it all the way around himself multiple times, representing the twisted thoughts of those with criminal and dishonest intent. The breastplate would atone for those who distort justice, just as it says: “You shall place in the breastplate of judgment” (Exodus 28:30). The ephod would atone for idol worshippers, just as it says: “No ephod and no terafim” (Hosea 3:4).46Terafim are household idols. The robe would atone for evil speech. Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Yonatan of Beit Guvrin: There are two items for which there was no atonement47No offering designated to atone for it. but the Torah designated atonement for them, and these are: Evil speech and one who murders unwittingly. There was no atonement for evil speech, but the Torah designated atonement for it: the bell of the robe, as it is stated: “It shall be upon Aaron to serve, and its sound shall be heard…” (Exodus 28:35). Let the sound come and atone for the sound of evil speech. There was no atonement for one who murders unwittingly, but the Torah designated atonement for it, this is the death of the High Priest, as it stated: “He shall dwell in it until the death of the High Priest” (Numbers 35:25). The frontplate would atone for the impudent, and there is one who says for the blasphemers. The one who says for the impudent, just as it says: “On Aaron’s forehead [metzaḥ]” (Exodus 28:38), and below it says: “Yet you had the impudence [metzaḥ] of a harlot…” (Jeremiah 3:3). According to the one who says for the blasphemers, “it shall be on his forehead always” (Exodus 28:38), and below it says: “the stone penetrated his forehead” (I Samuel 17:49).48The stone shot by David penetrated the forehead of Goliath, who had blasphemed God.
It is written: “He fell on his face to the ground” (I Samuel 17:49). Why is it that “he fell on his face”?49The force of the stone to his forehead should have caused him to fall backward. Rather, initially you learn: “His height was six cubits and one span” (I Samuel 17:4) – so that this righteous one will not be inconvenienced to walk his entire height, therefore, it is written: “He fell on his face to the ground.”50Divine providence had Goliath fall forward so that David would not have to walk too far in order to cut off his head. Rabbi Huna said: It is because Dagon his god was engraved on his heart, to fulfill what is stated: “I will cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols” (Leviticus 26:30).
Another matter: “He fell on his face to the ground” (I Samuel 17:49) – Rabbi said: So that the disgusting mouth that cursed and blasphemed would be hidden [in the ground], like that which is stated: “Hide them in the dust together” (Job 40:13). Alternatively, “he fell on his face to the ground” – so that this righteous one would not have a troubled mind.51He would be certain that Goliath no longer posed a danger even though he was not yet dead. Alternatively, “he fell on his face” – so that this righteous one would come and step on [the back of] his neck, to fulfill what is stated: “You will trample their high places” (Deuteronomy 33:29).
“That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – they atone for Israel. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – these are the two braided chains of gold that emerge from the midst of the breastplate and appeared from its midst like two tassels. “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was tattered. “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the sacred crown.52This is a reference to the blue threads that passed over the head of the High Priest and fastened the frontlet to his forehead. “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the frontplate.
Rabbi Yonatan was ascending to pray in Jerusalem. When he reached a certain Pelatinus,53This is a reference to Mount Gerizim, which the Cuthites and Samaritans considered sacred. a certain Cuthite encountered him. He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Where are you going?’ [Rabbi Yonatan]said to him: ‘To pray in Jerusalem.’ He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Would it not be preferable for you to ascend and pray on this blessed mountain and not pray in those ruins [in Jerusalem]?’ [Rabbi Yonatan] said to him: ‘Why is this mountain blessed?’ He said to [Rabbi Yonatan]: ‘Because it was not flooded with the Flood waters.’ That is what people say: The Land of Israel was not flooded with the Flood waters. An answer slipped the mind of Rabbi Yonatan at that moment and he did not respond to him. His donkey driver said to him: ‘Rabbi, allow me, and I will respond to him.’ He said to him: ‘Respond to him.’ He said to that Cuthite: ‘This mountain, what do you consider it? If it is one of the high mountains, is it not written: “All the high mountains were covered” (Genesis 7:19)? If it is one of the low mountains, it is written: “Fifteen cubits upward the waters intensified, and the mountains were covered” (Genesis 7:20). The verse did not address the low mountains. If regarding the high mountains it is written: “All the mountains were covered,” all the more so regarding the low ones.’ At that moment the Cuthite fell silent and was unable to find a response. At that moment, Rabbi Yonatan dismounted and drove his donkey driver three mil, and he read in his regard three verses: “You will be the most blessed of all the peoples; there will be no male or female infertile among you or among your animals” (Deuteronomy 7:14), even among those of you who work with animals; and this: “Any weapon crafted against you will not succeed…” (Isaiah 54:17); and this: “your temple is like a pomegranate slice [rakatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty [reikan] among Israel is packed with answers like a pomegranate. “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” – and it goes without saying regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, הַר שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, עֲשִׂיתִיו גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אֵי זֶה זֶה, אֵלּוּ הַמִּשְׁמָרוֹת, וּמָה הַגְלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִלִּין קְצִיבִין, עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מִשְׁמְרוֹת כְּהֻנָּה, וְעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מִשְׁמְרוֹת לְוִיָה, שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה מַחְלָקוֹת. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, שֶׁמְשַׁמְּרִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, דִּתְנֵינַן תַּמָּן בִּשְׁלשָׁה פְּרָקִים בַּשָּׁנָה הָיוּ כָּל הַמִּשְׁמָרוֹת שָׁווֹת. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, דִּתְנֵינַן הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּרֹאשׁ וְרֶגֶל. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, דִּתְנֵינַן שָׁחָה לְנַסֵּךְ הֵנִיף הַסְּגַן בַּסּוּדָר, וְהֵקִישׁ בֶּן אַרְזָא בַּצִּלְצָל. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, זֶה הַשִּׁיר, דִּתְנֵינַן תַּמָּן הַשִּׁיר שֶׁהָיוּ הַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, בָּרִאשׁוֹן הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים (תהלים כד, א): לַה' הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ, בַּשֵּׁנִי (תהלים מח, ב): גָּדוֹל ה' וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ וגו', בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי (תהלים פב, א): אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל, בָּרְבִיעִי (תהלים צד, א): אֵל נְקָמוֹת ה' אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִיעַ, בַּחֲמִישִׁי (תהלים פא, ב): הַרְנִינוּ לֵאלֹהִים עוּזֵנוּ הָרִיעוּ לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, בַּשִּׁשִּׁי (תהלים צג, א): ה' מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ, בַּשַּׁבָּת (תהלים צב, א): מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא לְיוֹם שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ שַׁבָּת וּמְנוּחָה לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָמִים.
Another matter: “Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? These are the priestly watches. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, the twenty-four priestly watches, the twenty-four Levite watches, and twelve divisions.54These were divisions of men who would come for a month at a time to perform whatever labors the king would assign them (Etz Yosef). “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – who protect Israel. “That are all paired” – as we learned there: At three times during the year all the priestly watches were equal (Sukka 55b). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: “The first, the head and the hind leg…” (Tamid 31a).55Each of the priests had a role, and there were always enough priests to perform each task.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: [The High Priest] stooped to pour the libation, and the deputy waved the cloths, and ben Arza struck the cymbals (Tamid 33b).56This was the sign for the Levites to begin their song in the Temple. “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:2) – this is the song, as we learned there: The song that the Levites would recite in the Temple. On the first day they would recite: “The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains” (Psalms 24:1).57The intention is that on Sunday the Levites would recite the entire chapter of Psalms beginning with this verse. The same is true for all of the citations cited here; one psalm was recited each day of the week. On the second day: “Great is the Lord and highly to be praised in the city of God…” (Psalms 48:2). On the third day: “God stands in the divine congregation” (Psalms 82:1). On the fourth day: “Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth” (Psalms 94:1). On the fifth day: “Sing for joy to God, our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob” (Psalms 81:2). On the sixth day: “The Lord reigns: He is robed in majesty” (Psalms 93:1). On Shabbat they would recite: “A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day” (Psalms 92:1) – for the future, for the day that will be entirely Shabbat and rest for everlasting life.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, הַר שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, עֲשִׂיתִיו גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה, אֵלּוּ הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, מָה הַגְלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִלִּין קְצִיבִין, (במדבר כח, ד): אֶת הַכֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד תַּעֲשֶׂה בַבֹּקֶר וגו'. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, שֶׁמְכַפְּרִים וְהוֹלְכִין עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, דִּתְנֵינַן אַיִל קָרֵב בְּאַחַד עָשָׂר בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, דִּתְנֵינַן הַקְּרָבַיִם וְהַסֹּלֶת וְהַיַּיִן בִּשְׁלשָׁה שְׁלשָׁה.
Another matter: “Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? These are the sacrificial offerings. What is it that you took from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, “the one lamb you shall offer in the morning, [and the second lamb you shall offer in the afternoon]” (Numbers 28:4). “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that continually atone for Israel.
“That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: A ram is offered with eleven…with fifteen (Yoma 26b).58The mishna states that when a ram is brought as a burnt-offering, eleven priests participate in bringing the different parts of the offering to the altar. It then states that twenty-four priests would participate in the offering of a bull, of which fifteen would assist in carrying the limbs of the bull to the altar. The midrash is calling attention to the fact that there were clear guidelines delineating all of these aspects of the offerings, and that the guidelines were tailored to the particular offering under discussion. “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: The intestines, the fine flour, and the wine are carried by three each (Yoma 26b).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים, הַר שֶׁגְּלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, עֲשִׂיתִיו גַּל וְעֵד לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה, אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְּרִין, וּמָה הַגְלָשָׁה הִגְלַשְׁתֶּן מִתּוֹכוֹ, שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת, מִלִּין קְצִיבִין, אֵלּוּ מְזַכִּין וְאֵלּוּ מְחַיְּבִין. שֶׁעָלוּ מִן הָרַחְצָה, שֶׁמְּזַכִּין אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת, דִּתְנֵינַן מָצְאוּ לוֹ זְכוּת, פְּטָרוּהוּ, וְאִם לָאו מַעֲבִירִין דִּינוֹ לְמָחָר. וְהֵן מַעֲבִירִין לַזּוּגוֹת. וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר שֶׁמְּלַמְּדִין דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר. רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר שֶׁאֵין הֲלָכָה קוֹהָא לָהֶם. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר כִּגְזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ גְּזֵרַת בֵּית דִּין, הֵן מְצַוִּין בְּפִיהֶם סְקִילָה שְׂרֵפָה הֶרֶג וְחֶנֶק. רַבִּי חוּנְיָא אָמַר דָּמִים, דִּתְנֵינַן וְחוּט שֶׁל סִקְרָא חוֹגְרוֹ בָּאֶמְצַע כְּדֵי לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לַדָּמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים. רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוּדָה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁחוּט הַסִּיקְרָא מַבְדִּיל בֵּין דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, כֵּן סַנְהֶדְּרִין מַבְדִּילִין בֵּין טֻמְאָה לְטָהֳרָה, בֵּין אִסּוּר לְהֶתֵּר, בֵּין פְּטוֹר לְחִיּוּב.
Another matter: “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away, I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Sanhedrin. What is it that you took from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, these exonerate and these convict.59The Sanhedrin is compared to “ordered ewes” because there were a specific number of judges and specific guidelines for arriving at a verdict when the judges were split in their decision. “That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – who exonerate Israel. “That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as we learned: If they found in his favor they exonerate him. But if not they delay to the following day, and spend [the time in] pairs (Sanhedrin 40a).60In cases of capital punishment, the judges would spend the interval in the case in pairs, deliberating about whether there was any way to exonerate the accused. “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Levi said: They infer one matter from another matter. Rabbi Abba said: That the halakha is not unclear to them.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – Rabbi Yudan said: The decree of the court is like the decree of the king; with their mouths they command stoning, burning, beheading, and strangulation. Rabbi Ḥunya said: Blood,61Rabbi Ḥunya interprets the phrase “your lips are like a scarlet thread” as praising Israel for their observance of the laws of sacrificial offerings. as we learned: A red line encircled in the middle [of the altar] to separate between the blood of the upper part [of the altar] and the blood of the lower part (Midot 3:1). Rabbi Azarya [said] in the name of Rabbi Yuda: Just as the red line separates between the upper and the lower blood, so the Sanhedrin distinguishes between impurity and purity, between the prohibited and the permitted, between exemption and liability.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, זֶה לָשׁוֹן שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, זֶה שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֵין לָנוּ לְשׁוֹן זְהוֹרִית וְשָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ, אָמַר לָהֶם: כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ, רְחִישַׁת פִּיךְ חֲבִיבָה עָלַי כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית. רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אָמַר עֲלָה (הושע יד, ג): וּנְשַׁלְּמָה פָרִים שְׂפָתֵינוּ, מַה נְּשַׁלֵּם תַּחַת פָּרִים וְתַחַת שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ, שְׂפָתֵינוּ. וּמִדְבָּרֵךְ נָאוֶה, מִדְבָּרֵךְ יָאֵי, מִדַּבְּרוֹתַיִךְ יָאֲיָא. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מִדְבָּר חַיָּבִין עַל מְחִצָּתוֹ עַכְשָׁו כְּשֶׁהוּא חָרֵב כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְחֻיָּבִין עַל מְחִצָּתוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא בָּנוּי. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּחֻרְבָּנָהּ הֶעֱמִידָה לִי צַדִּיקִים, וּבְבִנְיָנָהּ הֶעֱמִידָה לִי רְשָׁעִים, בְּחֻרְבָּנָהּ הֶעֱמִידָה לִי צַדִּיקִים, דָּנִיֵּאל וַחֲבוּרָתוֹ, מָרְדְּכַי וַחֲבוּרָתוֹ, עֶזְרָא וַחֲבוּרָתוֹ. בְּבִנְיָנָהּ הֶעֱמִידָה לִי רְשָׁעִים, כְּגוֹן אָחָז וַחֲבוּרָתוֹ, מְנַשֶּׁה וַחֲבוּרָתוֹ, אָמוֹן וְסִיַּיעְתּוֹ. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן עַל הֲדָא דְּרַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר (ישעיה נד, א): כִּי רַבִּים בְּנֵי שׁוֹמֵמָה מִבְּנֵי בְעוּלָה, הֱוֵי צַדִּיקִים הֶעֱמִידָה לִי בְּחֻרְבָּנָהּ יוֹתֵר מִצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁהֶעֱמִידָה לִי בְּבִנְיָנָהּ. כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא וְרַבִּי אַחָא, חַד אֲמַר הָרֵיקָן שֶׁבְּשָׁלשׁ שׁוּרוֹת רָצוּף תּוֹרָה כָּרִמּוֹן הַזֶּה, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ עַל הַיּוֹשְׁבִין בַּסַּנְהֶדְרִין עַצְמָהּ. וְחַד אָמַר הָרֵיקָן שֶׁבַּסַּנְהֶדְרִין רָצוּף תּוֹרָה כָּרִמּוֹן הַזֶּה, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ, עַל הַיּוֹשְׁבִין תַּחַת הַזַּיִת וְתַחַת הַגֶּפֶן וְהַתְּאֵנָה וְעוֹסְקִין בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה. כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִד צַוָּארֵךְ, זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלָמָּה מְדַמֵּהוּ בְּצַוָּאר, שֶׁכָּל יָמִים שֶׁהָיָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בָּנוּי וְקַיָּם, הָיָה צַוָּארָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל פָּשׁוּט בֵּין אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, כִּבְיָכוֹל נִכְפַּף צַוָּארָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ויקרא כו, יט): וְשָׁבַרְתִּי אֶת גְּאוֹן עֻזְּכֶם, זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מַה צַּוָּאר זֶה נָתוּן בְּגָבְהוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, כָּךְ בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ נָתוּן בְּגָבְהוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. וּמַה צַּוָּאר זֶה רֹב תַּכְשִׁיטִין תְּלוּיִין בּוֹ, כָּךְ כְּהֻנָּה מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, לְוִיָּה מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וּמַה צַּוָּאר זֶה אִם נֻטַּל אֵין לָאָדָם חַיִּים, כָּךְ מִשֶּׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ אֵין חַיִּים לְשׂוֹנְאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, טֶטְרָגוֹנִין. חִיָּא בְּרַבִּי בּוֹן אָמַר יֹפִי הָיָה וְנַעֲשָׂה תֵּל, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁעֲשִׂיתִיו תֵּל בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וַאֲנִי הוּא שֶׁעָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ יְפֵיפוּת לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תַּלְפִּיוֹת, תֵּל שֶׁמִּתְפַּלְּלִים בּוֹ כָּל פִּיּוֹת. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ הָעוֹמְדִים בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וּמִתְפַּלְּלִין הוֹפְכִין פְּנֵיהֶם לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ח, מח): וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ אֵלֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצָם, הָעוֹמְדִין בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוֹפְכִין פְּנֵיהֶם כְּנֶגֶד יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וּמִתְפַּלְּלִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים ב ו, לד): וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֵלֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ הָעִיר הַזֹּאת, הָעוֹמְדִים וּמִתְפַּלְּלִים בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם הוֹפְכִין פְּנֵיהֶן כְּנֶגֶד הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ח, מב): וְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה, הָעוֹמְדִים בְּהַר הַבַּיִת הוֹפְכִים פְּנֵיהֶם כְּנֶגֶד קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים וּמִתְפַּלְּלִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ח, לה): וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, נִמְצְאוּ הָעוֹמְדִים בַּצָּפוֹן פְּנֵיהֶם לַדָּרוֹם, וְהָעוֹמְדִים בַּדָּרוֹם פְּנֵיהֶם לַצָּפוֹן, וְהָעוֹמְדִים בַּמִּזְרָח פְּנֵיהֶם לַמַּעֲרָב, וְהָעוֹמְדִים בַּמַּעֲרָב פְּנֵיהֶם לַמִּזְרָח, נִמְצְאוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְפַּלְּלִין אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, וּמִנַיִן שֶׁכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְפַּלְּלִין אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר (מלכים א ו, יז): הוּא הַהֵיכָל לִפְנָי, הוּא הַהֵיכָל שֶׁכָּל הַפָּנִים מְכֻוָּנוֹת אוֹתוֹ. עַד כַּדּוּן בְּבִנְיָנוֹ, בְּחֻרְבָּנוֹ מִנַּיִן, אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת, הוּא הַהֵיכָל, שֶׁכָּל הַפִּיּוֹת מִתְפַּלְּלוֹת בּוֹ. בִּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע הוּא אוֹמֵר בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, בַּתְּפִלָּה הוּא אוֹמֵר בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, בְּבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן הוּא אוֹמֵר בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, הֱוֵי שֶׁכָּל הַפִּיּוֹת מִתְפַּלְּלִין עָלָיו לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, עָתִיד הוּא לִבְנוֹתוֹ וּלְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָתוֹ בּוֹ. כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (מלכים א ט, ג): וְהָיוּ עֵינַי וְלִבִּי שָׁם כָּל הַיָּמִים, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (הושע ה, טו): אֵלֵךְ אָשׁוּבָה אֶל מְקוֹמִי, כֵּיצַד יִתְקַיְּמוּ שְׁנֵי כְּתוּבִין הַלָּלוּ, אֶלָּא פָּנָיו לְמַעְלָה וְלִבּוֹ לְמַטָּה, דְּתַנְיָא יְכַוֵּן אָדָם לִבּוֹ כְּנֶגֶד בֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים. רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא, רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה אָמַר כְּנֶגֶד קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁל מַעְלָה, וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא אָמַר כְּנֶגֶד קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁל מַטָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס מְקַיֵּם אֲנִי דִּבְרֵי שְׁנֵיכֶם כְּנֶגֶד קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁל מַעְלָה שֶׁמְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁל מַטָּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות טו, יז): מָכוֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ פָּעַלְתָּ ה', מְכֻוָּן נֶגֶד שִׁבְתְּךָ, זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ שֶׁל מַעְלָה. הַר הַמּוֹרִיָה, רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה וְרַבִּי יַנַּאי, חַד אֲמַר שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יוֹצֵא מָרָה לָעוֹלָם, וָחֳרִינָא אֲמַר שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יוֹצֵא מוֹרָא לָעוֹלָם. אָרוֹן, רַבִּי חִיָּא וְרַבִּי יַנַּאי, חַד אֲמַר שֶׁמִּשָּׁם יוֹצֵא אוֹרָה לָעוֹלָם, וְחַד אֲמַר שֶׁמִּשָּׁם יֵצֵא אֲרִירָה לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. דְּבִיר, רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה וְרַבִּי יַנַּאי, חַד אֲמַר שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יוֹצֵא דֶּבֶר לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְחַד אֲמַר שֶׁמִּשָּׁם יוֹצֵא דִּבְּרוֹת לָעוֹלָם. אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן תָּלוּי עָלָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶלֶף דּוֹר קִפַּלְתִּי וְהֵבֵאתִי אוֹתוֹ הַמָּגֵן שֶׁהָיָה תַּאֲוַת לְבָבָם. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם לִי נַעֲשֵׂיתָ מָגֵן וּלְבָנַי אֵין אַתָּה נַעֲשָׂה מָגֵן, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לְךָ הָיִיתִי מָגֵן אֶחָד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית טו, א): אָנֹכִי מָגֵן לָךְ, אֲבָל לְבָנֶיךָ אֲנִי נַעֲשָׂה מָגִנִּים הַרְבֵּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן תָּלוּי עָלָיו. כֹּל שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבֹּרִים, זוֹ כְּהֻנָּה וּמַלְכוּת.
