Read the text of Shir Hashirim 3
Transcription
Welcome to NachDaily with Shir HaShirim, perek 3.
The Shir HaShirim Rabba at the beginning of this perek relates that
the Jewish people said to Hashem, “In the past You would shine your
light on me between one night and the other (between the galus of
Egypt, Babylon, Media, Greece and Edom), but ever since I have
been lax in learning Torah and keeping Mitzvos, it seems that I’m in
one long night with no respite or end in sight.”
Our perek opens with the passuk, “Al mishkavi baleilos bikashti es
she’ahavah nafshi bikashtiv v’lo mitzasiv – Upon my bed at night I
sought the one I love. I sought him but didn’t find him.”
Each of us feels the heaviness of our own aveiros, up at night,
waiting and wanting to hear God say “I am here. I love you. I am
with you. Everything is going to be okay. Here I am.” Yet it’s been a
“long night,” as each of us knows the suffering we experience in our
own hearts. We still wait for Hashem, our true love, to shine His light
upon us and give us a sign as in the days old.
The chapter continues with the woman describing how she would
wait for her husband in her bed at night. When he didn’t come, she
went searching in the markets and streets. She came across the
guards who surround the city and inquired if they’ve seen her love.
After searching for her husband, she finally found him and brought
into her mothers’ home.
Verse 4 says, “Achaztiv v’lo arpenu ad shehaveisiv el beis imi v’el
cheder horasi –I took hold of him and would not let him go, till I
brought him into my mother’s home and to the chamber of the one
who conceived me.”
Reb Nosson explains, in Lekutei Halachos, that when a person is “on
the bed at night,” having fallen from kedusha to a dark, depressing
and abysmal place surrounded by darkness, one must never give
up! You need to search out, and find God, the love of your life.
Precisely because you’ve fallen, however, you find yourself unable
to actually find Him, and continue searching. Ayeh, where are You,
hidden in all this? You search for God in the marketplaces, referring
to places which are far from kedusha.
The “guards who surround the city” refer to following the advice of
the true Tzaddikim, which help a person not give up and fall into
despair. The Tzaddikim protect the Torah. They know how to stay
connected to God no matter what happens, and can teach a
person to NEVER GIVE UP!
Then they bring you into your mother’s house, which Rashi explains
refers to the Mishkan, a place of Kedusha.
Therefore, if you are struggling in life, listen to this: Achaztiv v’lo
erpenu, grab hold of God and don’t let go! Stay strong, do
whatever you can, and don’t stop searching for Him.
Verse 7 speaks about Shlomo Hamelech. This passuk is also used in
kriyas shema al hamita saying, “Hinei mitaso sheliShlomo: shishim
geborim saviv lah migiborei Yisrael – Here is Shlomo’s bed, encircled
by sixty warriors from among the warriors of Israel.”
The Ramad Walli explains here and throughout this perek that the
woman, finding her husband, contains the secret of Klal Yisrael going
down into galus. This is simultaneously the struggle of every individual.
The women finding her husband represents Am Yisrael raising all the
sparks of kedusha that needed to be raised and making the proper
tikkuniim, spiritual rectifications, that needed to be made.
At that time of the final redemption, we will see the full glory and
expression of God’s name completely shining in all its facets. This is
what is meant by the “the bed of Shlomo.” There will be a complete
unity of Am Yisrael and Hashem, like a man and woman together on
a bed. The 60 warriors refer to the shishim tseirufei Elokim, the 60
combinations of God’s Name, which are all called geburim. These
Names will be fully revealed and actualized at the end of the final
redemption, when Hashem and His nation reunite as one.
At that point all will see the greatness of God and the King’s crown.
This is what’s meant by the last passuk in perek 11, “Tzenah u’renah
benos Tzion, b’melech Shlomo, ba’atarah she’itra lo imo, b’yom
chassanuso u’vayom simchas libo – Go out, O young girls of Zion,
and gaze upon king Shlomo wearing the crown that his mother
placed on his head on his wedding day, on the day of his heart’s
rejoicing.”
