Read the text of Shir Hashirim 8
Transcription
Welcome to NachDaily as we finish Megilas Shir Hashirim with perek
8.
Whatever we’ve learned and discussed here in these shiurim is really
just the tip of the iceberg. You can spend years soaking up and
drinking from the sweet perushim on this sefer. The Gr’a, Ramban,
Malbim, Ramad Walli, the Tsror Hameor (also known as the chavos
da’as), and many other classical Meforshim all have Kabbalistic
explanations of what Shir HaShirim is referring to. We’ve touched on
the creation of the world, Hashem’s Divine providence, the body
and soul connection, Am Yisrael and Hashem, Eretz Yisrael and Am
Yisrael, husband and wife, the Jewish nation in contrast to the
nations of the world, the relationship between man and himself, and
the relationship between Am Yisrael, Hashem and the Torah. It’s
really encouraging and humbling to see the infinite depth and levels
with which the Torah can be learned.
Verse 1 opens with the wife wishing that she could express her love in
public to her husband, like the affection she would show to a
younger sibling.
“Mi yiten’cha k’ach li yonek sh’dei imi emtza’acha vachutz
eshk’cha gam lo yavuzu li – If only you were my younger brother,
nursing at my mother’s breasts. I would then kiss you when I found
you in the street, and no one would even reproach me.”
The Metsudos explains metaphorically that this refers to Am Yisrael’s
yearning for the day when there will no longer be any obstacles
preventing us from serving God, studying Torah and doing Mitzvos.
Similarly, the Ralbag highlights the woman’s intense desire towards
the man. She no longer wants to feel ashamed and embarrassed by
it in public, wanting everyone to know about their intimate
relationship. So too we yearn for the final redemption, when we’ll no
longer feel uncomfortable, awkward or ashamed to be Jewish. We’ll
proudly display our love for God for all to see. Until then we will have
to wait for the right time to truly display our inner love for God.
In verses 6 and 7, the man replies with the famous words, “Simaini
chachosam al libecha, kachosam al z’roecha, ki azza chamaves,
ahavah kasha chish’ol, kin’a rishafeha, rishpei aish shalhevese’ya –
Set me as the seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love
is strong as death, envy is harsh as the nether world – its darts are
darts of fire, a blazing flame.”
“Mayim rabim lo yuch’lu lechabos es ahavah, uniharos lo yisht’fuha,
Mighty waters cannot extinguish love, and rivers cannot wash it
away.”
The Meforshim explain that our love for God is so strong that we’d be
willing to, and have, given up our lives for Him. The mighty waters
refer to the nations of the world, who despite their many attempts
have been unsuccessful in stopping us from serving Hashem. We
need to be aware of the depth of our love for God. No matter what
we’ve been through in life, no matter how disappointed we might
feel, our love for God runs even deeper.
As Reb Nosson explains in Lekutei Halachos, when upset at God, just
take a step and see with Whom you’re upset – God! Of all the things
in life to be down about, you’re down about your relationship with
Him and all the ways you’ve messed up. That’s a good thing,
because it shows that you’re still fighting the battle, demonstrating
your true inner desire to serve the Creator with great simplicity,
happiness and utter joy!
Certainly, as we wind down Megilas Shir HaShirim, this has been the
general theme. The love between us and God is like that of a man a
woman burning with passion to come close to one another.
In verses 8, 9 and 10 there’s a short dialogue between the woman
and man. She relates that she has a sister who is not yet developed,
who she fears won’t get married. The man responds by saying that
they’ll take care of her.
The Metsudos explains the little sister as referring to the lost 10 tribes. If
they have remained faithful to God, and are identifiable as Jews,
Hashem will bring them back into the fold of the Jewish people at
the time of the final redemption. However, if they have given up
their virginity by serving another God, this would mean that they
have become fully assimilated and Hashem will not redeem them
together with Am Yisrael during the times of Mashiach.
In verses 11 through 14, the end of the perek and the Megilla, the
pessukim go on to describe how Hashem had a vineyard. The
Meforshim all note that the vineyard is the Jewish people. Hashem
handed over the vineyard to the watchmen, who are the nations of
the world, to take care of. They took advantage of the
vineyard/Jewish people, but Hashem will reclaim it.
Verse 14, the last passuk, says “Flee, my beloved! Be like the deer or
the fawn upon mountains of spices.” We ask Hashem to take us out
of exile to leave the Diaspora and return with Him to Eretz Yisrael.
There we can once again unite with God in the most intimate of
ways with the revelation of Mashiach Ben Dovid. There will be no
more war on His holy mountain, and the world will be filled with the
knowledge of God like the waters cover the earth.
Mazel tov to everyone who finished Shir HaShirim, the kodesh
koadishim, Holy of Holies!