Another matter: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the strip of crimson wool.62The reference is to the strip of crimson wool that would be tied to the scapegoat on Yom Kippur (see Yoma 41b). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the scapegoat. Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, we do not have the strip of crimson wool and the scapegoat.63After the destruction of the Temple these were discontinued. How, then, does Israel achieve atonement? He said to them: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – the murmuring of your mouth is as beloved to Me as the scarlet thread of crimson wool. Rabbi Abbahu said about this: “We will pay bulls with our lips” (Hosea 14:3). What will we pay in lieu of bulls and in lieu of the scapegoat? It is our lips. “Your speech [midbarekh] is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – your wilderness [midbarekh] is fine, your utterances [midabrotayikh] are fine.64Just as God is pleased with the ritual of sending the scapegoat to the wilderness, He is pleased with words of prayer and repentance in the absence of the ritual of the scapegoat.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Even though [the Temple] is desolate, one is liable for [entering] its boundary now when it is destroyed, just as one is liable for [entering] its boundary when it is standing. Rabbi Levi said: The Holy One blessed be He said: In its destruction it produced for Me righteous people and when it was standing it produced for Me wicked people. In its destruction it produced for Me righteous people: Daniel and his associates, Mordekhai and his associates, Ezra and his associates. When it is standing it produced for Me wicked people such as Aḥaz and his associates, Menashe and his associates, Amon and his associates. Rabbi Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan regarding this [statement] of Rabbi Levi: “For the children of the desolate are more than the children of the married woman” (Isaiah 54:1). That is, it produced more righteous people for Me in its destruction than the righteous people it produced for Me when it was standing.
“Your temple is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Aḥa: one said: The most empty in the three rows65The three rows of Sages who sat before the Sanhedrin is packed with Torah like this pomegranate, and it goes without saying: “Behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding [the Sages of] the Sanhedrin itself. And one said: The most empty in the Sanhedrin is packed with Torah like this pomegranate, and it goes without saying: “Behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding those who sit beneath the olive tree and beneath the vine and the fig tree and engage in matters of Torah.66These scholars were unburdened by the responsibilities of the Sanhedrin and could thus be even more focused in advancing in their Torah study (Etz Yosef).
“Your neck is like the tower of David” – this is the Temple. Why does [the verse] liken it to a neck? It is because all the days that the Temple was constructed and in existence, Israel’s neck was extended67They held their heads up high proudly. among the nations of the world. Once the Temple was destroyed, it is as though Israel’s neck was bowed. That is what is written: “I will break the power of your might” (Leviticus 26:19) – this is the Temple.
Another matter: Just as the neck is situated at the height of the person, so too, the Temple is situated at the height of the world. Just as the neck has the most jewelry suspended from it, so priesthood is from the Temple and the Levites are from the Temple.68The uniqueness of the priests and the Levites was apparent only when they were able to perform their functions in the Temple. Just as the neck, if it is removed the person has no life, so too, from when the Temple was destroyed there is no life for the enemies of Israel.69This is a euphemism for Israel, to avoid saying there is no life for Israel.
“Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – with four sides.70There were entrances [piyot] from all four directions. Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Bon said: It was beauty [yofi], and it became a mound [tel]. The Holy One blessed be He said: It is I who rendered it a mound in this world, and it is I who is destined to render it beautiful in the World to Come.
Another matter: “Magnificently [talpiyot]” – a mound [tel] toward which all mouths [piyot] pray; from here they said: Those standing outside the Land of Israel and praying should turn their faces toward the Land of Israel, as it is stated: “They will pray to you by way of their land” (I Kings 8:48). Those standing in the Land of Israel turn their faces toward Jerusalem and pray, as it is stated: “They shall pray to you by way of this city” (II Chronicles 6:34). Those standing and praying in Jerusalem turn their faces toward the Temple, as it is stated: “He shall pray toward this house” (I Kings 8:42). Those standing on the Temple Mount turn their faces toward the Holy of Holies, as it is stated: “They shall pray toward this place” (I Kings 8:35). Thus, those standing in the north, their faces are to the south; those standing in the south, their faces are to the north; those standing in the east, their faces are to the west; and those standing in the west, their faces are to the east. The result is that all of Israel are praying toward one place. From where is it derived that all of Israel pray toward one place? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “This is the Sanctuary to the front [lifnai]” (I Kings 6:17) – this is the Sanctuary toward which all the faces [hapanim] are directed.
To this point, when it is standing;71It has been proven that one prays facing the Temple when it is standing. in its destruction, from where is it derived? Rabbi Avin said: “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – this is the Sanctuary, as all mouths [piyot] pray toward it. In Shema, one recites Builder of Jerusalem.72In the second blessing following Shema in the evening prayer: Who spreads a canopy of peace…and over Jerusalem. In the Amida prayer, one recites Builder of Jerusalem. In Grace after Meals, one recites Builder of Jerusalem. Thus, all mouths pray for it before the Holy One blessed be He. He is destined to rebuild it and to rest His Divine Presence in it. One verse says: “My eyes and My heart will be there always” (I Kings 9:3), and one verse says: “I will go and return to My place” (Hosea 5:15).73In this verse, God says that He will return to heaven rather than rest His presence on earth. How can these two verses coexist? Rather, His face is on High and His heart is below, as it is taught: A person should direct his heart toward the Holy of the Holies. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta: Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great said: Toward the supernal Holy of Holies; and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: Toward the earthly Holy of Holies. Rabbi Pinḥas said: I will uphold both of your statements: Toward the supernal Holy of Holies, which is aligned with the earthly Holy of Holies. That is what is written; “The place [makhon] You fashioned for Your dwelling, Lord” (Exodus 15:17) – it is aligned [mekhuvan] with your dwelling place, this is the supernal Temple.
Mount Moriah – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because bitterness [mara] emerged to the world from there;74It is called Mount Moriah because bitterness was destined to emerge from there due to the destruction of the Temple. and the other said: Because awe emerged to the world from there. Ark [aron] – Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because light [ora] emerged from there to the world; and one said: Because a curse [arira] emerged from it to the nations of the world.75The ark holds the Torah, and the nations of the world are at a disadvantage because they refused to accept the Torah. Sanctum [devir] – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because a plague [dever] emerged from there to the nations of the world.76This is because they demeaned the Torah and destroyed the Temple. One said: Because the precepts [diberot] emerged from there to the world.
“One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy One blessed be He said: I shortened one thousand generations and I brought them that protection that their hearts desired.77The Torah was meant to be given after one thousand generations, but it was given after twenty-six generations. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Abraham said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, You have been a shield for me, but will You not be a shield for My children?78This question was in light of God’s statement to Abraham: “I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1), in which He did not mention Abraham’s descendants. . The Holy One blessed be He said to him: I have been one shield for you, as it is stated: “I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1), but for your children I will be many shields. That is what is written: “One thousand bucklers are hung upon it, all the shields of the mighty” – this is the priesthood and the monarchy.
שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ, אֵלּוּ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, מָה הַשָּׁדַיִם הַלָּלוּ הוֹדָהּ וַהֲדָרָהּ שֶׁל אִשָּׁה, כָּךְ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן הוֹדָן וַהֲדָרָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. מָה הַשָּׁדַיִם הַלָּלוּ נוֹיָהּ שֶׁל אִשָּׁה, כָּךְ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן נוֹיָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. מָה הַשָּׁדַיִם הַלָּלוּ כְּבוֹדָהּ וְשִׁבְחָהּ שֶׁל אִשָּׁה, כָּךְ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כְּבוֹדָן וְשִׁבְחָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. מָה הַשָּׁדַיִם הַלָּלוּ מְלֵאִים חָלָב, כָּךְ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן מְמַלְּאִים יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הַתּוֹרָה. וּמָה הַשָּׁדַיִם הַלָּלוּ כָּל מַה שֶּׁהָאִשָּׁה אוֹכֶלֶת הַתִּינוֹק אוֹכֵל וְיוֹנֵק מֵהֶן, כָּךְ כָּל תּוֹרָה שֶׁלָּמַד משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, לִמְּדָהּ לְאַהֲרֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות ד, כח): וַיַּגֵּד משֶׁה לְאַהֲרֹן אֵת כָּל דִּבְרֵי ה'. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי גִלָּה לוֹ שֵׁם הַמְפֹרָשׁ. מָה הַשָּׁדַיִם הַלָּלוּ אֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם גָּדוֹל מֵחֲבֵרוֹ, כָּךְ הָיוּ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות ו, כז): הוּא משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, וּכְתִיב (שמות ו, כו): הוּא אַהֲרֹן וּמשֶׁה, לֹא משֶׁה גָּדוֹל מֵאַהֲרֹן וְלֹא אַהֲרֹן גָּדוֹל מִמּשֶׁה בַּתּוֹרָה. רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי מַרְגָּלִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וּנְתָנָן בְּכַף מֹאזְנַיִם, לֹא זוֹ גְּדוֹלָה מִזּוֹ וְלֹא זוֹ גְּדוֹלָה מִזּוֹ, כָּךְ הֵם משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן שָׁוִים. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפָּא בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁבָּחַר בִּשְׁנֵי אַחִים הָאֵלֶּה, שֶׁלֹא נִבְרְאוּ אֶלָּא לַתּוֹרָה וְלִכְבוֹדָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי שְׁתֵּי מִשְׁפָּחוֹת שֶׁל כֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ בַּאֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיאָה אַחַת מְקָרֵית וְאַחַת מַרְתַּחַת, מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁשָּׁלְחוּ הָרוֹפְאִים וְהֵבִיאוּ מֵהֶן וְעָשׂוּ אוֹתָן תַּרְיָאַקָה וּבָהֶן הָיוּ מְרַפְּאִין. רָבָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בָּשָׂר וָדָם אֵין מַקְדִּים רְטִיָּה עַד שֶׁרוֹאֶה הַמַּכָּה, אֲבָל מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ כֵן אֶלָּא מַקְדִּים הָרְטִיָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוּא מַכֶּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה לג, ו): הִנְנִי מַעֲלֶה לָּהּ אֲרֻכָה וּמַרְפֵּא וּרְפָאתִים וגו', וּכְתִיב (הושע ז, א): כְּרָפְאִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּאתִי לְרַפֹּאת עֲווֹנוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִגְלָה עֲוֹן אֶפְרַיִם וְרָעוֹת שֹׁמְרוֹן, אֲבָל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מַכֶּה אוֹתָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְרַפְּאָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה יט, כב): וְנָגַף ה' אֶת מִצְרַיִם נָגֹף וְרָפוֹא, נָגֹף עַל יְדֵי אַהֲרֹן, וְרָפוֹא עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה. אַשְׁרֵיהֶם שְׁנֵי אַחִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁלֹא נִבְרְאוּ אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹד יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַהֲדָא הוּא דְאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא (שמואל א יב, ו): ה' אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֶת משֶׁה וְאֶת אַהֲרֹן, הֱוֵי שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ, אֵלּוּ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן.
“Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies” (Song of Songs 4:5).
“Your two breasts” – these are Moses and Aaron. Just as the breasts are the splendor and the glory of a woman, so too, Moses and Aaron are the splendor and the glory of Israel. Just as the breasts are the beauty of the woman, so too, Moses and Aaron are the beauty of Israel. Just as the breasts are the honor and praise of a woman, so too, Moses and Aaron are the honor and the praise of Israel. Just as the breasts are filled with milk, so too, Moses and Aaron fill Israel with Torah. Just as the breasts, everything that the woman eats, the baby eats and suckles from them, so too, all the Torah that Moses our master studied, he taught to Aaron; that is what is written: “Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 4:28). The Rabbis say: He revealed to him the ineffable name. Just as the breasts, one of them is not larger than the other, so it was with Moses and Aaron. That is what is written: “That Moses and Aaron” (Exodus 6:27), and it is written: “That Aaron and Moses” (Exodus 6:26). Moses was not greater than Aaron, and Aaron was not greater than Moses in Torah.
Rabbi Abba said: [This is analogous] to a king who had two fine pearls, and he placed them on the pans of a balance scale; this one was not greater than that one and that one was not greater than this one. So too, Moses and Aaron were equal. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Blessed is the Omnipresent who selected these two brothers, who were created only for the Torah and for the glory of Israel. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: There were two families of priests in Alexandria; the body temperature of one was cold and [that] of the other one’s was hot. There was an incident where doctors sent for some of them and they prepared a suspension from them with which they would heal.79They took tissue from bodies in each family, and the combination was just right and could be used as a healing ointment. So too, Moses and Aaron complemented each other in leading Israel.
Rava in the name of Rabbi Shimon: Flesh and blood does not prepare a dressing until he sees the wound; however, He who spoke and the world came into being is not so, but rather He prepares the dressing and then strikes. That is what is written: “Behold I am bringing it a remedy and a cure, and I will heal them…” (Jeremiah 33:6),80He prepared the cure for Jerusalem before He struck it. and it is written: “When I will heal Israel” (Hosea 7:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: I came to heal the iniquities of Israel, “and the iniquity of Ephraim and the evils of Samaria will be revealed” (Hosea 7:1).81Only after preparing the cure will they be taken to task for their wickedness. However, the nations of the world, He strikes them and only then heals them, as it is stated: “The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing” (Isaiah 19:22). Striking by means of Aaron and healing by means of Moses. Blessed are these two brothers who were created only for the glory of Israel. That is what the prophet Samuel said: “The Lord who produced Moses and Aaron” (I Samuel 12:6). That is “your two breasts” – these are Moses and Aaron.
תְּאוֹמֵי צְבִיָּה. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי מַה תְּאוֹמִים הַלָּלוּ כֵּיוָן שֶׁפּוֹרֵשׁ אֶחָד מֵהֶן מִדַּדֵּיהֶן דַּדָּן נִסְתַּם, כָּךְ כְּתִיב (זכריה יא, ח): וָאַכְחִד אֶת שְׁלשֶׁת הָרֹעִים בְּיֶרַח אֶחָד, וַהֲלֹא לֹא מֵתוּ אֶלָּא בְּשָׁנָה אַחַת, אֶלָּא בְּיֶרַח אֶחָד נִגְזְרָה עֲלֵיהֶם גְּזֵרָה עַל שְׁלָשְׁתָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים מז, י): נְדִיבֵי עַמִּים נֶאֱסָפוּ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר שְׁלשָׁה פַּרְנָסִין טוֹבִים עָמְדוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, וּבִזְכוּתָן נִתְּנוּ לָהֶם שָׁלשׁ מַתָּנוֹת טוֹבוֹת: הַבְּאֵר, הַמָּן וְעַנְנֵי כָבוֹד. הַמָּן, בִּזְכוּת משֶׁה. הַבְּאֵר, בִּזְכוּת מִרְיָם. בִּזְכוּת אַהֲרֹן עַנְנֵי הַכָּבוֹד. מֵתָה מִרְיָם, וּפָסְקָה הַבְּאֵר, וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִין (במדבר כ, ה): לֹא מְקוֹם זֶרַע וּתְאֵנָה, וְחָזְרָה בִּזְכוּת משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן. מֵת אַהֲרֹן נִסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי הַכָּבוֹד, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר כ, כט): וַיִּרְאוּ כָּל הָעֵדָה כִּי גָוַע אַהֲרֹן, אַל תִּקְרֵי וַיִּרְאוּ אֶלָּא וַיִּירְאוּ, וְחָזְרוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בִּזְכוּת משֶׁה. מֵת משֶׁה נִסְתַּלְּקוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּן וְשׁוּב לֹא חָזְרוּ. וְהַצִּרְעָה לֹא עָבְרָה עִמָּם אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְלֹא רָאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרַת רוּחַ מִן אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. הָרֹעִים בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים, אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי, מִרְיָם וְיוֹכֶבֶד הֵן הֵן חָיוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהָיוּ רוֹעוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלִּבָּם רַךְ כַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים, וְהֵיכָן הָיְתָה מַרְעִיתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם עַד יַם סוּף.