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. I hope that you are
enjoying this as much as I am!
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
The Shir HaShirim Rabba at the beginning of this perek relates that
the Jewish people said to Hashem, “In the past You would shine your
light on me between one night and the other (between the galus of
Egypt, Babylon, Media, Greece and Edom), but ever since I have
been lax in learning Torah and keeping Mitzvos, it seems that I’m in
one long night with no respite or end in sight.”
Our perek opens with the passuk, “Al mishkavi baleilos bikashti es
she’ahavah nafshi bikashtiv v’lo mitzasiv – Upon my bed at night I
sought the one I love. I sought him but didn’t find him.”
Each of us feels the heaviness of our own aveiros, up at night,
waiting and wanting to hear God say “I am here. I love you. I am
with you. Everything is going to be okay. Here I am.” Yet it’s been a
“long night,” as each of us knows the suffering we experience in our
own hearts. We still wait for Hashem, our true love, to shine His light
upon us and give us a sign as in the days old.
The chapter continues with the woman describing how she would
wait for her husband in her bed at night. When he didn’t come, she
went searching in the markets and streets. She came across the
guards who surround the city and inquired if they’ve seen her love.
After searching for her husband, she finally found him and brought
into her mothers’ home.
Verse 4 says, “Achaztiv v’lo arpenu ad shehaveisiv el beis imi v’el
cheder horasi –I took hold of him and would not let him go, till I
brought him into my mother’s home and to the chamber of the one
who conceived me.”
Reb Nosson explains, in Lekutei Halachos, that when a person is “on
the bed at night,” having fallen from kedusha to a dark, depressing
and abysmal place surrounded by darkness, one must never give
up! You need to search out, and find God, the love of your life.
Precisely because you’ve fallen, however, you find yourself unable
to actually find Him, and continue searching. Ayeh, where are You,
hidden in all this? You search for God in the marketplaces, referring
to places which are far from kedusha.
The “guards who surround the city” refer to following the advice of
the true Tzaddikim, which help a person not give up and fall into
despair. The Tzaddikim protect the Torah. They know how to stay
connected to God no matter what happens, and can teach a
person to NEVER GIVE UP!
Then they bring you into your mother’s house, which Rashi explains
refers to the Mishkan, a place of Kedusha.
Therefore, if you are struggling in life, listen to this: Achaztiv v’lo
erpenu, grab hold of God and don’t let go! Stay strong, do
whatever you can, and don’t stop searching for Him.
Verse 7 speaks about Shlomo Hamelech. This passuk is also used in
kriyas shema al hamita saying, “Hinei mitaso sheliShlomo: shishim
geborim saviv lah migiborei Yisrael – Here is Shlomo’s bed, encircled
by sixty warriors from among the warriors of Israel.”
The Ramad Walli explains here and throughout this perek that the
woman, finding her husband, contains the secret of Klal Yisrael going
down into galus. This is simultaneously the struggle of every individual.
The women finding her husband represents Am Yisrael raising all the
sparks of kedusha that needed to be raised and making the proper
tikkuniim, spiritual rectifications, that needed to be made.
At that time of the final redemption, we will see the full glory and
expression of God’s name completely shining in all its facets. This is
what is meant by the “the bed of Shlomo.” There will be a complete
unity of Am Yisrael and Hashem, like a man and woman together on
a bed. The 60 warriors refer to the shishim tseirufei Elokim, the 60
combinations of God’s Name, which are all called geburim. These
Names will be fully revealed and actualized at the end of the final
redemption, when Hashem and His nation reunite as one.
At that point all will see the greatness of God and the King’s crown.
This is what’s meant by the last passuk in perek 11, “Tzenah u’renah
benos Tzion, b’melech Shlomo, ba’atarah she’itra lo imo, b’yom
chassanuso u’vayom simchas libo – Go out, O young girls of Zion,
and gaze upon king Shlomo wearing the crown that his mother
placed on his head on his wedding day, on the day of his heart’s
rejoicing.”
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. I hope that you are
enjoying this as much as I am!
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.