(3) I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine, the shepherd among the lilies.’
Saying that Elul is an acronym for the first four words of this verse is not just a nice thing. It reflects an entire worldview that is part of the core of Jewish living. How does this worldview invite us to look at our lives?
Aleph (1) + Lamed (3 or 30) + Vav (6) + Lamed (3 or 30) = (in small counting) 13
Another way to look at Elul is through gematria (Jewish numerology). This alternative method of adding up the numerical value of the letters leads us to the number thirteen, which connects us to a major part of the High Holidays, God's Thirteen Attributes.
וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר ה' ׀ עַל־פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ ה' ׀ ה' אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת ׀ נֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֙סֶד֙ לָאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃
And the Eternal passed by before him, and called out: ‘YHVH, YHVH, God, compassionate and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth; maintaining loving-kindness for the thousandth generation, bearing iniquity and sin and error; and surely does not clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the ancestors upon children, and upon children’s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.’
This moment of revelation comes right after the Golden Calf incident, where God gives Moses a way to remind God that God is forgiving and patient. Its first test comes after the report of the ten scouts causes Israel to lose moral in the first year in the wilderness. The liturgy of Yom Kippur makes extensive use of key phrases from these narratives as archetypes of sin and forgiveness.
In our liturgy, and even going back to the Book of Jonah, the rabbis have edited this list to conclude at the word וְנַקֵּה֙ which changes the meaning of the verse from "surely does not clear" to "clears." This reflects a dynamic and evolving understanding of God.
(8) But the profit of a land every way is a king that makes himself servant to the field.
The king's usual place is in the capital city, in the royal palace. Anyone wishing to approach the king must go through the appropriate channels in the palace bureaucracy and gain the approval of a succession of secretaries and ministers. They must journey to the capital and pass through the many gates, corridors and antechambers that lead to the throne room. Their presentation must be meticulously prepared, and they must adhere to an exacting code of dress, speech and mannerism upon entering into the royal presence.
However, there are times when the king comes out to the fields outside the city. At such times, anyone can approach him; the king receives them all with a smiling face and a radiant countenance. The peasant behind his plow has access to the king in a manner unavailable to the highest ranking minister in the royal court when the king is in the palace.
The month of Elul is when the king is in the field.
(3) You shall establish for you a path, and divide the borders of your land, which the Eternal your God will grant you, into three parts, that every man-slayer may flee there. (4) And this is the case of the man-slayer, that shall flee there and live: one who kills their neighbor without knowledge, and did not hate him in the past; (5) as when someone goes into the forest with their neighbor to chop wood, and their hand is upon the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the wooden-handle, and finds their neighbor, and they die; the one shall flee to one of these cities and live.
- How can the month of Elul be compared to a city of refuge?
- Note the Elul is the sixth month of the Jewish year, with Nisan being the first, and Tishrei, actually being the seventh month of the year. Seven. Hint. Hint.
(1) Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (2) When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. (3) Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise up against me, Even then will I be confident.
(4) One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the graciousness of the LORD, and to visit early in His temple. (5) For He concealeth me in His pavilion in the day of evil; He hideth me in the covert of His tent; He lifteth me up upon a rock. (6) And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; And I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
(7) Hear, O LORD, when I call with my voice, And be gracious unto me, and answer me. (8) In Thy behalf my heart hath said: ‘Seek ye My face'; Thy face, LORD, will I seek. (9) Hide not Thy face far from me; Put not Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) For though my father and my mother have forsaken me, The LORD will take me up.
(11) Teach me Thy way, O LORD; And lead me in an even path, Because of them that lie in wait for me. (12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries; For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out violence. (13) If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living!— (14) Wait on the LORD; Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for the LORD.
- Why was this Psalm chosen to daily reading during the month of Elul?
- How can it be a tool for preparation for the High Holidays?
- One possible answer is the verse in bold. How are the High Holidays like being up in a high place, here, standing upon a high rock, able to see "enemies" all around?