“Twins of a gazelle” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Just as these twins, when one of them withdraws from the breast, the breast is blocked, so it is written: “I will eliminate the three shepherds in a single month” (Zechariah 11:8).82This is a reference to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. But is it not so that they died only within the same year?83They died in one year, but not in the same month. Rather, in a single month, the decree was issued regarding the three of them. That is what is written: “The great ones of the people were gathered” (Psalms 47:10).
Rabbi Yosei says: Three great providers arose for Israel, and these are: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Through their merit, three great gifts were given to them: The well, the manna, and the clouds of glory. The manna, through the merit of Moses; the well through the merit of Miriam; and through the merit of Aaron, the clouds of glory. Miriam died and the well ceased, and they said: “Not a place of seed, fig [and pomegranate, and there is no water to drink]” (Numbers 20:5). But it was restored due to the merit of Moses and Aaron. Aaron died, and the clouds of glory disappeared. That is what is written: “The entire congregation saw [vayiru] that Aaron had perished” (Numbers 20:29). Do not read it as “they saw [vayiru],” but rather as “they feared” [vayire’u].”84They were afraid because the protection of the clouds of glory had disappeared. They were restored through the merit of Moses. Moses died and all three of them disappeared and they were not restored. The hornet did not cross the Jordan with them85God promised to send hornets to assist in expelling the Canaanite nations (see Exodus 23:28). However, in the absence of Moses they did not cross the Jordan and assisted with Israel’s battles only east of the Jordan. and Israel did not experience peace of mind from that time forward.
“That graze [haro’im] among the lilies” – Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Miriam and Yokheved were the midwives of Israel, and they would provide for [ro’ot] Israel as their hearts were as soft as lilies. Where was the pasture of Israel? It was in Egypt until the Red Sea.86It was there that Miriam and Yokheved tended to the needs of the birthing mothers and their offspring.
עַד שֶׁיָּפוּחַ הַיּוֹם, רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ וְרַבִּי לֵוִי, חַד אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמָּל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אֶת עַצְמוֹ וּבָנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ, עָשָׂה עָרְלוֹתֵיהֶן גִּבְעָה, וְזָרְחָה עֲלֵיהֶן הַחַמָּה וְהִתְלִיעוּ, וְעָלָה רֵיחָן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּרֵיחַ קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים וּכְרֵיחַ קֹמֶץ הַלְּבוֹנָה שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים, וְאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִכְשֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ בָּנָיו שֶׁל זֶה לִידֵי עֲבֵרוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים רָעִים, אֲנִי נִזְכַּר לָהֶם זֶה הָרֵיחַ וְאֶתְמַלֵּא רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם וְהוֹפֵךְ לָהֶם מִדַּת הַדִּין לְמִדַּת רַחֲמִים, מַה טַּעַם, אֵלֶךְ לִי אֶל הַר הַמּוֹר. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמָּל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֶעֱמִיד לָהֶם עָרְלוֹתֵיהֶם גִּבְעָה, וְזָרְחָה עֲלֵיהֶם חַמָּה וְהִתְלִיעוּ, וְעָלָה רֵיחָן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּרֵיחַ קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים וּכְרֵיחַ קֹמֶץ שֶׁל לְבוֹנָה שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי אִשִּׁים, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִכְשֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ בְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ לִידֵי עֲבֵרוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים רָעִים אֲנִי נִזְכַּר לָהֶם רֵיחַ זֶה וּמִתְמַלֵּא עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים וְהוֹפֵךְ לָהֶם מִדַּת הַדִּין לְרַחֲמִים, מַה טַּעַם אֵלֶךְ לִי אֶל הַר הַמּוֹר וְאֶל גִּבְעַת הַלְּבוֹנָה. כְּתִיב (בראשית יז, כו): בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִמּוֹל אַבְרָהָם, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אִלּוּ מָל אַבְרָהָם אֶת עַצְמוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה הָיָה דוֹרוֹ אוֹמֵר אִלּוּ רְאִינוּהוּ לֹא הִנַּחְנוּהוּ, אֶלָּא בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִמּוֹל אַבְרָהָם, דְּרָגְשָׁה לֵיהּ יְמַלֵּל. רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ בַּר כַּהֲנָא וְרַבִּי לֵוִי, רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אָמַר הִרְגִּישׁ וְנִצְטָעֵר, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּכְפֹּל לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׂכָרוֹ. כְּתִיב (בראשית יז, יג): הִמּוֹל יִמּוֹל יְלִיד בֵּיתְךָ וּמִקְנַת כַּסְפְּךָ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָבוֹא טָמֵא וִיטַפֵּל בְּטָהוֹר, אֶפְשָׁר כֵּן, אֶלָּא הַמּוּל יִמּוֹל, אֲנִי טָהוֹר וְאַבְרָהָם טָהוֹר, נָאֶה לְטָהוֹר לְהִטַּפֵּל בַּטָּהוֹר. רַבִּי אָבִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר שִׁתֵּף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יְמִינוֹ עִם אַבְרָהָם וּמָלוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (נחמיה ט, ח): וְכָרוֹת עִמּוֹ הַבְּרִית.
“Until the day is great and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense” (Song of Songs 4:6).
“Until the day is great” – Rabbi Abbahu and Rabbi Levi: one said: When Abraham our patriarch circumcised himself, his sons, and the members of his household, he made a hill of their foreskins, and the sun shone upon it and they became infested with worms. Their scent ascended before the Holy One blessed be He like the fragrance of the incense of spices and like the fragrance of the handful of frankincense that is burned upon the fires.87It was as pleasing to God as the scent of the incense and the frankincense burned together with a portion of the meal offering in the Temple. The Holy One blessed be He said: When this one’s descendants will commit sins and evil deeds, I will remember this scent and I will be filled with mercy toward them and I will transform the attribute of justice into the attribute of mercy. What is the reason? “I will go to the mountain of myrrh [and to the hill of frankincense].”
Rabbi Levi said: When Joshua circumcised the children of Israel, he made a hill of their foreskins, and the sun shone upon it and they became infested with worms. Their scent ascended before the Holy One blessed be He like the fragrance of the incense of the spices and like the fragrance of the handful of frankincense that is burned upon the fires. At that moment the Holy One blessed be He said: When the descendants of these will commit sins and evil deeds, I will remember this scent and I will be filled with mercy over them and I will transform the attribute of justice into the attribute of mercy. What is the reason? “I will go to the mountain of myrrh [and to the hill of frankincense].”
It is written: “On that very day, Abraham was circumcised” (Genesis 17:26). Rabbi Berekhya said: Had Abraham circumcised himself at night, his generation would have said: Had we seen him we would not have allowed him. Instead, “on that very day Abraham was circumcised” – anyone who is bothered by it, let him speak.
Rabbi Abbahu bar Kahana and Rabbi Levi:88These Sages address the question of why the verse states that Abraham “was circumcised” rather than stating that he circumcised himself. Rabbi Abbahu said: He felt it and he suffered,89The verse states that Abraham “was circumcised” in order to indicate that he suffered like anyone else who undergoes circumcision. so that the Holy One blessed be He would multiply his reward. It is written: “One born in your house or purchased with your money shall be circumcised [himol yimol]” (Genesis 17:13). The Holy One blessed be He said: Shall one impure come and tend to one who is pure; is that possible?90Shall an uncircumcised person circumcise one who is in the process of purification? Rather, one who is circumcised [hamul] shall circumcise [yimol]. I am pure and Abraham is pure; it is appropriate for the pure to tend to the pure. Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Shimon: The Holy One blessed be He joined His right hand to Abraham’s and circumcised him, as it is stated: “You established the covenant with him” (Nehemiah 9:8).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, אֵלֶךְ לִי אֶל הַר הַמּוֹר, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁהוּא רֹאשׁ לְכָל הַצַּדִּיקִים. וְאֶל גִּבְעַת הַלְּבוֹנָה, זֶה יִצְחָק, שֶׁנִּתְקָרֵב כְּקֹמֶץ לְבוֹנָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
“Another matter: “I will go to the mountain of myrrh” – this is Abraham, who is the first of all the righteous.91Just as myrrh is the first of the spices in the anointing oil (see Exodus 30:23). “And to the hill of frankincense” – this is Isaac, who was sacrificed like a handful of frankincense on the altar.
כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי, זֶה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, שֶׁהָיְתָה מִטָּתוֹ שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנָיו וְלֹא נִמְצָא בָּהּ פְּסֹלֶת. מַהוּ כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי, תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעָמְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי וְאָמְרוּ (שמות כד, ז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה לֹא הָיָה בָהֶם לֹא זָבִים וְלֹא מְצֹרָעִין וְלֹא חִגְּרִין וְלֹא סוּמִין לֹא אִלְּמִין וְלֹא חֵרְשִׁין, לֹא שׁוֹטִין וְלֹא שַׁמָּמִין, לֹא טִפְּשִׁין וְלֹא חֲלוּקֵי לֵב, עַל אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נֶאֱמַר: כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי, כֵּיוָן שֶׁחָטְאוּ לֹא הָיוּ יָמִים קַלִּים וְהָיוּ בָם זָבִים וּמְצֹרָעִים חִגְּרִין וְסוּמִין, אִלְּמִים חֵרְשִׁים שׁוֹטִים וְטִפְּשִׁין, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נֶאֱמַר (במדבר ה, ב): וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וְכָל זָב. אָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ כְּתִיב (במדבר ז, יב): וַיְהִי הַמַּקְרִיב בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן וגו', בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי הִקְרִיב נְתַנְאֵל קָרְבָּנוֹ, וְלָמָּה עָשָׂה יְהוּדָה טְפֵלָה, שֶׁלֹא יִתְגָּאֶה יְהוּדָה וְיֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וַאֲנִי הִקְרַבְתִּי תְּחִלָּה אֲנִי הוּא גָדוֹל שֶׁבְּכֻלָּם, אֶלָּא הֶעֱלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲלֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ הִקְרִיבוּ כֻּלָּם בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן וּבְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כְּתִיב (במדבר ז, פד): זֹאת חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח, וַהֲלֹא כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן הִקְרִיב מִזְרָק אֶחָד כַּף אַחַת, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר קַעֲרֹת כֶּסֶף שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה, מִזְרְקֵי כֶסֶף שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, כַּפּוֹת זָהָב שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹא יֹאמַר יְהוּדָה הוֹאִיל וַאֲנִי הִקְרַבְתִּי תְּחִלָּה אֲנִי גָדוֹל שֶׁבְּכֻלָּם, לְפִיכָךְ הֶעֱלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲלֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ הִקְרִיבוּ כֻּלָּם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן וּבַיּוֹם הָאַחֲרוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה כְּתִיב (בראשית מט, כח): כָּל אֵלֶּה שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, מֵאַחַר שֶׁבֵּרְכָן חָזַר וּבֵרְכָן, אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁיָּשַׁב יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ וּמְשָׁלָן בְּחַיּוֹת, מָשַׁל לִיהוּדָה בְּאַרְיֵה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מט, ט): גּוּר אַרְיֵה יְהוּדָה. דָּן לְנָחָשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מט, יז): יְהִי דָן נָחָשׁ עֲלֵי דֶרֶךְ. נַפְתָּלִי לְאַיָּלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מט, כא): נַפְתָּלִי אַיָּלָה שְׁלֻחָה. בִּנְיָמִין לִזְאֵב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מט, כז): בִּנְיָמִין זְאֵב יִטְרָף, וְחָזַר וּקְרָאָן כֻּלָּן זְאֵבִים, כֻּלָּן נְחָשִׁים, כֻּלָּן שְׂרָפִים, כֻּלָּן עַקְרַבִּים, תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵן, שֶׁהֲרֵי דָּן שֶׁקְּרָאוֹ נָחָשׁ חָזַר וּקְרָאוֹ אַרְיֵה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לג, כב): דָּן גּוּר אַרְיֵה. אָמַר רַבִּי אִידֵי מָצִינוּ בַּקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים מַה שֶּׁהִקְרִיב זֶה הִקְרִיב זֶה, זֶה הִקְרִיב עוֹלָה, וְזֶה הִקְרִיב עוֹלָה. זֶה מִנְחָה, וְזֶה מִנְחָה. זֶה חַטָּאת, וְזֶה חַטָּאת. זֶה שְׁלָמִים, וְזֶה שְׁלָמִים, לָמָּה שֶׁכֻּלָּם שְׁלֵמִים וְשָׁוִין כְּאֶחָד. וּמָה רָאָה הַכָּתוּב לְיַחֲסָן בַּסֵּפֶר, וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת רְאוּבֵן שִׁמְעוֹן לֵוִי, רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי לֵוִי, חַד אָמַר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקִּנְטְרָן אֲבִיהֶם, וְחַד אָמַר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיִּחֲסָן אֵצֶל משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, וְלֵית אֲנַן יָדְעִין מַאן דַּאֲמַר דָּא וּמַאן דַּאֲמַר דָּא, אֶלָּא מִן דַּאֲמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵּׁם רַבִּי הוּנָא (משלי טו, לא): אֹזֶן שֹׁמַעַת תּוֹכַחַת חַיִּים בְּקֶרֶב חֲכָמִים תָּלִין הֱוֵי רַבִּי הוּנָא הוּא דְאָמַר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקִּנְטְרָן. וּלְפִי שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ תּוֹכַחַת אֲבִיהֶם זָכוּ לְהִתְיַחֵס בְּצַד משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר לְפִי שֶׁכָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים לֹא שָׁמְרוּ יִחוּסֵיהֶן בְּמִצְרַיִם, וּרְאוּבֵן שִׁמְעוֹן לֵוִי שָׁמְרוּ יִחוּסֵיהֶן בְּמִצְרַיִם. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר לְפִי שֶׁכָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים עָבְדוּ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בְּמִצְרַיִם, וְשֵׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן שִׁמְעוֹן לֵוִי לֹא עָבְדוּ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין לְפִי שֶׁכָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים לֹא נָהֲגוּ שְׂרָרָה בְּמִצְרַיִם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּשְׁבָטִים הַלָּלוּ נָהֲגוּ שְׂרָרָה בְּמִצְרַיִם. כֵּיצַד, מֵת רְאוּבֵן נִתְּנָה שְׂרָרָה לְשִׁמְעוֹן. מֵת שִׁמְעוֹן נִתְּנָה שְׂרָרָה לְלֵוִי. מֵת לֵוִי, בָּא לִתֵּן שְׂרָרָה לִיהוּדָה יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה הַנִּיחוּ אוֹתָהּ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ זְמַנָּהּ, וְאֵימָתַי הִגִּיע זְמַנָּהּ אַחֲרֵי מִיתַת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שופטים א, א ב): וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי מוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וַיֹּאמֶר ה' יְהוּדָה יַעֲלֶה, שְׁלשָׁה שֵׁמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ לוֹ, יְהוּדָה, עָתְנִיאֵל, יַעְבֵּץ. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חָמָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא זֶה בֹּעַז. רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי זֶה עָתְנִיאֵל. כְּתִיב (יחזקאל כב, יח): בֶּן אָדָם הָיוּ לִי בֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל לְסִיג כֻּלָּם וגו', אָמַר זְכַרְיָה אֲנָא חֲמִיתֵהּ אָלוֹכוּרְסִין. (זכריה ד, ב ג): רָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה מְנוֹרַת זָהָב כֻּלָּהּ וְגֻלָּהּ עַל רֹאשָׁהּ וגו' וּשְׁנַיִם זֵיתִים עָלֶיהָ וגו', תְּרֵין אָמוֹרָאֵי חַד אָמַר גּוֹלָה, וְחַד אָמַר גּוֹאֲלָהּ, מַאן דְּאָמַר גּוֹלָה, שֶׁגָּלוּ בְּבָבֶל וְגָלְתָה שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם. וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר גּוֹאֲלָהּ הוּא פָּרוֹקָהּ, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה מז, ד): גֹּאֲלֵנוּ ה' צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הוֹאִיל וְכָךְ כֻּלָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי וּמוּם אֵין בָּךְ.
“All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you” (Song of Songs 4:7).
“All of you is fair, my love” – this is Jacob our patriarch, whose bed was unflawed and no waste was found among it.92Unlike his father and grandfather, all his offspring were righteous.
What is, “all of you is fair, my love”? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: When Israel stood before Mount Sinai and said: “Everything that God spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7), at that moment there were in their midst neither zav, nor leper, nor lame, nor blind, nor mute, nor deaf, nor imbecile, nor depressed, nor fool, nor doubter. Regarding that moment it is stated: “All of you is fair, my love.” When they sinned, there were not easy times, and there were in their midst zav, leper, lame, blind, mute, deaf, imbecile, and fool. At that moment it is stated: “They shall banish from the camp every leper and every zav” (Numbers 5:2).
Rabbi Ḥelbo said: It is written: “The one who presented his offering on the first day was [Naḥshon son of Aminadav of the tribe of Judah. And his offering was…]” (Numbers 7:12–13). “On the second day, presented Netanel [son of Tzuar].… his offering was…” (Numbers 7:18–19). Why did the Torah depict Judah as secondary?93In relating Naḥshon’s offering the Torah uses a vav, meaning “and,” in the term vekorbano, “and his offering was,” indicating that there had been someone before him, although there had not been. Regarding Netanel the Torah does not use a vav even though there had been someone before him. It is so Judah would not become arrogant and say: I presented first, I am the greatest of them all. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He treated them as though they all presented on the first day and on the last day.
Rabbi Elazar said: It is written: “This was the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed” (Numbers 7:84). But did each of them not offer one bowl, one ladle? Why does the verse state: “twelve silver bowls, twelve silver basins, twelve golden ladles” (Numbers 7:84)? It was so that Judah would not say: I presented first, I am the greatest of them all. Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He treated them as though they all presented on the first day and on the last day.
Rabbi Berekhya said: It is written: “All these are the tribes of Israel, twelve, [and this is that which their father spoke to them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them]” (Genesis 49:28). After he blessed them did he bless them again? Rather, it teaches that Jacob our patriarch sat and likened them to beasts. He likened Judah to a lion, as it is stated: “Judah is a lion cub” (Genesis 49:9). Dan to a snake, as it is stated: “Dan will be a serpent on the road” (Genesis 49:17). Naphtali to a hind, as it is stated: “Naphtali is a hind let loose” (Genesis 49:21). Benjamin to a wolf, as it is stated: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf” (Genesis 49:27). Then he called them all wolves, all of them snakes, all of them fiery serpents, all of them scorpions. Know that it is so, as Dan, whom he called a snake, he94Moses then called a lion, as it is stated: “Dan is a lion cub” (Deuteronomy 33:22). Rabbi Idi said: We have found in the offerings of the princes that what this one offered that one offered. This one sacrificed a burnt offering, and that one sacrificed a burnt-offering; this one a meal offering and that one a meal offering; this one a sin offering and that one a sin offering; this one a peace offering and that one a peace offering. Why? It is because all of them are faultless and equal to one another.
