Read the text of Shir Hashirim 1
Transcription
Welcome to NachDaily. Today we’re beginning the 5 Megilos,
starting with an introduction to Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, written
by Shlomo Hamelech, King Solomon, the wisest man of all time.
In Melachim Aleph, perek 5, we are told that Shlomo authored 1,005
songs for Hashem. Shir Hashirim is the most exalted of them all.
In fact, the Medrash Tachuma in Tetzave 5 says that all of Kesuvim,
the accepted writings after the Chumash, are kadosh, holy, but Shir
Hashirim is Kodesh Kedoshim. It has a unique place amongst the rest
of the scriptures.
Similarly, the Shir Hashirim Rabba, perek aleph letter 12, says that the
whole world was worth being created for the sake of Shir Hashirim.
The Medrash Lekach Tov tells us that Shlomo wrote it when he was
younger, reflecting the passion of a young person. Mishlei, Proverbs,
which deals with wisdom, was written when he reached middle age,
while Koheles, Ecclesiastes, was written at the end of his life when he
saw the fleetingness, emptiness, and temporary nature of this world.
It should be noted that the sefer is a metaphor about a husband
and wife who want very much to return to the passionate love and
intimacy of their youth. The woman, Am Yisrael, reminisces about the
love they had for each other and how much she desires to come
close to her husband again.
On the other hand, the husband, Hashem, expresses his deep desire
to be reunited with her. He recalls her beauty, kindness, and
righteousness, the traits which made her so attractive. In expressing
his longing for his wife, he affirms that he has not left her, and that
one day they will ultimately be together.
The Jewish people in exile have an immense desire to unite with their
lover, Hashem. Thankfully, Hashem awaits and longs for our
reunification with Him as well.
Ultimately Hashem has not forgotten His nation. The chasson will one
day be together with the kallah when Hashem and Am Yisrael will
reunite as husband and wife. There will be complete yichud,
unification, between them.
The content of Shir Hashirim is most explicit, as it deals with the
passionate intimacy and relationship between a husband and wife.
Perhaps this is why it is called Kodesh Kedoshim.
Some of the Meforshim and English translations explain the text
according to its allegorical form. Avos D’Reb Nosson tells us that it
was initially thought to simply consist of metaphors, and was hidden
away. However, once the Anshei Kn’esset Hag’dolah, the Men of
the Great Assembly, recognized its deeper meaning, they restored it
as part of the Kesuvim.
The Shir Hashirim Rabba brings a litany of opinions as to when it was
said: at the Yam Suf, at Har Sinai, Hashem Himself sang Shir Hashirim,
the melachim sang it, it was sung at the Mishkan, and in the Kodesh
Kedoshim.
The Living Nach notes that according to all the opinions, Shir Hashirim
was said in the most exalted state of prophecy, yet the author chose
to graphically describe the physical beauty and love between and
husband and wife for future generations.
Our present culture is filled with sexual innuendoes and perversion of
the most sacred relationships. This leads to deep distortion and
misunderstanding of the intimacy between husband and wife.
Previous generations understood and appreciated the sanctity and
purity of intimacy.
The Gemarah in Yoma 54A says that when Am Yisrael would come
to the Temple on the festivals of Pesach, Shavuous, and Succos, the
Kohen would open up the curtains to the Kodesh Hakedoshim, the
Holy of Holies, and show the Kruvim, Cherubs, in a loving embrace.
The Kohanim would then announce, “Hashem’s love for you is like
the love between man and woman!”
On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, the Kohanim would also
display the Kruvim hugging, giving us a sense of confidence and
love towards Hashem.
Yoma 54b tells us that when the gentile troops entered the Kodesh
Kedoshim and saw the kruvim embracing, they dragged them
around the marketplace, saying, “See with what the Jewish people
occupies itself!” They completely and utterly distorted the holiest and
most sacred concepts in Yiddishkeit.
