Read the text of Shir Hashirim 5
Transcription
Welcome back to another NachDaily with Shir HaShirim, perek 5.
We continue learning this wondrous love song that Shlomo
Hamelech wrote about Hashem’s relationship with the Jewish
people as a whole, and every single one of us. Not only do we, the
woman in the sefer, long for an intimate relationship with God but
He, represented by the husband, also yearns to come close to us.
It’s not just a one-sided relationship where we work to get close to
God and He doesn’t care. Although we cannot add or take away
from God, chas veshalom, Hashem is waiting for a relationship,
yearning to come close to every single one us, to in a sense reunite
with everyone in Am Yisrael. Ultimately, we will all experience the
yichud, Oneness, of Hashem, when “on that day He and His name
will be One.”
Verse 1 says, “Ba’asi l’gani achosi challah, arisi mori im besami
achalti yari im divshi, shasisi yeini im chalavi ichlu rei’im sh’su
v’shichru dodim – I have come into my garden, my sister my bride. I
have gathered my myrrh and my spice. I have eaten my cake with
my honey, drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, dear ones! Drink and
intoxicate yourselves, O beloved ones!”
The husband assures his wife that he desires to return to her. Rashi
explains that this is referring to the inauguration of the Beis
Hamikdash. When Hashem returns to His garden, all will delight and
feast their eyes on His Shechina.
Verses 2 through 6 describe the wife telling of the events that led to
their initial estrangement. It began with her saying, “Ani yeshaina
v’libi air, kol dodi dofek pischi li achosi rayasi yonasi samasi, sheroshi
nimlah tal, kivutzosai resisei layla – I am asleep, but my heart is
awake. See, my beloved knocks! ‘Let me in, my sister, my beloved,
my dove, my faultless one, for my head is drenched with dew, my
locks with the nighttime shower.’”
The woman relates: It was a rainy night and I had already gone to
bed. I suddenly heard my husband knocking on my locked door.
Cold and wet, he asked me to let him in. I was half asleep and
expressed displeasure in being awakened. I didn’t want to get up.
My husband became upset with me. Then I heard him trying to open
the door. I became overwhelmed with longing for him. I thought that
surely the scent of my perfume on the door would have calmed him
down, but when I finally got out of bed to let him in, he was gone.
After regaining my composure I searched, but was unable to find
him.
The Meforshim explain this to refer to when the Jews were in exile in
Bavel, Babylonia. King Cyrus of Persia had given them permission to
return to Eretz Yisrael and rebuild the Beis Hamikdash, but
unfortunately most Babylonian Jews did not return. Hashem had sent
the prophets Chaggai and Zechariah to warn them to return to Eretz
Yisrael. They were somewhat successful, as some Jews returned and
rebuilt the 2nd Beis Hamikdash. Shortly after this event, however,
Hashem removed prophecy from us and we were sent back into
exile. We have been waiting ever since to return to our land, as the
bride in this story waited for the return of her husband. (For more
information on this era, you can listen to the Nachdaily archives on
Chaggai and look in Ezra, perek 5.)
I can’t help but add, and what about us today? Just as they had the
ability to return and resettle the land but didn’t, there are over 6 and
half million Jews in Eretz Yisrael! Are we also listening to Hashem’s
call? He says, “Return to Me and I’ll return to you.” Are we too
comfortable in galus? Are we the cause of our estrangement?
In verse 7 the woman tells us that when she went searching for her
husband, she was beaten by the watchmen. Nevertheless, she told
them she’s “lovesick” and will not give up on her search. Although
Am Yisrael has been beaten down by galus, we still continue to
search for God.
In verses 9 through 16 which end the perek, she is asked what makes
her husband more special than anyone else that she should
continue searching for him. Rashi explains that the gentile nations
ask why Am Yisrael continues to long for Hashem.