What led the verse to delineate their genealogy in the book [of Exodus], Reuben, Simeon, and Levi?95The verses delineate the genealogies of only these three tribes (see Exodus 6:14–25). Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Levi: one said: It is because their father reprimanded them,96When Jacob gave blessings to his sons before his death, he reprimanded Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (see Genesis 49:3–7). In order to emphasize that these tribes were not inferior, the verses list their genealogies as they introduce Moses and Aaron. and one said: It was because it delineated the genealogy of Moses and Aaron.97Because the Torah sought to address the genealogy of Aaron and Moses from the tribe of Levi, it began with Reuben, the first of the tribes, and continued through Levi. We do not know who said this and who said that. However, from the fact that Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Huna: “An ear that heeds life’s reprimand will rest among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31), it is Rabbi Huna98This is possibly an alternate pronunciation of the name of Rabbi Ḥanina. Alternatively, the text should either state Rabbi Ḥanina here or Rabbi Huna above. who said because their father reprimanded them. Because they accepted their father’s reprimand they were privileged to have their genealogy delineated alongside Moses and Aaron. That is why it is stated: “All of you is fair.”
Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda said: It is because all the tribes did not preserve their genealogies in Egypt, but Reuben, Simeon, and Levi preserved their genealogy.99They married only with families that could prove they were of pure lineage. Rabbi Neḥemya said: It is because all the tribes engaged in idol worship in Egypt, but the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi did not engage in idol worship. The Rabbis say: It is because the other tribes did not exercise authority in Egypt, but these tribes exercised authority. How so? When Reuben died,100Joseph had been the authority figure among the brothers and their descendants in Egypt, but he died before his brothers. At that point, Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, became the authority figure. authority was transferred to Simeon. When Simeon died, authority was transferred to Levi. When Levi died, authority was going to be transferred to Judah. A Divine voice emerged and said: Leave it until its time arrives. When did its time arrive? After the death of Joshua. That is what is written: “It was after the death of Joshua.… the Lord said: Judah shall ascend” (Judges 1:1–2). He was called three names: Judah, Otniel, and Yabetz. Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Levi [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina: This101Yabetz is Boaz. Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: This102Yabetz is Otniel.
It is written: “Son of man, the House of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all…” (Ezekiel 22:18). Zechariah said: I saw them, and they were pure gold: “I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety, with a bowl [gulah] atop it.… and there are two olive trees over it” (Zechariah 4:2–3). There were two amora’im; one said exile [gola], and one said their Redeemer [go’alah]. The one who said gola: As they were exiled to Babylon, and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. The one who said go’alah: It is their redemption, as it is written: “Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name…” (Isaiah 47:4). The Holy One blessed be He said: Since that is the case:103Since in the future they will all be comparable to pure gold, as envisioned by Zechariah. “All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you.”
אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן תָּבוֹאִי, תַּמָּן תְּנֵינַן נוֹתְנִין לִבְתוּלָה שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ מִשֶּׁתְּבָעָהּ הַבַּעַל לְפַרְנֵס אֶת עַצְמָהּ, וַאֲנִי לֹא עָשִׂיתִי כֵן אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁאַתֶּם עוֹסְקִין בְּטִיט וּלְבֵנִים קָפַצְתִּי וְגָאַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם. דֵּעָה סְרוּחָה שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אָמַר (אסתר ב, יב): שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמֹּר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר יְחֶזְקֵאל אָמַר זֶה שֶׁמֶן אַפִּיקְסָנוֹן, רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר זֶה שֶׁמֶן אוֹפְקִינוֹן, שֶׁמֵּשִׁיר הַשֵֹּׂעָר וּמַחֲלִיק הַבָּשָׂר שֶׁל גוּף, וַאֲנִי לֹא עָשִׂיתִי כֵן. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי לֵוִי בֶּן סִיסִי בִּנְהַרְדָּעָא (שמות כד, י): וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתַחַת רַגְלָיו וגו', זֹאת עַד שֶׁלֹא נִגְאֲלוּ, אֲבָל מִשֶּׁנִּגְאֲלוּ אֵיכָן הָיְתָה, בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁדַּרְכָּהּ שֶׁל לְבֵנָה רְאוּיָה לְהִנָּתֵן שָׁם הָיְתָה נְתוּנָה. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה מַעֲשֶׂה אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא כְּמַעֲשֵׂה, הִיא וְכָל אֶרְגַּלְיָה שֶׁלָּהּ נִתְּנָה, הִיא וְהַסַּל וְהַמַּגְרֵפָה שֶׁלָּהּ נִתְּנָה. בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר עַד שֶׁלֹא יָצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם הָיְתָה רְשׁוּמָה בָּרָקִיעַ, וּמִשֶּׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם עוֹד לֹא נִרְאֵת בֶּעָנָן, מַה טַּעַם (שמות כד, י): וּכְעֶצֶם הַשָּׁמַיִם לָטֹהַר, כַּד אִינוּן נְקִיִּין מִן עֲנָנִין. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּשֶׁגְּלִיתֶם לְבָבֶל עִמָּכֶם הָיִיתִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מג, יד): לְמַעַנְכֶם שִׁלַּחְתִּי בָבֶלָה, לִכְשֶׁתַּחְזְרוּ לְבֵית הַבְּחִירָה בְּקָרוֹב אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ קְרָא לוֹמַר אֶלָּא אִתִּי לִלְבָנוֹן כַּלָּה, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ מִלְּבָנוֹן, אֶלָּא בַּתְּחִלָּה הוּא נוֹעֵר מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוּא פּוֹרֵעַ מִן אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשָׁלשׁ שָׁעוֹת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פּוֹרֵעַ מִן עֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע וּמֵאַלּוּפָיו, מַה טַּעַם (ישעיה לג, י): עַתָּה אָקוּם יֹאמַר ה' וגו'. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרַבִּי יַנַּאי עַתָּה אָקוּם, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁמֻּכְפֶּשֶׁת בָּאֵפֶר כִּבְיָכוֹל וְהוּא כֵן, וְהוּא שֶׁיְּשַׁעְיָה אָמַר (ישעיה נב, ב): הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי שְׁבִי יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה (זכריה ב, יז): הַס כָּל בָּשָׂר מִפְּנֵי ה', לָמָּה, (זכריה ב, יז): כִּי נֵעוֹר מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא כַּהֲדָא תַּרְנְגוֹלְתָּא דִּמְנַעֲרָה גַפָּא מִגַּוָּוא קִטְמָא.
“Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon; look from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Ḥermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards” (Song of Songs 4:8).
“With me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon” – the Holy One blessed be He said: Come with Me from Lebanon.104The term Lebanon [Levanon] is expounded to mean bricks [levenim]. We learned there: One gives a virgin twelve months from when the husband asked to marry her in order to provide for herself (Ketubot 57a).105She is to provide herself with all her needs for the wedding and marriage. But I did not do so; rather, while you were still engaged in mortar and bricks, I hastened and redeemed you. The repugnant opinion of Aḥashverosh said: “Six months with myrrh oil [shemen hamor], [and six months with perfumes, and with women’s cosmetics]” (Esther 2:12). Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: [Shemen hamor] is oil of the boxwood. Rabbi Yannai said: It is the oil of unripe olives, which removes the hair and softens the flesh of the body. But I did not do so.
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: Rabbi Levi ben Sisi expounded in Neharde’a: “They saw the God of Israel, and under His feet [was like the craftsmanship [kemaaseh] of sapphire brickwork]” (Exodus 24:10). That was before they were redeemed; however, after they were redeemed, where was it? It was placed in the location where it is appropriate to place a brick.106After the redemption from Egypt, the heavenly brick, representing the bricks of enslavement, was stored away.
Rabbi Berekhya said: It is not written here, “the craftsmanship [maaseh],” but rather, “like the craftsmanship [kemaaseh]” – it and all its accessories were placed there; it, its basket, and its trowel were placed. Bar Kappara said: Until Israel departed from Egypt, its impression was in the sky. Once Israel departed from Egypt, it was no longer visible in the cloud. What is the reason? “And like the very heavens in purity” – as it is when it is clear of clouds.107See Targum Yerushalmi (Exodus 24:10).
The Holy One blessed be He said to them: When you were exiled to Babylon, I was with you, as it is stated: “For your sake I was sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14). When you return to the chosen House108The Temple in the near future, I am with you. That is what is written: “With me from Lebanon,109The Temple is referred to as Lebanon because the first Temple was built with the cedars of Lebanon. my bride.”
Rabbi Levi said: The verse should have rather said: “With me to Lebanon, my bride,” but you say, “from Lebanon”? Rather, initially, He bounds from the Temple, and then He exacts retribution from the nations of the world.
Rabbi Berekhya said: At three junctures the Holy One blessed be He exacts retribution from Esau and his chieftains. What is the reason? “Now I will arise, the Lord will say, [now I will ascend, now I will be exalted]” (Isaiah 33:10).110There are three verbs each accompanied by the adverb “now,” referring to three different times. Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yannai: “Now I will arise” – as long as [Israel] is wallowing in the ashes, as it were, so is [the Holy One blessed be] He. That is what Isaiah said: “Shake the dust from you, arise and sit, Jerusalem” (Isaiah 52:2). At that moment, “Be silent all flesh before the Lord” (Zechariah 2:17). Why? “For He is roused from His holy abode (Zechariah 2:17); Rabbi Aḥa said: Like this hen that shakes its wings free from the midst of the ashes.
תָּשׁוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה, אָמַר רַבִּי חוּנְיָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוּסְטָא, עֲתִידוֹת הַגָּלֻיּוֹת מַגִּיעוֹת עַד טִיוְרוּס מוֹנוּס, וְאוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה, וַעֲתִידִים אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם לְהָבִיא אוֹתָהּ סַרְדְּיוֹטוֹת לְמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, מַה טַּעַם תָּשׁוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה, אֵין לְשׁוֹן תָּשׁוּרִי אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן קָרְבָּן, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמואל א ט, ז): וּתְשׁוּרָה אֵין לְהָבִיא לְאִישׁ, רְאוּיָה הִיא וַאֲנָא לָא רְאוּיָה, לֹא כְבָר עָשִׂיתִי לָכֶם בִּימֵי חֲזָאֵל (מלכים ב ח, ט): וַיֵּלֶךְ חֲזָאֵל לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיִּקַּח מִנְחָה בְיָדוֹ וְכָל טוּב דַּמֶּשֶׂק מַשָֹּׂא אַרְבָּעִים גָּמָל, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְכִי כָּל טוּב דַּמֶּשֶׂק מַשָֹּׂא אַרְבָּעִים גָּמָל הָיָה, אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּיָדוֹ אֶבֶן טוֹבָה וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת שֶׁהָיָה רָאוּי לִתֵּן בִּדְמֵיהֶן כָּל טוּב דַּמֶּשֶׂק, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ: וַיִּקַּח מִנְחָה בְיָדוֹ וְכָל טוּב דַּמֶּשֶׂק, אֶלָּא הֵן עַצְמָן עֲתִידִין לְהָבִיא דּוֹרוֹנוֹת לְמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, מַה טַּעַם (ישעיה סו, כ): וְהֵבִיאוּ אֶת כָּל אֲחֵיכֶם מִכָּל הַגּוֹיִם מִנְחָה לַה' בַּסּוּסִים וּבָרֶכֶב וּבַצַּבִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים וּבַכִּרְכָּרוֹת, מַהוּ וּבַכִּרְכָּרוֹת, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר כְּאִילֵּין סָבַיָּא דְּלֵית אִינוּן יְכוֹלִין מַטְעֲנִין בִּכְלַקְדִיקָה, וְאִינּוּן מַטְעֲנִין לְהוֹן בְּבוּרְתֵּידָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צו, ז): הָבוּ לַה' מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא עַמִּים הָבוּ לַה' מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים הָבוּ לַה' כָּבוֹד וָעֹז, כְּשֶׁתִּהְיוּ מְבִיאִין אוֹתָם לֹא תִהְיוּ מְבִיאִין דֶּרֶךְ בִּזָּיוֹן אֶלָּא בְּכָבוֹד וָעֹז, בְּאֵיזוֹ זְכוּת, בִּזְכוּת שֶׁאָמְרוּ שִׁירָה עַל הַיָּם. רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר בִּזְכוּת אֲמָנָה שֶׁהֶאֱמִין אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית טו, ו): וְהֶאֱמִן בַּה'. רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר כְּתִיב (שמות יד, לא): וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיָּד הַגְּדֹלָה, דֶּאֱדַיִן אֱדַדֵּם וְאֵינָם מַאֲמִינִים, אִית בַּר נָשׁ דְּחָמֵי וְלָא מְהֵימָן, הֱוֵי בִּזְכוּת הָאֲמָנָה שֶׁהֶאֱמִינוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ד, לא): וַיַּאֲמֵן הָעָם.
“Look from the peak of Amana” – Rabbi Ḥunya said in the name of Rabbi Yusta: The exiles are destined to reach Mount Amana111This is the same as the Mount Hor mentioned in Numbers 34:7–8 (see Targum Yerushalmi there). and recite song, and the nations of the world are destined to bring them like ministers to the messianic king. What is the reason? “Look [tashuri] from the peak of Amana.” Tashuri means nothing other than offering, just as it says: “We have no gift [teshura] to bring to the man” (I Samuel 9:7). It is fitting, but it is not fitting for Me.112This is stated from the perspective of God: Whereas it is fitting for the nations of the world to bring valuable gifts to the messianic king, that is not sufficient from God’s perspective. Did I not do this to you already in the days of Ḥazael? “Ḥazael went to meet him, taking with him as tribute all the good of Damascus, forty camel-loads” (II Kings 8:9). Rabbi Yehuda said: Was all the good of Damascus a burden borne by forty camels? Rather, it is to teach you that he had in his possession a gem and pearls that were worth the monetary value of all the good of Damascus, and [thus] it says: “Taking with him as tribute all the good of Damascus.”113If it already occurred that Ḥazael brought such a valuable gift to Elisha, the gift to the messianic king will have to be that much greater. Therefore, the nations of the world will bring him the Jewish exiles as a gift.
Rather, they are destined to bring [the Jews] themselves as gifts to the messianic king. What is the reason? “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, with horses and with chariots and with covered wagons [uvakirkarot]” (Isaiah 66:20). What is uvakirkarot? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: Like those elders who are unable to ride covered wagons and they carry them on sedan chairs. That is what is written: “Render to the Lord, families of the peoples, [render to the Lord glory and splendor]” (Psalms 96:7). Rabbi Aḥa said: It is not written here, “Peoples, render to the Lord families,” but rather, “families of the peoples, render to the Lord glory and splendor” – when you bring them, do not bring them in a demeaning way, but rather with glory and splendor.
By what merit? By the merit that they recited song at the sea. Rav Naḥman said: By the merit of the faith that Abraham had, as it is stated: “And he believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “Israel saw the great power […and they believed in the Lord]” (Exodus 14:31). He was still leading them; could they not believe? Is there a person who sees and does not believe? Rather, it is due to the merit of the faith that Israel had while in Egypt, as it is stated: “The people believed” (Exodus 4:31).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, תָּשׁוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (בראשית טו, ו): וְהֶאֱמִין בַּה'. מֵרֹאשׁ שְׂנִיר וְחֶרְמוֹן, זֶה יִצְחָק, מַה זֶּה הַשְֹּׂנִיר שׂוֹנֵא אֶת הַנִּיר, כָּךְ לֹא נִתְנַסָּה יִצְחָק אֶלָּא פַּעַם אַחַת בִּלְבָד. וְחֶרְמוֹן, זֶה יַעֲקֹב, מַה חֶרְמוֹן זֶה כָּל טוּבוֹ נָתוּן בְּזוּטוֹ, כָּךְ כְּהֻנָּה מִיַּעֲקֹב, לְוִיָּה מִיַּעֲקֹב, מַלְכוּת מִיַּעֲקֹב. מִמְּעֹנוֹת אֲרָיוֹת, זֶה סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג, מַה הָאֲרִי הַזֶּה שָׁחוּץ, כָּךְ הָיוּ סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג שְׁחוּצִים וְגִבּוֹרִים, שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בֵּין זֶה לָזֶה אֶלָּא מַהֲלַךְ יוֹם אֶחָד בִּלְבָד וְלֹא זֶה בָּא לְסִיּוּעוֹ שֶׁל זֶה וְלֹא זֶה בָּא לְסִיּוּעוֹ שֶׁל זֶה. מֵהַרְרֵי נְמֵרִים, אֵלּוּ הַכְּנַעֲנִיִּים, וּמָה הַנָּמֵר הַזֶּה חָצוּף, כָּךְ הַכְּנַעֲנִיִּים חֲצוּפִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יהושע ח, יז): וְלֹא נִשְׁאַר אִישׁ בָּעַי וגו'. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רְאוּיִין הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לוֹמַר שִׁירָה עַל מַפַּלְתָּן שֶׁל סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג, וְרָאוּי הָיָה חִזְקִיָּהוּ לוֹמַר שִׁירָה עַל מַפֶּלֶת סַנְחֵרִיב, דִּכְתִיב (דברי הימים ב לב, כה): וְלֹא כִגְמֻל עָלָיו הֵשִׁיב יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ [למה] כִּי גָבַהּ לִבּוֹ, אַתְּ חָמֵי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ וְצַדִּיק וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ כִּי גָבַהּ לִבּוֹ, אֶלָּא גָּבַהּ לִבּוֹ מִלּוֹמַר שִׁירָה, אֲתָא יְשַׁעְיָה לְגַבֵּיהוֹן דְּחִזְקִיָּהוּ וְסִיעָתוֹ אֲמַר לְהוֹן (ישעיה יב, ה): זַמְּרוּ ה', אֲמָרוּן לֵיהּ לָמָּה (ישעיה יב, ה) כִּי גֵאוּת עָשָׂה, אֲמָרוּן לֵיהּ כְּבָר מוּדַעַת זֹאת בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא אָמַר חִזְקִיָּהוּ תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹסֵק בָּהּ מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל הַשִּׁירָה. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר חִזְקִיָּהוּ מָה אָנוּ צְרִיכִין לוֹמַר נִסָּיו וּגְבוּרוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כְּבָר מוּדַעַת זֹאת מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, לֹא כְבָר עָמַד גַּלְגַּל הַחַמָּה בְּאֶמְצַע הָרָקִיעַ וְרָאוּ נִסָּיו וּגְבוּרוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַד סוֹף הָעוֹלָם. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּא אוֹמֵר כְּבָר פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וְתִרְהָקָה מֶלֶךְ כּוּשׁ הָיוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַנֵּס וּבָאוּ לְסַיֵּעַ לְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, הִרְגִּישׁ בָּהֶן סַנְחֵרִיב, וּמֶה עָשָׂה לָהֶם סַנְחֵרִיב הָרָשָׁע, בְּעַרְבִית כְּפָתָן, בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה יָצָא הַמַּלְאָךְ וּנְגָפָן לַחֲיָילוֹתָיו שֶׁל סַנְחֵרִיב, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה לז, לו): וַיֵּצֵא מַלְאַךְ ה' וַיַּכֶּה בְּמַחֲנֵה אַשּׁוּר. בְּשַׁחֲרִית הִשְׁכִּים חִזְקִיָּהוּ וּמְצָאָן כְּפוּתִין, אָמַר דּוֹמֶה שֶׁלֹא בָּאוּ אֵלּוּ אֶלָּא לְסַיְּעֵנִי, הִתִּירָן וְהָלְכוּ וְסִפְּרוּ נִסָּיו וּגְבוּרוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מה, יד): כֹּה אָמַר ה' יְגִיעַ מִצְרַיִם וּסְחַר כּוּשׁ, יְגִיעַ מִצְרַיִם זֶה פַּרְעֹה, וּסְחַר כּוּשׁ זֶה תִּרְהָקָה מֶלֶךְ כּוּשׁ, (ישעיה מה, יד): וּסְבָאִים אַנְשֵׁי מִדָּה, אֵלּוּ חֲיָילוֹתֵיהֶן, עָלַיִךְ יַעֲבֹרוּ, זֶה חִזְקִיָּהוּ וְסִיעָתוֹ, וְלָךְ יִהְיוּ, כְּבָר מוּשְׁלָמִין לְךָ, אַחֲרַיִךְ יֵלֵכוּ בַּזִּקִּים יַעֲבֹרוּ, בִּקְרָקוֹמְנִיקִיאָה, וְאֵלַיִךְ יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ, זוֹ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, אֵלַיִךְ יִתְפַּלָּלוּ, זוֹ בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִין (ישעיה מה, יד): אַךְ בָּךְ אֵל וְאֵין עוֹד אֶפֶס אֱלֹהִים. אָמַר יְשַׁעְיָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם (ישעיה מה, טו): אָכֵן אַתָּה אֵל מִסְתַּתֵּר, מַהוּ אָכֵן, אֵיכָן אַתָּה אֵל מִסְתַּתֵּר, אָכֵן יֵשׁ בְּךָ דִּינָמוֹס וְאַתָּה מִסְתַּתֵּר. אָמַר לוֹ (ישעיה מה, טו): אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹשִׁיעַ, חוֹזֵר אֲנִי וּמִתְנַקֵּם. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר אִלּוּ אָמַר חִזְקִיָּהוּ שִׁירָה עַל מַפֶּלֶת סַנְחֵרִיב הָיָה נַעֲשָׂה הוּא מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְסַנְחֵרִיב גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג, וְהוּא לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן אֶלָּא אָמַר (תהלים כ, ז): עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי הוֹשִׁיעַ ה' מְשִׁיחוֹ וגו' אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב וגו', מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ (תהלים כ, י): ה' הוֹשִׁיעָה הַמֶּלֶךְ יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ.