We will be beginning Megilas Rus in the next class, learning about
the roots of Dovid Hamelech and Mashiach.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day
8.
Whatever we’ve learned and discussed here in these shiurim is really
just the tip of the iceberg. You can spend years soaking up and
drinking from the sweet perushim on this sefer. The Gr’a, Ramban,
Malbim, Ramad Walli, the Tsror Hameor (also known as the chavos
da’as), and many other classical Meforshim all have Kabbalistic
explanations of what Shir HaShirim is referring to. We’ve touched on
the creation of the world, Hashem’s Divine providence, the body
and soul connection, Am Yisrael and Hashem, Eretz Yisrael and Am
Yisrael, husband and wife, the Jewish nation in contrast to the
nations of the world, the relationship between man and himself, and
the relationship between Am Yisrael, Hashem and the Torah. It’s
really encouraging and humbling to see the infinite depth and levels
with which the Torah can be learned.
Verse 1 opens with the wife wishing that she could express her love in
public to her husband, like the affection she would show to a
younger sibling.
“Mi yiten’cha k’ach li yonek sh’dei imi emtza’acha vachutz
eshk’cha gam lo yavuzu li – If only you were my younger brother,
nursing at my mother’s breasts. I would then kiss you when I found
you in the street, and no one would even reproach me.”
The Metsudos explains metaphorically that this refers to Am Yisrael’s
yearning for the day when there will no longer be any obstacles
preventing us from serving God, studying Torah and doing Mitzvos.
Similarly, the Ralbag highlights the woman’s intense desire towards
the man. She no longer wants to feel ashamed and embarrassed by
it in public, wanting everyone to know about their intimate
relationship. So too we yearn for the final redemption, when we’ll no
longer feel uncomfortable, awkward or ashamed to be Jewish. We’ll
proudly display our love for God for all to see. Until then we will have
to wait for the right time to truly display our inner love for God.
In verses 6 and 7, the man replies with the famous words, “Simaini
chachosam al libecha, kachosam al z’roecha, ki azza chamaves,
ahavah kasha chish’ol, kin’a rishafeha, rishpei aish shalhevese’ya –
Set me as the seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love
is strong as death, envy is harsh as the nether world – its darts are
darts of fire, a blazing flame.”
“Mayim rabim lo yuch’lu lechabos es ahavah, uniharos lo yisht’fuha,
Mighty waters cannot extinguish love, and rivers cannot wash it
away.”
The Meforshim explain that our love for God is so strong that we’d be
willing to, and have, given up our lives for Him. The mighty waters
refer to the nations of the world, who despite their many attempts
have been unsuccessful in stopping us from serving Hashem. We
need to be aware of the depth of our love for God. No matter what
we’ve been through in life, no matter how disappointed we might
feel, our love for God runs even deeper.
As Reb Nosson explains in Lekutei Halachos, when upset at God, just
take a step and see with Whom you’re upset – God! Of all the things
in life to be down about, you’re down about your relationship with
Him and all the ways you’ve messed up. That’s a good thing,
because it shows that you’re still fighting the battle, demonstrating
your true inner desire to serve the Creator with great simplicity,
happiness and utter joy!
Certainly, as we wind down Megilas Shir HaShirim, this has been the
general theme. The love between us and God is like that of a man a
woman burning with passion to come close to one another.
In verses 8, 9 and 10 there’s a short dialogue between the woman
and man. She relates that she has a sister who is not yet developed,
who she fears won’t get married. The man responds by saying that
they’ll take care of her.
The Metsudos explains the little sister as referring to the lost 10 tribes. If
they have remained faithful to God, and are identifiable as Jews,
Hashem will bring them back into the fold of the Jewish people at
the time of the final redemption. However, if they have given up
their virginity by serving another God, this would mean that they
have become fully assimilated and Hashem will not redeem them
together with Am Yisrael during the times of Mashiach.
In verses 11 through 14, the end of the perek and the Megilla, the
pessukim go on to describe how Hashem had a vineyard. The
Meforshim all note that the vineyard is the Jewish people. Hashem
handed over the vineyard to the watchmen, who are the nations of
the world, to take care of. They took advantage of the
vineyard/Jewish people, but Hashem will reclaim it.
Verse 14, the last passuk, says “Flee, my beloved! Be like the deer or
the fawn upon mountains of spices.” We ask Hashem to take us out
of exile to leave the Diaspora and return with Him to Eretz Yisrael.
There we can once again unite with God in the most intimate of
ways with the revelation of Mashiach Ben Dovid. There will be no
more war on His holy mountain, and the world will be filled with the
knowledge of God like the waters cover the earth.
Mazel tov to everyone who finished Shir HaShirim, the kodesh
koadishim, Holy of Holies!
We will be beginning Megilas Rus in the next class, learning about
the roots of Dovid Hamelech and Mashiach.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day