The wife describes why her husband is so special and beloved,
speaking of his good looks and charm.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. We have only 2 more
perakim left to Shir HaShirim! I hope you’re all enjoying this amazing
work of cleaving to Hashem.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day
We continue learning this wondrous love song that Shlomo
Hamelech wrote about Hashem’s relationship with the Jewish
people as a whole, and every single one of us. Not only do we, the
woman in the sefer, long for an intimate relationship with God but
He, represented by the husband, also yearns to come close to us.
It’s not just a one-sided relationship where we work to get close to
God and He doesn’t care. Although we cannot add or take away
from God, chas veshalom, Hashem is waiting for a relationship,
yearning to come close to every single one us, to in a sense reunite
with everyone in Am Yisrael. Ultimately, we will all experience the
yichud, Oneness, of Hashem, when “on that day He and His name
will be One.”
Verse 1 says, “Ba’asi l’gani achosi challah, arisi mori im besami
achalti yari im divshi, shasisi yeini im chalavi ichlu rei’im sh’su
v’shichru dodim – I have come into my garden, my sister my bride. I
have gathered my myrrh and my spice. I have eaten my cake with
my honey, drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, dear ones! Drink and
intoxicate yourselves, O beloved ones!”
The husband assures his wife that he desires to return to her. Rashi
explains that this is referring to the inauguration of the Beis
Hamikdash. When Hashem returns to His garden, all will delight and
feast their eyes on His Shechina.
Verses 2 through 6 describe the wife telling of the events that led to
their initial estrangement. It began with her saying, “Ani yeshaina
v’libi air, kol dodi dofek pischi li achosi rayasi yonasi samasi, sheroshi
nimlah tal, kivutzosai resisei layla – I am asleep, but my heart is
awake. See, my beloved knocks! ‘Let me in, my sister, my beloved,
my dove, my faultless one, for my head is drenched with dew, my
locks with the nighttime shower.’”
The woman relates: It was a rainy night and I had already gone to
bed. I suddenly heard my husband knocking on my locked door.
Cold and wet, he asked me to let him in. I was half asleep and
expressed displeasure in being awakened. I didn’t want to get up.
My husband became upset with me. Then I heard him trying to open
the door. I became overwhelmed with longing for him. I thought that
surely the scent of my perfume on the door would have calmed him
down, but when I finally got out of bed to let him in, he was gone.
After regaining my composure I searched, but was unable to find
him.
The Meforshim explain this to refer to when the Jews were in exile in
Bavel, Babylonia. King Cyrus of Persia had given them permission to
return to Eretz Yisrael and rebuild the Beis Hamikdash, but
unfortunately most Babylonian Jews did not return. Hashem had sent
the prophets Chaggai and Zechariah to warn them to return to Eretz
Yisrael. They were somewhat successful, as some Jews returned and
rebuilt the 2nd Beis Hamikdash. Shortly after this event, however,
Hashem removed prophecy from us and we were sent back into
exile. We have been waiting ever since to return to our land, as the
bride in this story waited for the return of her husband. (For more
information on this era, you can listen to the Nachdaily archives on
Chaggai and look in Ezra, perek 5.)
I can’t help but add, and what about us today? Just as they had the
ability to return and resettle the land but didn’t, there are over 6 and
half million Jews in Eretz Yisrael! Are we also listening to Hashem’s
call? He says, “Return to Me and I’ll return to you.” Are we too
comfortable in galus? Are we the cause of our estrangement?
In verse 7 the woman tells us that when she went searching for her
husband, she was beaten by the watchmen. Nevertheless, she told
them she’s “lovesick” and will not give up on her search. Although
Am Yisrael has been beaten down by galus, we still continue to
search for God.
In verses 9 through 16 which end the perek, she is asked what makes
her husband more special than anyone else that she should
continue searching for him. Rashi explains that the gentile nations
ask why Am Yisrael continues to long for Hashem.
The wife describes why her husband is so special and beloved,
speaking of his good looks and charm.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. We have only 2 more
perakim left to Shir HaShirim! I hope you’re all enjoying this amazing
work of cleaving to Hashem.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day