Another matter: “Look from the peak of Amana” – this is Abraham in whose regard it is written: “And he believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). “From the peak of Senir” – this is Isaac. Just as Senir is hostile to plowing [soneh nir], so too, Isaac was subject to an ordeal only once. “And Ḥermon” – this is Jacob. Just as all the good of the Ḥermon is in its lower reaches, so too, priesthood is from Jacob, Levites are from Jacob, kingdom is from Jacob.114Jacob was the last of the patriarchs. “As his heart had grown haughty” (II Chronicles 32:25). You see Hezekiah, a king and a righteous man, and you say “as his heart had grown haughty”? Rather, his heart had grown too haughty to sing a song. Isaiah came to Hezekiah and his associates. He said to them: “Sing to the Lord” (Isaiah 12:5). They said to him: Why? “For He has performed grandeur” (Isaiah 12:5). They said to him: It is already “known throughout the land” (Isaiah 12:5). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Hezekiah said: The Torah in which I engage atones for the [absence of] song.115Hezekiah thought that because he had caused Torah to be known throughout the land, he was above singing songs of praise.
“From the dens of lions” – these are Siḥon and Og; just as the lion is haughty, so Siḥon and Og were haughty and mighty, as there was a distance of only one day’s walk between this one and that one, and this one did not come to the aid of that one, and that one did not come to the aid of this one. “From the mountains of leopards” – these are the Canaanites. Just as this leopard is impudent, so the Canaanites were impudent. That is what is written: “Not a man remained in the Ai [or Beit El who did not come out after Israel]” (Joshua 8:17).
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: It would have been fitting for Israel to have sung song over the downfall of Siḥon and Og, and it would have been fitting for Hezekiah to have sung song over the downfall of Sennacherib, as it is written: “But Hezekiah did not reciprocate according to the reward bestowed upon him” (II Chronicles 32:25).
Rabbi Levi said: Hezekiah said: Why do we need to recount the miracles and mighty exploits of the Holy One blessed be He? They are already known from one end of the world to the other. Has the sun not stood in the middle of the sky116See II Kings 20:11. and they [thus] saw the miracles and mighty exploits of the Holy One blessed be He to the end of the world?
Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei says in the name of Rabbi Abba: Pharaoh king of Egypt and Tirhaka king of Kush were already involved in that miracle and came to aid Hezekiah. Sennacherib sensed their presence. What did the wicked Sennacherib do to them? At nightfall he bound them; at midnight, the angel emerged and struck Sennacherib’s troops. That is what is written: “The angel of the Lord emerged and smote the Assyrian camp” (Isaiah 37:36). In the morning, Hezekiah arose early and found them bound. He said: It seems that these came only to aid me. He untied them and they went and related the miracles and mighty exploits of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “Thus says the Lord: The product of Egypt and the merchandise of Kush” (Isaiah 45:14). “The product of Egypt” – this is Pharaoh king of Egypt; “and the merchandise of Kush” – this is Tirhaka king of Kush. “And the Sabeans, men of stature” (Isaiah 45:14) – these are their armies. “Will pass over to you” (Isaiah 45:14) – this is Hezekiah and his associates. “They will be yours (Isaiah 45:14)” – they are already at peace with you. “They will follow you and pass in chains (Isaiah 45:14)” – in manacles. “They will prostrate themselves to you” (Isaiah 45:14) – this is Jerusalem. “They will pray before you” (Isaiah 45:14) – this is the Temple. What would they say? “There is only God with you; there is none other except for God” (Isaiah 45:14). Isaiah said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, “indeed [akhen] You are God who conceals Himself” (Isaiah 45:15). What is “akhen”? Where [ekhan] are You hiding, God? Indeed, You have the dynamism, and You conceal Yourself? [God] said to him: “God of Israel, Savior” (Isaiah 45:15) – I will then take vengeance.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Had Hezekiah recited song over the downfall of Sennacherib, he would have become the messianic king and Sennacherib [would have been] Gog and Magog, but he did not do so. Rather, he said: “Now I know that the Lord has rescued His anointed one.… Some come on chariots [and some on horses but we will make mention of the name of the Lord our God]” (Psalms 20:7–8). What is written thereafter? “Deliver us, Lord. The King will answer us on the day we call” (Psalms 20:10).117These verses are attributed here to Hezekiah, and he refers to a future king as “His anointed one [meshiḥo],” an allusion to the Messiah, in realization that he himself would no longer be able to be the Messiah (Maharzu).
לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה לִבַּבְתִּנִי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לֵב אֶחָד הָיָה לָכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם וּנְתַתֶּם לִי שְׁנֵי לְבָבוֹת. לִבַּבְתִּנִי בְּאַחַד מֵעֵינַיִךְ, בְּדַם הַפֶּסַח וּבְדַם הַמִּילָה, בְּאַחַד עֲנָק מִצַּוְּרֹנָיִךְ, זֶה משֶׁה הַמְיֻחָד וְהַגִּבּוֹר שֶׁבִּשְׁבָטַיִּךְ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֵב אֶחָד הָיָה לָכֶם בַּיָּם וּנְתַתֶּם לִי שְׁנֵי לְבָבוֹת, לִבַּבְתִּנִי בְּאַחַד מֵעֵינַיִךְ, שֶׁעֲמַדְתֶּם לְפָנַי עַל הַר סִינַי וַאֲמַרְתֶּם (שמות כד, ז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע. בְּאַחַד עֲנָק מִצַּוְּרֹנָיִךְ, זֶה משֶׁה הַמְיֻחָד וְהַגִּבּוֹר שֶׁבִּשְׁבָטַיִךְ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֵב אֶחָד הָיָה לָכֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר וּנְתַתֶּם לִי שְׁנֵי לְבָבוֹת, לִבַּבְתִּנִי בְּאַחַד מֵעֵינַיִךְ, בַּהֲקָמַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ט, טו): וּבְיוֹם הָקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. בְּאַחַד עֲנָק מִצַּוְּרֹנָיִךְ, זֶה משֶׁה הַמְעֻלֶּה בַּשְּׁבָטִים. אִית דְּאָמְרֵי נְשֵׁי דּוֹר הַמִּדְבָּר כְּשֵׁרוֹת הָיוּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְאוֹתוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה עָמְדוּ וְנִמְלְכוּ עַצְמָן וְלֹא נָתְנוּ כְּלוּם מִנִּזְמֵיהֶן לְמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ שֶׁהֵן אֲסוּרוֹת לָהֶן מִיָּד נָעֲלוּ דַּלְתוֹתֵיהֶן. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לֵב אֶחָד הָיָה לָכֶם בַּמְרַגְּלִים וּנְתַתֶּם לִי שְׁנֵי לְבָבוֹת, זֶה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר לב, יב): בִּלְתִּי כָּלֵב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּה הַקְּנִזִּי וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן וגו' בְּאַחַד עֲנָק מִצַּוְּרֹנָיִךְ, זֶה משֶׁה הַמְיֻחָד וְהַגִּבּוֹר שֶׁבִּשְׁבָטַיִךְ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֵב אֶחָד הָיָה לָכֶם בַּשִּׁטִּים, וּנְתַתֶּם לִי שְׁנֵי לְבָבוֹת, לִבַּבְתִּנִי בְּאַחַד מֵעֵינַיִךְ, זֶה פִּנְחָס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קו, ל לא): וַיַּעֲמֹד פִּינְחָס וַיְפַלֵּל, וַתֵּחָשֶׁב לוֹ לִצְדָקָה. בְּאַחַד עֲנָק מִצַּוְּרֹנָיִךְ, זֶה משֶׁה.
“You have charmed me, my sister, my bride; you have charmed me with one of your eyes, with one bead of your necklace” (Song of Songs 4:9).
“You have charmed me [libavtini],118This word is spelled in Hebrew with the letter bet doubled, which is expounded as an allusion to two hearts [levavot]: the good inclination and the evil inclination. my sister, my bride; you have charmed me” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev]119The Sages refer to a person as having two hearts due to the capacity one has to do good or evil. When acting properly, one is referring to as serving God with both of one’s hearts. When sinning, one is referred to as serving God with only one heart while rebelling against God with one’s other heart. in Egypt, but you [eventually] gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – with the blood of the paschal offering and the blood of circumcision; “with one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes.
Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini], my sister, my bride” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] at the sea, but you [eventually] gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – as you stood before Me on Mount Sinai and said: “Everything that God spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7); “with one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes.
Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini]” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] in the wilderness, but you [eventually] gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – with the establishment of the Tabernacle, as it is stated: “On the day the Tabernacle was established, [the cloud covered the tabernacle]” (Numbers 9:15);120The cloud symbolized God’s Presence resting on the Tabernacle. He was “charmed” by the people’s generosity in donating toward the building of the Tabernacle. In rabbinic Hebrew donating generously can be referred to as donating “with a good eye.” “with one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes. Some say [the verse is referring to] the women of the generation of the wilderness, who were upright. When they encountered that incident they paused, considered the matter, and did not give any of their nose rings for the incident of the Golden Calf. When they heard that they were forbidden to their husbands they immediately locked their doors.121When they heard about the laws of family purity, according to which there are times when a woman is forbidden to her husband, they accepted these laws immediately and refused to have relations with their husbands during those times.
Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini], my sister, my bride” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] with the scouts, but you gave Me two hearts. These are Joshua and Caleb, as it is stated: “Except Caleb son of Yefuneh the Kenizite, and Joshua son of Nun…” (Numbers 32:12). “With one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses, who was the most outstanding and mighty among your tribes.
Another matter: “You have charmed me [libavtini], my sister, my bride” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You had one heart [lev] in the Shitim, but you gave Me two hearts. “You have charmed me with one of your eyes” – this is Pinḥas, as it is stated: “Pinḥas stood up to carry out judgment.… and it was considered righteousness for him” (Psalms 106:30–31). “With one bead of your necklace” – this is Moses.
מַה יָּפוּ דֹדַיִךְ אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר בַּעֲשָׂרָה מְקוֹמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּלָּה, שִׁיתָּא הָכָא, וְאַרְבָּעָה בַּנְּבִיאִים. שִׁיתָּא הָכָא, אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה; לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה; מַה יָּפוּ דֹדַיִךְ אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה; תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ כַּלָּה; גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה; (שיר השירים ה, א): בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, הָא שִׁיתָּא, וְאַרְבָּעָה בַּנְּבִיאִים (ירמיה לג, יא): קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כַּלָּה; (ישעיה סא, י): וְכַכַּלָּה תַּעְדֶּה כֵלֶיהָ; (ישעיה מט, יח): וּתְקַשְּׁרִים כַּכַּלָּה; (ישעיה סב, ה): וּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל כַּלָּה. וּכְנֶגְדָּן לָבַשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲשָׂרָה לְבוּשִׁין (תהלים צג, א): ה' מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ, הֲרֵי אֶחָד; לָבֵשׁ ה' עֹז, הֲרֵי שְׁנַיִם; הִתְאַזָּר, הֲרֵי שְׁלשָׁה; (ישעיה נט, יז): וַיִּלְבַּשׁ צְדָקָה כַּשִּׁרְיָן, הֲרֵי אַרְבָּעָה; (ישעיה נט, יז): וַיִּלְבַּשׁ בִּגְדֵי נָקָם, הֲרֵי חֲמִשָּׁה; תִּלְבּשֶׁת, הֲרֵי שִׁשָּׁה; וַיַּעַט כַּמְעִיל קִנְאָה, הֲרֵי שִׁבְעָה; (ישעיה סג, א): זֶה הָדוּר בִּלְבוּשׁוֹ, הֲרֵי שְׁמוֹנָה; (ישעיה סג, ב): מַדּוּעַ אָדֹם לִלְבוּשֶׁיךָ, הֲרֵי תִּשְׁעָה; (תהלים קד, א): הוֹד וְהָדָר לָבָשְׁתָּ, הֲרֵי עֲשָׂרָה, כְּדֵי לִפָּרַע מֵאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁבִּטְלוּ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, שֶׁהָיוּ מְצַמְצְמִים עֲלֵיהֶם כַּכַּלָּה. וְרֵיחַ שְׁמָנַיִךְ מִכָּל בְּשָׂמִים, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, מַה שֶּׁמֶן זֶה חָלָק, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁאַתְּ מְפַטְּמוֹ אַתְּ מֵרִיחַ בּוֹ כַּמָּה רֵיחוֹת, כָּךְ הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה אַתְּ דּוֹרֵשׁ וּמוֹצֵא בוֹ כַּמָּה טְעָמִים טוֹבִים.
“How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride; how much better is your loving than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all spices” (Song of Songs 4:10).
“How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: In ten places Israel is called bride; six here and four in the prophets. Six here: “With me from Lebanon, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:8), “you have charmed me, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:9), “how fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:10), “your lips drip [nectar] my bride (Song of Songs 4:11), “a locked garden is my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:12), “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride (Song of Songs 5:1); these are six. And four in the prophets: “The sound of gladness and the sound of joy, the sound of a groom and the sound of a bride” (Jeremiah 33:11), “like a bride who bedecks herself with her jewelry” (Isaiah 61:10), “you will tie them like a bride” (Isaiah 49:18), “like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride” (Isaiah 62:5).
Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He donned ten garments. “The Lord reigns; He is clothed in grandeur” (Psalms 93:1); this is one. “The Lord is clothed with strength” (Psalms 93:1); this is two. “Girded” (Psalms 93:1); this is three. “He donned righteousness like armor” (Isaiah 59:17); this is four. “He donned garments of vengeance” (Isaiah 59:17); this is five. “Attire” (Isaiah 59:17); this is six. “He clothed Himself with zealotry like a coat” (Isaiah 59:17); this is seven. “This that is majestic in attire” (Isaiah 63:1); this is eight. “Why is there red on Your attire” (Isaiah 63:2); this is nine. “You are clothed in splendor and glory” (Psalms 104:1); this is ten. This is in order to exact retribution from the nations of the world who prevented Israel from fulfilling the Ten Commandments, which [Israel] was holding close to them like a bride.
“And the fragrance of your oils than all spices” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Just like this oil is odorless, but, by means of scenting it you smell several fragrances, so too, you expound this verse and find several good ideas.