I’m really looking forward to learning this sefer with you all, to learn
about this impassioned and intimate relationship.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we’ll begin the
first perek.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
starting with an introduction to Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, written
by Shlomo Hamelech, King Solomon, the wisest man of all time.
In Melachim Aleph, perek 5, we are told that Shlomo authored 1,005
songs for Hashem. Shir Hashirim is the most exalted of them all.
In fact, the Medrash Tachuma in Tetzave 5 says that all of Kesuvim,
the accepted writings after the Chumash, are kadosh, holy, but Shir
Hashirim is Kodesh Kedoshim. It has a unique place amongst the rest
of the scriptures.
Similarly, the Shir Hashirim Rabba, perek aleph letter 12, says that the
whole world was worth being created for the sake of Shir Hashirim.
The Medrash Lekach Tov tells us that Shlomo wrote it when he was
younger, reflecting the passion of a young person. Mishlei, Proverbs,
which deals with wisdom, was written when he reached middle age,
while Koheles, Ecclesiastes, was written at the end of his life when he
saw the fleetingness, emptiness, and temporary nature of this world.
It should be noted that the sefer is a metaphor about a husband
and wife who want very much to return to the passionate love and
intimacy of their youth. The woman, Am Yisrael, reminisces about the
love they had for each other and how much she desires to come
close to her husband again.
On the other hand, the husband, Hashem, expresses his deep desire
to be reunited with her. He recalls her beauty, kindness, and
righteousness, the traits which made her so attractive. In expressing
his longing for his wife, he affirms that he has not left her, and that
one day they will ultimately be together.
The Jewish people in exile have an immense desire to unite with their
lover, Hashem. Thankfully, Hashem awaits and longs for our
reunification with Him as well.
Ultimately Hashem has not forgotten His nation. The chasson will one
day be together with the kallah when Hashem and Am Yisrael will
reunite as husband and wife. There will be complete yichud,
unification, between them.
The content of Shir Hashirim is most explicit, as it deals with the
passionate intimacy and relationship between a husband and wife.
Perhaps this is why it is called Kodesh Kedoshim.
Some of the Meforshim and English translations explain the text
according to its allegorical form. Avos D’Reb Nosson tells us that it
was initially thought to simply consist of metaphors, and was hidden
away. However, once the Anshei Kn’esset Hag’dolah, the Men of
the Great Assembly, recognized its deeper meaning, they restored it
as part of the Kesuvim.
The Shir Hashirim Rabba brings a litany of opinions as to when it was
said: at the Yam Suf, at Har Sinai, Hashem Himself sang Shir Hashirim,
the melachim sang it, it was sung at the Mishkan, and in the Kodesh
Kedoshim.
The Living Nach notes that according to all the opinions, Shir Hashirim
was said in the most exalted state of prophecy, yet the author chose
to graphically describe the physical beauty and love between and
husband and wife for future generations.
Our present culture is filled with sexual innuendoes and perversion of
the most sacred relationships. This leads to deep distortion and
misunderstanding of the intimacy between husband and wife.
Previous generations understood and appreciated the sanctity and
purity of intimacy.
The Gemarah in Yoma 54A says that when Am Yisrael would come
to the Temple on the festivals of Pesach, Shavuous, and Succos, the
Kohen would open up the curtains to the Kodesh Hakedoshim, the
Holy of Holies, and show the Kruvim, Cherubs, in a loving embrace.
The Kohanim would then announce, “Hashem’s love for you is like
the love between man and woman!”
On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, the Kohanim would also
display the Kruvim hugging, giving us a sense of confidence and
love towards Hashem.
Yoma 54b tells us that when the gentile troops entered the Kodesh
Kedoshim and saw the kruvim embracing, they dragged them
around the marketplace, saying, “See with what the Jewish people
occupies itself!” They completely and utterly distorted the holiest and
most sacred concepts in Yiddishkeit.
I’m really looking forward to learning this sefer with you all, to learn
about this impassioned and intimate relationship.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we’ll begin the
first perek.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.