נֹפֶת תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ כַּלָּה, רַבִּי דְּרוֹסָא וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר יִצְחָק, שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְבִיאִים עָמְדוּ לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים רִבּוֹא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִגִּיבַת וְעַד אַנְטִיפַּטְרַס שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא עֲיָרוֹת, וְאֵין לְךָ עֲיָרוֹת מְקֻלְקָלוֹת בְּכֻלָּן כְּבֵית אֵל וִירִיחוֹ שֶׁאֵרֲרָהּ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, בֵּית אֵל שֶׁשָּׁם הָיוּ שְׁנֵי עֶגְלֵי זָהָב שֶׁל יָרָבְעָם עוֹמְדִים, כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (מלכים ב ב, ג): וַיֵּצְאוּ בְנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אֲשֶׁר בֵּית אֵל אֶל אֱלִישָׁע, נְבִיאִים אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁנַיִם, וְלָמָּה לֹא נִתְפַּרְסְמָה נְבוּאָתָן, שֶׁלֹא הָיָה צֹרֶךְ לַדּוֹרוֹת, אֱמוֹר מֵעַתָּה כָּל נְבוּאָה שֶׁשְּׁעָתָה וְהָיְתָה צֹרֶךְ לַדּוֹרוֹת נִתְפַּרְסְמָה, וְכָל נְבוּאָה שֶׁהָיְתָה שְׁעָתָה וְלֹא הָיָה בָהּ צֹרֶךְ לַדּוֹרוֹת לֹא נִתְפַּרְסְמָה, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבִיאָן וּמְפַרְסֵם נְבוּאָתָן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (זכריה יד, ה): וּבָא ה' אֱלֹהַי כָּל קְדשִׁים עִמָּךְ. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ אָמַר כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעָמְדוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שֶׁל נְבִיאִים, כָּךְ עָמְדוּ לָהֶם שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שֶׁל נְבִיאוֹת, וּבָא שְׁלֹמֹה וּפִרְסְמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר; נֹפֶת תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ כַּלָּה. רַבִּי הוּנָא וְרַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא קֵיסָרְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמְרֵי, מַה כַּלָּה זוֹ מִתְקַשֶּׁטֶת בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה תַּכְשִׁיטִין, וְאִם חֲסֵרָה חִסּוּר דָּבָר אֶחָד מֵהֶם אֵינָהּ כְּלוּם, כָּךְ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְהֵא רָגִיל בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה סְפָרִים, וְאִם חִסֵּר אֶחָד מֵהֶם אֵינוֹ כְלוּם. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ מַה כַּלָּה זוֹ צְנוּעָה, כָּךְ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְהֵא צָנוּעַ. רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בְּשֵׁם רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מַה כַּלָּה זוֹ יוֹשֶׁבֶת בְּפוּרְיָא וְאוֹמֶרֶת רְאוּ שֶׁאֲנִי טְהוֹרָה, וְזוֹ עֵדוּתִי מְעִידָה עָלַי, כָּךְ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם צָרִיךְ שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא בוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁל דֹּפִי. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה בָּרַבִּים וְאֵינָן עֲרֵבִין לְשׁוֹמְעֵיהֶן כְּסֹלֶת זוֹ שֶׁצָּפָה עַל גַּבֵּי נָפָה, נוֹחַ לוֹ שֶׁלֹא אֲמָרָן. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר כָּל מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה בָּרַבִּים וְאֵינָן עֲרֵבִין עַל שׁוֹמְעֵיהֶן כִּדְבַשׁ זֶה שֶׁבָּא מִצּוּף, נוֹחַ לוֹ שֶׁלֹא אֲמָרָן. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי כָּל מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה בָּרַבִּים וְאֵינָן עֲרֵבִין עַל שׁוֹמְעֵיהֶן כִּדְבַשׁ וְחָלָב הַמְעֹרָבִין זֶה בָּזֶה, נוֹחַ לוֹ שֶׁלֹא אֲמָרָן. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר כָּל מִי שֶׁאָמַר דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה בָּרַבִּים וְאֵינָן עֲרֵבִין לְשׁוֹמְעֵיהֶן כְּכַלָּה זוֹ שֶׁעֲרֵבָה עַל בְּנֵי אָדָם בְּחֻפָּתָהּ, נוֹחַ לוֹ שֶׁלֹא אֲמָרָן. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר כָּל מִי שֶׁאָמַר דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה וְאֵינָן עֲרֵבִין עַל שׁוֹמְעֵיהֶן כְּכַלָּה זוֹ שֶׁעֲרֵבָה עַל בַּעֲלָהּ בִּשְׁעַת חֻפָּתָהּ, נוֹחַ לוֹ שֶׁלֹא אֲמָרָן.
“Your lips drip nectar, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue, and the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon” (Song of Songs 4:11).
“Your lips drip nectar, my bride” – Rabbi Derosa and Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak: Six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel in the days of Elijah. Rabbi Yaakov said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From Gevat to Antipatris122These are the borders of the kingdom of Judah. were six hundred thousand cities. There were none among them as tainted as Beit El and Jericho; [Jericho] because Joshua cursed it, Beit El, as the two golden calves of Yerovam were situated there. One verse says: “The disciples of the prophets who were in Beit El came out to Elisha” (II Kings 2:3). “Prophets” connote no fewer than two.123If in Beit El there were two, certainly in each of the untainted cities there were at least two. Two prophets per city times six hundred thousand cities equals one million two hundred thousand prophets. Why were their prophecies not publicized?124Why were they not included among the books of Prophets? Because they were not required for the generations. On this basis, say: Every prophecy that was at its time and was needed for the generations was publicized, and every prophecy that was at its time but was not needed for the generations was not publicized. However, in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will bring them and publicize their prophecy. That is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: Just as six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel, so too, six hundred thousand prophetesses arose for them. Solomon came and publicized them, as it is stated: “Your lips drip nectar, my bride.”125The drop of nectar on the lips represents prophecy, and “my bride” is an allusion to prophetesses.
Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Ḥalafta of Caesarea say in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Just as this bride ornaments herself with twenty-four ornaments126See Isaiah 3:18–24 and if she is missing one item [it is as though] she has nothing, so too, a Torah scholar must be familiar with the twenty-four books [of the Bible], and if he is missing one of them [it is as though] he has nothing.
Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Just as a bride is modest, so a Torah scholar must be modest. Rabbi Ḥalafta in the name of Reish Lakish: Just as a bride sits on a divan and says: See that I am pure, this is my testimony that attests in my regard; so too, there must not be any fault in a Torah scholar.
Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Elazar says: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this fine flour that adheres to a sieve [nafa],127This is an expounding of the word nectar [nofet]. it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. Rabbi Yosei says: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this honey that comes from nectar [tzuf],128This, too, is an expounding of the word nectar [nofet tzufim] (see Psalms 19:11). it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. The Rabbis say: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this honey and milk that are intermingled, it would have been preferable for him had he not said them.
Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this bride who is pleasant to the people at her wedding canopy, it would have been preferable for him had he not said them. Reish Lakish said: Anyone who speaks words of Torah in public and they are not pleasant to their listeners like this bride who is pleasant to her husband at her wedding canopy, it would have been preferable for him had he not said them.
דְּבַשׁ וְחָלָב תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנֵךְ, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר אֵין מַשְׁקֶה סוֹרֵחַ יוֹתֵר מִמַּשְׁקֶה זֶה שֶׁתַּחַת הַלָּשׁוֹן, וְאַתְּ אוֹמֵר: דְּבַשׁ וְחָלָב תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנֵךְ, אֶלָּא אִם הֲלָכוֹת קֵהוֹת תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנֵךְ דְּבַשׁ וְחָלָב הֲלָכוֹת הַמְאֻשָּׁשׁוֹת עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אַף הַקּוֹרֵא מִקְרָא בְּעִנּוּגוֹ וּבְנִגּוּנוֹ, עָלָיו נֶאֱמַר: דְּבַשׁ וְחָלָב תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנֵךְ. וְרֵיחַ שַׂלְמֹתַיִךְ כְּרֵיחַ לְבָנוֹן, כְּתִיב (בראשית כז, כז): וַיִּגַּשׁ וַיִּשַּׁק לוֹ וַיָּרַח אֶת רֵיחַ בְּגָדָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁרֵיחוֹ רַע וְקָשֶׁה יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁטֶף שֶׁל עִזִּים, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר: וַיָּרַח אֶת רֵיחַ בְּגָדָיו, אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנַס יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ נִכְנַס עִמּוֹ גַּן עֵדֶן, הֲדָא דַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: רְאֵה רֵיחַ בְּנִי כְּרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרֲכוֹ ה'. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנַס עֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע אֵצֶל אָבִיו נִכְנַס עִמּוֹ גֵּיהִנֹּם, מַה טַּעַם (משלי יא, ב): בָּא זָדוֹן וַיָּבֹא קָלוֹן, הֲדָא דַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: מִי אֵפוֹא, מִי נֶאֱפָה בְּתַנּוּר זֶה, הֱשִׁיבוֹ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ הוּא הַצָּד צַיִד. שָׁאַל רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֶת רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן לָקוֹנְיָא חָמוּי, אָמַר לֵיהּ כְּלֵי קוֹרְיוֹס יָצְאוּ עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל לַמִּדְבָּר, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָאו. אָמַר לוֹ מֵהֵיכָן הָיוּ לוֹבְשִׁין כָּל אוֹתָן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, אָמַר לוֹ מִמַּה שֶּׁהִלְבִּישׁוּם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל טז, י): וָאַלְבִּישֵׁךְ רִקְמָה. רַבִּי סִימַי אָמַר פּוֹרְפִּירָא תִּרְגֵּם עֲקִילָס אִיפָּלִיקְתָּא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלֹא הָיוּ כָּלִים, אָמַר לוֹ וְלֹא קָרִיתָ מִיָּמֶיךָ (דברים ח, ד): שִׂמְלָתְךָ לֹא בָלְתָה מֵעָלֶיךָ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלֹא הָיוּ גְּדֵלִים, אֲמַר לֵיהּ צֵא וּלְמַד מִן הַחִלָּזוֹן, שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁהוּא גָּדֵל נַרְתִּיקוֹ גָּדֵל עִמּוֹ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלֹא הָיוּ צְרִיכִין תִּכְבֹּסֶת, אֲמַר לֵיהּ הֶעָנָן הָיָה שָׁף בָּהֶם וּמַגְהִיצָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלֹא הָיוּ נִשְׂרָפִים, אֲמַר לֵיהּ צֵא וּלְמַד מִן אַמְיַנְטוֹן הַזֶּה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְגָּהֵץ אֶלָּא בָּאוּר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין כְּנָמִיּוֹת, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִם בְּמִיתָתָן לֹא עָשׂוּ בְּחַיֵּיהֶן עָשׂוּ. וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין רֵיחַ רָע מֵרֵיחַ הַזֵּעָה שֶׁל גּוּפָן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מִתְגַּעְגְּעִין הָיוּ בְּעֵשֶׂב הַבְּאֵר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים כג, ב): בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי, וְהָיָה רֵיחָן נוֹדֵף מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, בָּא שְׁלֹמֹה וּפֵרַשׁ וְרֵיחַ שַׂלְמֹתַיִךְ כְּרֵיחַ לְבָנוֹן.
“Honey and milk are under your tongue” – Rabbi Berekhya said: There is no beverage that is more disgusting than a beverage that is under the tongue, and you say: “Honey and milk are under your tongue”? Rather, if the halakhot that are dull under your tongue129The halakhot that are unclear to you. are honey and milk, the halakhot that are fortified, all the more so. Rabbi Levi said: Even one who reads a verse in its pleasantness and in its melody, the verse says in his regard: “Honey and milk are under your tongue.”
“And the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon” – it is written: “He came near, and he kissed him. He smelled the scent of his garments” (Genesis 27:27). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: You have no item whose odor is fouler and harsher than washed goatskin, and it says: “He smelled the scent of his garments”? Rather, when Jacob our patriarch entered, the Garden of Eden entered with him. That is what he said to him: “See, the scent of my son is as the scent of a field that the Lord blessed” (Genesis 27:27). When the wicked Esau entered to his father, Gehenna entered with him. What is the reason? “With the arrival of malice, disgrace has arrived” (Proverbs 11:2). That is what he said to him: “Who then [efo]” (Genesis 27:33), who is baked [ne’efeh] in this oven? The Divine Spirit answered him: “The one who hunted game” (Genesis 27:33).
Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon asked Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yosei ben Lakonya, his father-in-law: ‘Did weaving utensils depart with Israel to the wilderness?’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to him: ‘From where did they have what to wear all those forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness?’ He said to him: ‘It was from what the ministering angels clad them.130After they said: “We will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). That is what is written: “I clad them in embroidery”’ (Ezekiel 16:10). Rav Simi said: A purple woolen garment. Akilas translated: A multi-colored embroidered garment. He said to him: ‘But did they not grow worn?’ He said to him: ‘Have you never studied Bible? “Your garment did not grow worn from upon you”’ (Deuteronomy 8:4). He said to him: ‘But did they not grow?’ He said to him: ‘Go out and learn from the snail, for as long as it grows, its shell grows with it.’ He said to him: ‘Did they not require laundering?’ He said to him: ‘The cloud would rub them clean and iron them.’ He said to him: ‘But would they not burn?’131From contact with the cloud that was fire. He said to him: ‘Go out and learn from this garment made of stone fibers, which is ironed only in fire.’ He said to him: ‘But did they not grow lice?’ He said to them: ‘If in their deaths they did not,132The bodies of everyone who heard the voice of God at Sinai were not infested with worms and maggots after their deaths (Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer 41). did they in their lifetimes?’ [Rabbi Elazar asked:] ‘Did they not give off a foul odor from the perspiration of their bodies?’ He said to him: ‘They would roll in the grass [produced due to the water of] the well. That is what is written: “He has me lie down in green pastures” (Psalms 23:2). Their fragrance would waft from the end of the world to its end. Solomon came and articulated: “And the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.”’
גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת אַחַת גְּדוֹלָה וְאַחַת קְטַנָּה, וְלֹא נִפְנָה לְהַשִֹּׂיאָן, וְהִנִּיחָן הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁנִים הַרְבֵּה וְהָלַךְ לִמְדִינַת הַיָּם, וְעָמְדוּ הַבָּנוֹת מִחוּ עַל עַצְמָן וְהִשִֹּׂיאוּ עַצְמָן לַאֲנָשִׁים, וְהָיְתָה כָּל אַחַת מֵהֶן נוֹטֶלֶת חוֹתָם שֶׁל בַּעֲלָהּ וְסִימַנְטֵירִין שֶׁלּוֹ, לְאַחַר יָמִים בָּא הַמֶּלֶךְ מִמְּדִינַת הַיָּם וְשָׁמַע קוֹל הַבְּרִיּוֹת מַלִּיזִין אַחַר בְּנוֹתָיו וְאוֹמְרִים כְּבָר זָנוּ בְּנוֹתָיו שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ, מֶה עָשָׂה הוֹצִיא כָּרוֹז וְאָמַר כָּל עַמָּאי יִפְקוּן לְקַמְפּוֹן, בָּא וְיָשַׁב עָלֶיהָ בַּפְּרוֹזְדוֹר, אָמַר לָהֶן בְּנוֹתַי כָּךְ עֲשִׂיתֶן וְקִלְקַלְתֶּן אֶת עַצְמְכֶן, מִיָּד הוֹצִיאוּ כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת חוֹתָם בַּעֲלָהּ וְסִימַנְטֵירִין שֶׁלּוֹ, קָרָא לַחֲתָנוֹ אָמַר לוֹ לְמִי אַתְּ עָשׂוּי חָתָן, אָמַר לוֹ אֲנִי חֲתָנְךָ הָרִאשׁוֹן לְבִתְּךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, אָמַר לוֹ זֶה מַה הוּא, אָמַר לוֹ זֶה חוֹתָם שֶׁלִּי וְזֶה סִימַנְטֵירִין שֶׁלִּי, וְכֵן לַשֵּׁנִי, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּנוֹתַי גְדוּרוֹת מֵהָעֶרְוָה וְאַתֶּם מַלִּיזִין וּמְבַזִּין אוֹתָם, חַיֵּיכֶם אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה בָכֶם דִּינִין, כָּךְ הֵן הָאֻמּוֹת לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ מוֹנִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמְרִים (שמות א, יג): וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אִם בַּעֲשִׂיָּתָן הֵן מַכְרִיחִין כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בְּגוּפָן וּבִנְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה גַּן נָעוּל, מַהוּ גַּן נָעוּל, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גִּנָּתִי נְעוּלָה וְהִיא מִתְגַּנְּיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קָרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַמַּלְאָךְ הַמְּמֻנֶּה עַל הַהֵרָיוֹן וְאָמַר צֵא וְצוּר אוֹתָן בְּכָל קִטּוֹרִים שֶׁל אֲבוֹתָן, עִקַּר אֲבוֹתֵיהֶן לְמִי הָיוּ דוֹמִין לִגְדוֹלֵי הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב לִרְאוּבֵן (במדבר כו, ז): מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָראוּבֵנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא רְאוּבֵן הָראוּבֵנִי, שִׁמְעוֹן הַשִּׁמְעוֹנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי מָרִינוֹס בְּרַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא הָא כְּמָה דְתֵימַר בָּרוֹנִי סַבְרוֹנִי סִיבוֹיִי. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אִידֵי ה"א בְּרֹאשׁ הַתֵּבָה וְיו"ד בְּסוֹפָהּ, י"ה מֵעִיד עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁהֵם הֵם בְּנֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס גַּן נָעוּל, אֵלּוּ הַבְּתוּלוֹת. גַּל נָעוּל, אֵלוּ הַבְּעוּלוֹת. מַעְיָן חָתוּם, אֵלּוּ הַזְּכָרִים. תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי נָתָן גַּן נָעוּל, גַּל נָעוּל, שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים לָמָּה, אֶלָּא שְׁתֵּי בִּיאוֹת לָאִשָּׁה כְּדַרְכָּהּ וְשֶׁא כְדַרְכָּהּ. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר, בִּזְכוּת אַרְבָּעָה דְבָרִים נִגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁלֹא שִׁנּוּ אֶת שְׁמָם, וְלֹא שִׁנּוּ אֶת לְשׁוֹנָם, וְלֹא אָמְרוּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, וְלֹא נִמְצָא בָּהֶן אֶחָד פָּרוּץ בְּעֶרְוָה. לֹא שִׁנּוּ אֶת שְׁמָם, רְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן נָחֲתִין, רְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן סָלְקִין, וְלֹא הָיוּ קוֹרִין לִרְאוּבֵן רוֹפוּס, וּלְשִׁמְעוֹן לֹא הָיוּ קוֹרִין לוּלְיָנִי, וּלְיוֹסֵף לִסְטִיס, וּלְבִנְיָמִין אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרָא. וְלֹא שִׁנּוּ לְשׁוֹנָם, לְהַלָּן כְּתִיב (בראשית יד, יג): וַיָּבֹא הַפָּלִיט וַיַּגֵּד לְאַבְרָם הָעִבְרִי, וְכָאן כְּתִיב (שמות ה, ג): אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים נִקְרָא עָלֵינוּ, וּכְתִיב (בראשית מה, יב): כִּי פִי הַמְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם, בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ. וְלֹא אָמְרוּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יא, ב): דַּבֶּר נָא בְּאָזְנֵי הָעָם וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ מֵאֵת רֵעֵהוּ, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא זֶה הַדָּבָר הָיָה מֻפְקָד אֶצְלָם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, וְלֹא נִמְצָא בָהֶן אֶחָד שֶׁהִלְשִׁין עַל חֲבֵרוֹ. וְלֹא נִמְצָא אֶחָד מֵהֶן פָּרוּץ בָּעֶרְוָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד, י): וַיֵּצֵא בֶּן אִשָּׁה יִשְׂרְאֵלִית וַיִּקֹּב בֶּן הָאִשָּׁה הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית, לְהוֹדִיעַ שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹא נִמְצָא בָהֶם אֶלָּא זוֹ וּפִרְסְמָהּ הַכָּתוּב. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא, שָׂרָה יָרְדָה לְמִצְרַיִם וְגָדְרָה עַצְמָהּ מִן הָעֶרְוָה, וְכָל הַנָּשִׁים נִגְדְּרוּ בִּזְכוּתָהּ. יוֹסֵף יָרַד לְמִצְרַיִם וְגָדַר עַצְמוֹ מִן הָעֶרְוָה, וְנִגְדְּרוּ כָּל הַזְּכָרִים בִּזְכוּתוֹ. רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא כְּדַאי הָיְתָה גְּדִירַת עֶרְוָה עַצְמָהּ שֶׁבִּזְכוּתָהּ נִגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, מַה טַּעַם, גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ: שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים. תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי לְאֶחָד שֶׁנָּפְלָה לוֹ יְרֻשָּׁה בִּמְקוֹם אַשְׁפָּה, וְהָיָה הַיּוֹרֵשׁ עָצֵל, וְהָלַךְ וּמְכָרָה בְּדָבָר מוּעָט קַל, וְהָלַךְ הַלּוֹקֵחַ וְנִזְדָּרֵז וְחָפַר בָּהּ וּמָצָא בָהּ סִימָא, וּבָנָה בָהּ פָּלָטִין גְּדוֹלָה, הִתְחִיל הַלּוֹקֵחַ מְהַלֵּךְ בַּשּׁוּק וַעֲבָדִים מְהַלְּכִין אַחֲרָיו מִן הַסִּימָא הַהִיא שֶׁקָּנָה בָהּ. הִתְחִיל הַמּוֹכֵר רוֹאֶה וְנֶחְנַק וְאוֹמֵר, וַי מָה אִבַּדְתִּי. כָּךְ כְּשֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים בְּטִיט וּלְבֵנִים, וְהָיוּ מְאוּסִין בְּעֵינֵי הַמִּצְרִיִּים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּם דְּגָלִים חוֹנִים עַל הַיָּם בְּטַקְסִיס הַמְּלָכִים, הִתְחִילוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים נֶחְנָקִים וְאוֹמְרִים וַי מַה שִּׁלַּחְנוּ מֵאַרְצֵנוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג, יז): וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן לְאֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ שָׂדֶה בֵּית כּוֹר וְהָלַךְ וּמְכָרָהּ בְּדָבָר קַל, וְהָלַךְ הַלּוֹקֵחַ וְחָפַר בָּהּ מַעְיָנוֹת וְעָשָׂה בָהּ גַּנּוֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִין, הִתְחִיל הַמּוֹכֵר רוֹאֶה וְנֶחְנַק וְאוֹמֵר וַי מָה אִבַּדְתִּי, כָּךְ כְּשֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים בְּטִיט וּלְבֵנִים וְהָיוּ מְאוּסִין בְּעֵינֵי הַמִּצְרִיִּים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּם דְּגָלִים חוֹנִים עַל הַיָּם בְּטַקְסִיס מְלָכִים, הִתְחִילוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים נֶחְנָקִין וְאוֹמְרִים וַי מַה שִּׁלַּחְנוּ מֵאַרְצֵנוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר לְאֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ קְצָצָה שֶׁל אֲרָזִין וּמְכָרָהּ בְּדָבָר קַל, וְהָלַךְ הַלּוֹקֵחַ וְעָשָׂה בָהּ תֵּבוֹת וּמִגְדָּלִים שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֹת, הִתְחִיל הַמּוֹכֵר רוֹאֶה וְנֶחְנַק וְאוֹמֵר וַי מָה אִבַּדְתִּי, כָּךְ כְּשֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִין בְּטִיט וּלְבֵנִים וְהָיוּ מְאוּסִין בְּעֵינֵי הַמִּצְרִיִּים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּם דְּגָלִים חוֹנִים עַל הַיָּם בְּטַקְסִיס מְלָכִים, הִתְחִילוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים נֶחְנָקִין וְאוֹמְרִים וַי מַה שִּׁלַּחְנוּ מֵאַרְצֵנוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַח פַּרְעֹה.
“A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountainhead, a sealed spring. Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates, with delicious fruit, henna with nard” (Song of Songs 4:12–13).
“A locked garden is my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: [This is analogous] to a king who had two daughters, one older and one younger, and he did not devote attention to arranging their marriages. The king left them for many years and went overseas. The girls arose and asserted themselves and married themselves to men. Each of them would take her husband’s seal and his signet. Years later, the king returned from overseas and he heard the voices of the people slandering his daughters and saying that the king’s daughters had engaged in licentiousness. What did he do? He issued a proclamation and said: The entire people shall go out to the assembly hall. He came and sat in the vestibule. He said to them: ‘My daughters, is this what you have done; have you tainted yourselves?’ Immediately, each of them produced her husband’s seal and his signet. He called his son-in-law and said to him: ‘To whom are you a bridegroom?’ He said to him: ‘I am your first son-in-law, [married] to your older daughter.’ He said to him: ‘What is this?’ He said to him: ‘This is my seal and this is my signet,’ and likewise [occurred with] the second [son-in-law].
At that moment, the king said: My daughters are sheltered from immorality and you slander and demean them? By your lives, I will administer justice against you. So it is with the nations, because they would taunt Israel and say: “Egypt enslaved the children of Israel [with harshness]” (Exodus 1:13); if they compelled them to perform labor, all the more so [they must have dominated] their bodies and their wives. At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said: My sister, My bride, a locked garden. What is a locked garden? The Holy One blessed be He said: My garden is locked and it is being condemned?133This is a metaphor meaning: The women of Israel have not had relations with anyone other than their husbands, and yet they are being maligned? Rabbi Pinḥas said: At that moment the Holy One blessed be He called the angel appointed over pregnancy and said: Go and shape [the children] with all the features of their fathers. Who did the fathers themselves resemble? The paterfamilias of the families. That is what is written regarding Reuben: “The families of the Reubenites [haReuveni]” (Numbers 26:7). Rabbi Hoshaya said: Reuben, Reubenite [haReuveni], Simeon, Simeonite [haShimoni].134See Numbers 26:14. The members of the tribes are referred to in this way in order to imply that they looked like Reuben and Simeon. This was proof that they were actually the descendants of their fathers. Rabbi Marinos ben Rabbi Hoshaya said: Like you say: Baronite, Savronite, Sivoyite.135These were names common at the time of the writing of the midrash. Just as Baronite means a member of the Baron family, the same is true of Reubenite. Alternatively, Rabbi Marinos is disputing Rabbi Hoshaya’s point and saying that just as members of any family can be referred to in this manner, the term Reubenite does not mean anything special (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Idi: Heh at the beginning of the word and yod at the end; God [yod-heh] attests for them that they were indeed the sons of their fathers.
Rabbi Pinḥas said: “A locked garden” – these are the virgins. “A locked fountainhead” – these are the non-virgins.136Although there is an opening – gal means door in Aramaic – it remains locked before men other than her husband. “A sealed spring” – these are the males.137They did not engage in illicit sexual activity. It was taught in the name of Rabbi Natan: “A locked garden, a locked fountainhead” – why was it [written] twice? Rather, it connotes two acts of intercourse for the woman; one in the typical manner and one in the atypical manner.138Vaginal intercourse and anal intercourse.
Rabbi Huna said in the name of bar Kappara: By virtue of four matters, Israel was redeemed from Egypt: That they did not change their name, they did not change their language, they did not speak slander, and not one of them was steeped in licentiousness. They did not change their name: Reuben and Simeon descended [to Egypt]; Reuben and Simeon ascended. They did not call Reuben Rufus, they did not call Simeon Luleyani, Joseph, Listis, or Benjamin, Alexandra.
They did not change their language. There, it is written: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13), and here it is written: “The God of the Hebrews has called upon us” (Exodus 5:3), and it is written: “That it is my mouth speaking to you” (Genesis 45:12), in the sacred tongue.
They did not speak slander, as it is stated: “Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask each man from his neighbor” (Exodus 11:2). You find that this matter had been entrusted to them for twelve months, and not one of them was found to have informed on his counterpart.139The Israelites knew twelve months before the Exodus that they would ask to borrow goods from the Egyptians and that they would then leave Egypt never to return. Nonetheless, none of them told the Egyptians about this plan.
Not one of them was steeped in licentiousness, as it is stated: “The son of an Israelite woman, [whose father was an Egyptian.…] the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed” (Leviticus 24:10–11), to apprise in praise of Israel that not one of them was found except for this one, and the verse publicized her.140The verse specifies that this woman had conceived from an Egyptian man in order to emphasize that she was the exception; no other Israelite women had intercourse with Egyptian men.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Sarah descended to Egypt141See Genesis 12:10–20. and sheltered herself from licentiousness, and all the [Israelite] women were sheltered by her merit. Joseph descended to Egypt and sheltered himself from licentiousness, and all the males were sheltered by his merit.
Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya: The sheltering from licentiousness was itself sufficient that by its merit Israel would have been redeemed from Egypt. What is the reason? “A locked garden is my sister, my bride.” What is written thereafter? “Your branches [shelaḥayikh]142They merited to be sent [lehishalaḥ] from Egypt. are an orchard of pomegranates.”
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: [This is analogous] to one to whom an inheritance fell at the site of a garbage dump. The heir was indolent and he sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and industriously excavated there and found a treasure. He built a large palace. The purchaser began walking in the marketplace with servants following him [all due] to the treasure that he had purchased there. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent (Exodus 13:17).143Pharaoh shouted woe [vay] is me.
Rabbi Yonatan said: [This is analogous] to one who had a field capable of producing a kor, and he went and sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and excavated springs and planted gardens and orchards there. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent” (Exodus 13:17).
Rabbi Yosei said: [This is analogous] to one who had chopped-down cedars, and he sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and crafted from them trunks, closets, chests, and wagons. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent” (Exodus 13:17).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים, דָּמְיָה לְפַרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים, לִישָׁן בְּנֵי נַשׁ הוּא מַה שָּׁלַח פְּלוֹנִי לַאֲרוּסָתֵיהּ, רִמּוֹנִים. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי סִימוֹן, חַד אָמַר הִיא הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה, וְהוּא הִכְנִיס לָהּ שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. הִיא הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה, מַה שֶּׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בִּוְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת (שמות כה, ג ז): וְזֹאת הַתְּרוּמָה [וגו'] זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וּנְחשֶׁת, וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ וְעִזִּים, וְעֹרֹת אֵילִם מְאָדָּמִים וְעֹרֹת תְּחָשִׁים וַעֲצֵי שִׁטִּים, אַבְנֵי שֹׁהַם וְאַבְנֵי מִלֻּאִים. וְהוּא הִכְנִיס לָהּ שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה, מַה שֶּׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בִּיחֶזְקֵאל (יחזקאל טז, י): וָאַלְבִּישֵׁךְ רִקְמָה, רַבִּי סִימַי אָמַר פּוֹרְפִּירָא תִּרְגֵּם עֲקִילַס אִפָּלִיקְטָא. (יחזקאל טז, י): וָאֶנְעֲלֵךְ תָּחַשׁ, תַּחַת עוֹרוֹת תְּחָשִׁים, (יחזקאל טז, י): וָאֶחְבְּשֵׁךְ בַּשֵּׁשׁ, תַּחַת שֵׁשׁ וְעִזִּים, (יחזקאל טז, י): וַאֲכַסֵּךְ מֶשִׁי, רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אָמַר עֲשָׂאָן מַמָּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר הִקִּיפָן עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד, הַאֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות יג, כב): לֹא יָמִישׁ עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, (יחזקאל טז, יא): וָאֶעְדֵּךְ עֶדִי, זֶה זַיִן, תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי אוֹמֵר זַיִן שֶׁנִּתַּן לָהֶם בְּחוֹרֵב, שֵׁם הַמְפֹרָשׁ חָקוּק עָלָיו, וּכְשֶׁחָטְאוּ נֻטַּל מֵהֶן, וְכֵיצַד נֻטַּל, רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אָמַר מֵאֵלָיו הָיָה נִקְלַף, וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין מַלְאָךְ יָרַד וּקְלָפוֹ. (יחזקאל טז, יא): וָאֶתְּנָה צְמִידִים עַל יָדַיִךְ, אֵלּוּ שְׁנֵי לוּחוֹת הַבְּרִית שֶׁחָקוּק עֲלֵיהֶם עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות לב, טז): וְהַלֻּחֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים הֵמָּה וגו'. (יחזקאל טז, יא): וְרָבִיד עַל גְּרוֹנֵךְ, אֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (משלי ו, כא): קָשְׁרֵם עַל לִבְּךָ תָמִיד, (יחזקאל טז, יב): וָאֶתֵּן נֶזֶם, זֶה נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ, (יחזקאל טז, יב): וַעֲגִילִים עַל אָזְנָיִךְ, זֶה הַצִּיץ, דִּתְנֵינַן הַצִּיץ דּוֹמֶה לְטַס שֶׁל זָהָב וְרָחָב שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבָּעוֹת וּמֻקָּף מֵאֹזֶן לְאֹזֶן. (יחזקאל טז, יב): וַעֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת בְּרֹאשֵׁךְ, זוֹ הַשְּׁכִינָה, הָאֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה סב, ג): וְהָיִית עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת בְּיַד ה'. וּכְתִיב (מיכה ב, יג): וַיַּעֲבֹר מַלְכָּם לִפְנֵיהֶם וַה' בְּרֹאשָׁם. וְאִלֵּין תְּלָתֵי אַחְרָנְיָיאתָא מָה אִינוּן (יחזקאל טז, יג יד): וַתַּעְדִּי זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לָךְ שֵׁם בַּגּוֹיִם. כְּפָרִים עִם נְרָדִים, רַבִּי הוּנָא אָמַר הִיא הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר וְהוּא הִכְנִיס לָהּ שִׁשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים, כְּדֶרֶךְ חָתָן לִהְיוֹת כּוֹפֵל כְּתֻבָּה שֶׁל כַּלָּה. רַבִּי אַחָא אָמַר הִיא הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ כֵּלִים וּבְשָׂמִים, וְהוּא הִכְנִיס לָהּ כֵּלִים וּבְשָׂמִים, כֵּלִים עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה וּבְשָׂמִים עַל יְדֵי שְׁלֹמֹה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים א י, י): וַתִּתֵּן לַמֶּלֶךְ מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים כִּכַּר זָהָב וּבְשָׂמִים הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד וְאֶבֶן יְקָרָה לֹא בָא כַבֹּשֶׂם הַהוּא עוֹד לָרֹב אֲשֶׁר נָתְנָה מַלְכַּת שְׁבָא לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה. רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר הִיא הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ כֵּלִים וּבְשָׂמִים בְּמִנְיָן, וְהוּא הִכְנִיס לָהּ כֵּלִים וּבְשָׂמִים שֶׁלֹא בְמִנְיָן, בָּא שְׁלֹמֹה וּפֵרַשׁ: כְּפָרִים עִם נְרָדִים.
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates” – this is likened to a pomegranate orchard.144The midrash interprets the term “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” to mean “your gifts [shiluḥayikh].” In the common vernacular: What did so-and-so send to his betrothed?145This is an allegory likening the relationship of God and Israel to the relationship of a man to his fiancée. Pomegranates. Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Simon: one said she146This is a reference to the Israelites. brought Him thirteen and He brought her thirteen. She brought Him thirteen that are articulated in the book of Exodus: “This is the gift [that you shall take from them:] Gold, silver, and bronze, sky blue, purple, and scarlet wool, linen, and goat hair, rams’ hides dyed red, taḥash hides, and acacia wood.… onyx stones and stones for setting” (Exodus 25:3–5, 7).
He brought her thirteen that are articulated in Ezekiel: “I clad you in embroidery” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Simi said: A purple woolen garment. Akilas translated: A multi-colored embroidered garment. “I shod you with taḥash” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the taḥash hides. “I wrapped you in linen” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the linen and goat hair. “I covered you with silk [meshi]” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Aivu said: He rendered them substantial [mamash] in the world. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: He enveloped them in clouds of glory, just as it says: “The pillar of cloud would not move” (Exodus 13:22).
“I decked you with ornaments” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are weapons. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The weapon that was given them at Ḥorev, the ineffable name was etched upon it. When they sinned it was taken from them. How was it taken? Rabbi Aivu said: It was peeled off on its own. The Rabbis say: An angel descended and peeled it off.
“I placed bracelets on your hands” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the tablets of the covenant upon which the Ten Commandments are engraved, just as it says: “The tablets were the work of God [and the script was the script of God engraved on the tablets]” (Exodus 32:16). “And a chain upon your neck” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the words of Torah, just as it says: “Bind them upon your heart always” (Proverbs 6:21).
“I put a ring” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the crown of sanctity. “And earrings in your ears” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the frontplate,147The frontplate itself is referred to as the crown of sanctity (see Exodus 39:30). They are counted separately here because the midrash considers the front part of the frontplate separate from its sides. Alternatively, it counts the gold frontplate separate from the sky blue wool threads that held it in place on the forehead, and were themselves a sort of decorative crown (Rabbi David Luria; Midrash HaMevo’ar). as we learned: The frontplate is a type of plate of gold that is two fingerbreadths wide and stretches from ear to ear (Sukka 5a). “And a crown of splendor on your head” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the Divine Presence, just as it says: “You will be a crown of splendor in the hand of the Lord” (Isaiah 62:3), and it is written: “Their king passed before them and the Lord is at their head” (Micah 2:13). What are the other three? “You were decked with gold and silver.… your renown emerged among the nations” (Ezekiel 16:13–14), “henna with nard.”148This is not included in the count. Some suggest that these words should appear before Rabbi Aḥa’s upcoming statement.
Rabbi Huna said: She brought Him thirteen and He brought her twenty-six, just as it is the way of a bridegroom to double the dowry of the bride. Rabbi Aḥa said: She brought Him vessels and spices149These are the vessels of the Tabernacle and the spices of the incense offered in the Tabernacle. and He brought her vessels and spices, vessels by means of Moses150The holy vessels that the Israelites took with them in their victorious war against Midian (see Numbers 31:6) (Maharzu). and spices by means of Solomon; that is what is written: “She then gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, very many spices, and precious stones; there has never again come like that spice in terms of quantity like what the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon” (I Kings 10:10). Rabbi Simon said: She brought Him a limited quantity of vessels and spices, but He brought her vessels and spices without limit. Solomon came and articulated: “Henna with nard.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים, שְׁלָחַיִךְ עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹתֵךְ כְּפַרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה הַבְּאֵר, מֵאָן הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְנַסְכִים כָּל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר מִן הַבְּאֵר, וּמִמֶּנּוּ הָיוּ רֹב הֲנָיָתָן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הַבְּאֵר הָיְתָה מַעֲלָה לָהֶם מִינֵי דְשָׁאִים, מִינֵי זֵרְעוֹנִים, מִינֵי אִילָנוֹת, תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵן, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁמֵּתָה מִרְיָם וּפָסְקָה הַבְּאֵר מֵהֶן הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים (במדבר כ, ה): לֹא מְקוֹם זֶרַע וּתְאֵנָה וְגֶפֶן. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מִן הָאֶשְׁכּוֹל, עַל שֵׁם (במדבר יג, כג): וַיִּכְרְתוּ מִשָּׁם זְמוֹרָה וְאֶשְׁכּוֹל עֲנָבִים אֶחָד, אֶפְשָׁר כֵּן, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא פֵּרוֹת הָיוּ גַּסִּין בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין מִמַּה שֶּׁהָיוּ תַּגָּרֵי עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים מוֹכְרִין לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. תָּנֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל עֲדַיִן לֹא נֶאֱסַר יֵינָם שֶׁל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.
Another matter: “Your branches [shelaḥayikh] are an orchard of pomegranates” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to transform your desolation [shelaḥayikh] into a pomegranate orchard in the future. What is that?151What is the source of water with which God will accomplish this? It is the well. From where did Israel pour libations all the forty years that they spent in the wilderness? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From the well,152Most libations in the Tabernacle and Temple were from wine. The midrash is saying that the well facilitated the growth of vineyards in the wilderness. and most of their pleasure was from there, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The well would produce for them types of vegetation, types of grains, types of trees. Know that it is so, as when Miriam died and the well ceased for them, they would say: “Not a place of seed, figs, or wine” (Numbers 20:5).
Rabbi Levi said: From the cluster, on the basis of: “They cut from there a vine with one cluster of grapes [and they bore it upon a pole between the two]” (Numbers 13:23). Is that possible? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Fruits were larger at that time. The Rabbis say: It was from what the idolatrous merchants would sell to Israel. Rabbi Yishmael taught: The wine of idolaters had not yet been forbidden for Israel.
דָּבָר אַחֵר שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים, שְׁלוּחַיִךְ, עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹתֵךְ כְּפַרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, אֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה הַנַּחַל, דִּכְתִיב (יחזקאל מז, יב): וְעַל הַנַּחַל יַעֲלֶה עַל שְׂפָתוֹ וגו' וְעָלֵהוּ לִתְרוּפָה, מַהוּ לִתְרוּפָה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לִתְרַפְיוֹן, מָצֵיץ עָלֵיהּ וּתְרַף מְזוֹנֵיהּ. רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל חַד אָמַר לְהַתִּיר פֶּה שֶׁל מַעְלָן, וְחַד אָמַר לְהַתִּיר פֶּה שֶׁל מַטָּן. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, חַד אָמַר לְהַתִּיר פֶּה אִלְמִים, וְחַד אָמַר לְהַתִּיר פֶּה עֲקָרוֹת.
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates [shelaḥayikh]” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to transform your desolation [sheluḥayikh] into a pomegranate orchard in the future. What is that? It is the stream, as it is written: “Along the stream upon its bank…and its leaf for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12). What is “for healing [litrufa]”? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is for a laxative [litrafyon]; one sucks its leaves and his food will be expelled. Rav and Shmuel: one said it is to open the upper mouth, and one said the lower mouth.153Litrufa is a portmanteau of lehatir peh, to open the mouth. Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi:154Their two opinions correspond to the opinions of Rav and Shmuel. one said: To open the mouth of the mute, and one said: To open the mouth of barrenness.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים, שִׁלּוּחַיִךְ, עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹתֵךְ כְּפַרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, אֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב, דִּתְנֵינַן תַּמָּן מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית צְרֵיפָה הָיְתָה בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן וְקֵרְבוּהָ בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן בִּזְרוֹעַ, וְעוֹד אַחֶרֶת הָיְתָה וְרִחֲקוּהָ בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן בִּזְרוֹעַ, כְּגוֹן אֵלּוּ אֵלִיָּהוּ בָּא לְטַמֵּא וּלְטַהֵר לְרַחֵק וּלְקָרֵב. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר. לְקָרֵב אֲבָל לֹא לְרַחֵק. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר לְהַשְׁווֹת אֶת הַמַּחְלוֹקוֹת. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים לֹא לְרַחֵק וְלֹא לְקָרֵב, אֶלָּא לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלאכי ג, כג): הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ לָכֶם אֵת אֵלִיָּה הַנָּבִיא וגו' וְהֵשִׁיב לֵב אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים וגו'.
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates [shelaḥayikh]” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to transform your rejected ones [shiluḥayikh] into a pomegranate orchard in the future. What is that? This is Elijah of blessed memory, as we learned there: There was a family from Beit Tzereifa on the eastern side of the Jordan, and the people of Zion admitted it by force, and there was another that they rejected by force.155The family from Beit Tzereifa was of tainted lineage and should not have been allowed to freely marry other Jews, but the leaders of that time forcefully prevented publicity of this fact. A different family was of pure lineage, but their reputation was besmirched and they became known as being of tainted lineage. In circumstances like these, Elijah will come to purify, to impurify, to reject, and to admit. Rabbi Yehuda said: To admit and not to reject. Rabbi Shimon said: [Elijah will come] to resolve disputes. The Sages say: Not to admit and not to reject, but to bring peace in the world, as it is stated: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet.… and he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children [and the heart of the children to their fathers]” (Malachi 3:23–24).
נֵרְדְּ וְכַרְכֹּם, נֵרְדְּ נֵרְדִּינוֹן, כַּרְכֹּם כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, קָנֶה, זֶה קְנֵה בֹשֶׂם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ל, כג): וּקְנֵה בֹשֶׂם. וְקִנָּמוֹן, רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר קִנָּמוֹן הָיָה גָּדֵל בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיוּ עִזִּים וּצְבָאִים אוֹכְלִים מִמֶּנּוּ. מֹר אִינְמַרִינוֹן, וַאֲהָלוֹת, רַבִּי יֵסָא אָמַר פִּילְטָא, לָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ אֲהָלוֹת, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא בָּא דֶּרֶךְ אֹהָלִים, וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי שֶׁהוּא פּוֹסֶה כְּאֹהֶל. וּמֵהֵיכָן הָיוּ בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְקַשְּׁטוֹת וּמְשַׂמְּחוֹת לְבַעֲלֵיהֶן כָּל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר מִן הַבְּאֵר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: מַעְיַן גַּנִּים בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים. רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אָמַר מִן הַמָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים מה, ט): מֹר וַאֲהָלוֹת קְצִיעוֹת כָּל בִּגְדֹתֶיךָ וגו', מִמַּה שֶּׁנָּתוּן תַּחַת הַשֵּׁן מִמֶּנּוּ הָיוּ בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַצְּנוּעוֹת וְהַכְּשֵׁרוֹת מִתְקַשְּׁטוֹת וּמְשַׂמְּחוֹת לְבַעֲלֵיהֶן כָּל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, כְּתִיב (עמוס ו, יא): כִּי הִנֵּה ה' מְצַוֶּה וְהִכָּה הַבַּיִת הַגָּדוֹל רְסִיסִים, לָא דָמֵי הָדֵין רִיסָה לְהָדֵין בִּיזְעָא, הֲדָא רִיסָה אִית מִנָּהּ אֲלִיסִים, וְהָדֵין בִּיזְעָא לֵית מִנָּהּ אֲלִיסִים.
“Nard [nerd] and saffron [karkom], fragrant cane [kaneh] and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh [mor] and aloe [vaahalot], with all the finest spices” (Song of Songs 4:14).
“Nerd and karkom” – nerd is nard oil, karkom in its plain meaning;156Saffron was commonly called karkom when the midrash was written. “kaneh” – this is fragrant cane, as it is stated: “And fragrant cane [keneh bosem]” (Exodus 30:23). “And cinnamon” – Rabbi Huna says in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Cinnamon would grow in the Land of Israel, and goats and gazelles would eat from it. “Mor” is myrrh oil. “Vaahalot” – Rabbi Yesa said: It is balsam oil. Why is it called ahalot? Rabbi Abba bar Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: It is because it grows under tents [ohalim].157Protected from sun and rain. The Rabbis say: It is because it spreads like a tent.
From where did the daughters of Israel ornament themselves and bring joy to their husbands all the forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From the well. That is what is written: “A garden spring, a well of fresh water” (Song of Songs 4:15). Rabbi Abbahu said: From the manna; that is what is written: “Myrrh, aloes, and cassia were on all your garments [as you went from ivory [shen] halls]” (Psalms 45:9) – from what is placed under the tooth [shen],158This is a reference to the manna. This is consistent with the statement of the Midrash (Shemot Rabba 21:10) that spices and gems were provided to the Israelites along with the manna. from that would the chaste and upright daughters of Israel ornament themselves and bring joy to their husbands all the forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness. It is written: “For, behold, the Lord commands, and He will strike the great house into splinters [and the small house into chips]” (Amos 6:11). Splintering is not the same as chipping; there are shards from splintering, but there are no shards from chipping.159Some suggest that this passage is out of place here (Matnot Kehuna).
מַעְיַן גַּנִים בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה פְּעָמִים כְּתִיב בַּתּוֹרָה בְּאֵר בְּאֵר, כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנָה דְּבָרִים שֶׁנִּקְנֵית בָּם הַתּוֹרָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: מַעְיַן גַּנִּים בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים. וְנֹזְלִים מִן לְבָנוֹן, אָמַר רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה זֶה מַזִּיל מִקְצַת דָּבָר וְזֶה מַזִּיל מִקְצַת דָּבָר, עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא הֲלָכָה יוֹצֵאת כְּמִין לְבָנוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא זֶה מַלְחִים מִקְצַת דָּבָר וְזֶה מַלְחִים מִקְצַת דָּבָר עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא הֲלָכָה יוֹצֵאת כְּמִין לְחָיַיִם.
“A garden spring, a well of fresh water, and flowing streams from Lebanon” (Song of Songs 4:15).
“A garden spring, a well of fresh water” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Forty-eight times it is written in the Torah, “well,” “well,” corresponding to the forty-eight matters through which Torah is acquired. That is what is written: “A garden spring, a well of fresh water.” “And flowing streams from Lebanon” – Rabbi Azarya said: This one contributes a trickle toward the matter, and that one contributes a trickle toward the matter, until the halakha emerges as though from Lebanon.160Lebanon is expounded as though it is from the word lavan, white. Together, the students clarify the matter under discussion until it is absolutely clear [melubenet]. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: This one welds part of the matter, and that one welds part of the matter, until the halakha emerges like joined beams.
עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר שְׁלָמִים הִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר עוֹלוֹת הִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ, מוֹתִיב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי (בראשית ד, ד): וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַּם הוּא מִבְּכֹרוֹת צֹאנוֹ וּמֵחֶלְבֵהֶן, דָּא מָה עֲבַד לָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, מִן שַׁמִּינֵיהוֹן. מוֹתִיב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי (שמות כד, ה): וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, דָּא מָה עֲבַד לָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, שְׁלֵמִים בְּגוּפָן בְּלֹא הֶפְשֵׁט וְנִתּוּחַ. מוֹתִיב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כְּתִיב (שמות יח, יב): וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ [וגו'] עֹלָה וּזְבָחִים, עוֹלָה לְשֵׁם עוֹלָה וּשְׁלָמִים לְשֵׁם שְׁלָמִים, דָּא מָה עֲבַד לָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, אָמַר לָךְ פְּלִיגֵי בָהּ תְּרֵי אָמוֹרָאֵי חַד אָמַר לְאַחַר מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ, וְאַחְרִינָא אָמַר קֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ, מַאן דְּאָמַר קֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ שְׁלָמִים הִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר אַחַר מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ עוֹלוֹת הִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ, וְדָא מְסַיְיעָא לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן. עוּרִי צָפוֹן, זוֹ הָעוֹלָה שֶׁנִּשְׁחֶטֶת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְלָמָּה קוֹרִין לָהּ עוּרִי, דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא יָשֵׁן וְנִתְעוֹרֵר, וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, אֵלּוּ שְׁלָמִים שֶׁנִּשְׁחָטִין בַּדָּרוֹם, וְלָמָּה קוֹרִין אוֹתָהּ וּבוֹאִי, דָּבָר שֶׁל חִדּוּשׁ. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפָּא וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמְרֵי אַף הָדֵין קְרָא מְסַיְיעָא לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי (ויקרא ו, ב): זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָעֹלָה הִוא הָעֹלָה, שֶׁהִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ בַּתְּחִלָּה, וְכַד הֲוֵי מָטֵי גַּבֵּי שְׁלָמִים אָמַר (ויקרא ז, יא): וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים. אֲשֶׁר הִקְרִיבוּ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ, מִכָּאן וּלְהַבָּא, מַה מְּקַיֵּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר קְרָא דֵּין עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, לִכְשֶׁיִּתְעוֹרְרוּ הַגָּלֻיּוֹת הַנְּתוּנוֹת בַּצָּפוֹן וְיָבוֹאוּ וְיַחֲנוּ בַּדָּרוֹם, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ירמיה לא, ז): הִנְנִי מֵבִיא אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹן וְקִבַּצְתִּים מִיַּרְכְּתֵי אָרֶץ, לִכְשֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג שֶׁנָּתוּן בַּצָּפוֹן וְיָבוֹא וְיִפֹּל בַּדָּרוֹם, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (יחזקאל לט, ב): וְשֹׁבַבְתִּיךָ וְשִׁשֵּׁאתִיךָ וְהַעֲלִיתִיךָ. לִכְשֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁנָּתוּן בַּצָּפוֹן וְיָבוֹא וְיִבְנֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ שֶׁנָּתוּן בַּדָּרוֹם, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה מא, כה): הַעִירוֹתִי מִצָּפוֹן וַיַּאת. הָפִיחִי גַנִּי יִזְּלוּ בְשָׂמָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּרַבִּי בִּנְיָמִין בַּר לֵוִי, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה כְּשֶׁרוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת אֵין רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת, וּכְשֶׁרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת אֵין רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא רוּחַ אַרְגַּסְטִיס לָעוֹלָם, וּמַנְהִיג שְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת כְּאַחַת וּשְׁתֵּיהֶן מְשַׁמְּשׁוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מג, ו): אֹמַר לַצָּפוֹן תֵּנִי וּלְתֵימָן אַל תִּכְלָאִי. יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לִמְדָתְךָ הַתּוֹרָה דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, שֶׁלֹא יִהְיֶה הַחָתָן נִכְנַס לַחֻפָּה עַד שֶׁתִּתֵּן לוֹ הַכַּלָּה רְשׁוּת, מַה טַּעַם, יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ.
“Awake, north wind, and come, south wind; blow upon my garden, that its perfume will spread. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat his delicious fruits” (Song of Songs 4:16).
“Awake, north wind, and come, south wind” – Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: Rabbi Elazar said: The descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings. Rabbi Yosei said: The descendants of Noah sacrificed burnt offerings.161All agree that Noah and his descendants sacrificed burnt offerings, as this is explicit in the text (see, e.g., Genesis 8:20). The dispute is whether they also sacrificed peace offerings. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei: “Abel, too, brought from the firstborn of his flock and from the choicest of them [umeḥelvehen]” (Genesis 4:4).162The understanding is that Abel sacrificed offerings from which only the fats [ḥelev] are burned, i.e., peace offerings. What does Rabbi Yosei do with this? He says: From the fattest among them. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei: “He sent the young men of the children of Israel [and they offered up burnt offerings and they slaughtered peace offerings [shelamim] of oxen to the Lord]” (Exodus 24:5).163This verse explicitly states that they offered peace offerings, despite the fact that this took place before the giving of the Torah, when even the Israelites were considered no more than descendants of Noah (Etz Yosef). What does Rabbi Yosei do with this? Their bodies were whole [shelemim], without flaying and cutting.164This is in contrast to standard burnt offerings, which require flaying and cutting. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection: It is written: “Yitro took…a burnt offering and a peace offering” (Exodus 18:12), a burnt offering for the sake of a burnt offering and a peace offering for the sake of a peace offering.165The offerings were sacrificed properly. If an offering is sacrificed with the understanding that it is a different offering, e.g., if an animal designated as a burnt offering is sacrificed as a peace offering, one has not fulfilled one’s vow to bring the burnt offering. What does Rabbi Yosei do with this? He would say to you: Two amora’im disagree. One says: Yitro came after the giving of the Torah;166When there were both burnt offerings and peace offerings. the other says: Yitro came before the giving of the Torah. The one who said Yitro came before the giving of the Torah [must hold that] the descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings. The one who said: Yitro came after the giving of the Torah [holds that] the descendants of Noah sacrificed [only] burnt offerings.
This supports Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “Awake, north wind, and come, south wind.” “Awake north wind” – this is the burnt offering, which is slaughtered in the north.167The north side of the Temple Courtyard. Why was the term “awake” addressed to it? [Because] it is something that was asleep and awakened.168The patriarchs sacrificed burnt offerings, but the Israelites did not sacrifice burnt offerings while they were in Egypt. “Come, south wind” – this is the peace offering, which is slaughtered in the south.169Unlike the burnt offering, the peace offering could be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple Courtyard. Why was the term “come” addressed to it? Because it was something new.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana, Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa, and Rabbi Yehoshua say in the name of Rabbi Levi: This verse, too, supports Rabbi Yosei. “This is the law of the burnt offering; it is the burnt offering” (Leviticus 6:2) that the descendants of Noah sacrificed initially. When it arrives at the peace offering, it says: “This is the law of the peace offering [that one shall offer to the Lord]” (Leviticus 7:11). It is not written here, “that they offered,” but rather, that they shall offer, from here forward.
How does Rabbi Elazar interpret this verse: “Awake, north wind, and come, south wind”? When the exiles situated in the north will awaken and they will come and encamp in the south, just as it says: “Behold, I am bringing them from the land of the north, and I will gather them from the ends of the earth” (Jeremiah 31:7). When Gog and Magog, which are situated in the north, will awaken and come and fall in the south, just as it says: “I will lead you astray and I will entice you, and I will take you up” (Ezekiel 39:2). When the messianic king, who is situated in the north, will awaken and come build the Temple, which is located in the south, just as it says: “I have roused one from the north and he came” (Isaiah 41:25).
“Blow upon my garden, that its perfume will spread” – Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Binyamin bar Levi: Because in this world when the southern wind blows the northern wind does not blow, and when the northern wind blows the southern wind does not blow. However, in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will bring an unusual wind to the world, and it will lead two winds simultaneously and both will serve. That is what is written: “I will say to the north: Give, and to the south: Do not withhold” (Isaiah 43:6).
“Let my beloved come to his garden” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Torah teaches you proper etiquette, that a bridegroom should not enter the wedding canopy until the bride gives him permission. What is the reason? “Let my beloved come to his garden.”170The next verse begins “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride,” which is an indication that he came only after receiving permission from his bride.