Jerusalem Anthology - Song of Songs

’I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.

Another explanation. “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song…” (Exodus 15:1) This is what is written “I am black but comely…” (Song of Songs 1:5) Knesset Yisrael says: I am black through my actions and comely through the actions of my forefathers. Our Rabbis said: don’t read this as ‘the daughters (b’not) of Jerusalem’ but rather as ‘the builders (bonot) of Jerusalem.’ This is the Great Sanhedrin of Israel, who sits and directs its construction. Another explanation. “daughters (b’not) of Jerusalem” (Song of Songs 1:5) R’ Yochanan said: in the future Jerusalem will become the metropolis of all the lands, as it says “Ashdod with her towns (b’noteha)…” (Joshua 15:47) What does “Like the tents of Kedar…” (Song of Songs 1:5) mean? Just as the tents of the Ishmaelites are ugly on the outside and beautiful within, so are the wise. Even though they appear ugly in this world, within they are filled with Mishna, Talmud, laws and parables. If the tents of the Ishmaelites move from place to place, perhaps Israel also moves from place to place? The verse continues “…like the curtains of Solomon.” (ibid.) Like the curtains of the One who spoke and brought the world into being. From the moment they were spread out like a tent, they did not move from their location. If the tents of the Ishmaelites are never washed, perhaps to too Israel? The verse continues “…like the curtains of Solomon (Shlomo).” Just as this cloak (salma) gets dirty and then can become clean again, so too Israel - even though they sin, the repent before the Holy One. Another explanation. “I am black but comely…” (Song of Songs 1:5) In that which I am black, I am comely. They sinned at Mount Horev, as it says “At Horev, you angered the Lord…” (Deuteronomy 9:8) And at Horev they said “All that the Lord spoke we will do and we will hear.” (Exodus 24:7) At the sea they rebelled, as it says “…and they were rebellious by the sea, by the Sea of Reeds.” (106:7) And at the sea they sang a song, as it says “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song…” (Exodus 15:1)

“…O daughters of Jerusalem…” (Song of Songs 1:5) The Rabbis say: don’t read it as ‘daughters (b’not) of Jerusalem’ but rather as ‘builders (bonot) of Jerusalem.’ This refers to the Great Sanhedrin of Israel who sat and made them understand (mvinin) every question and judgment. Another explanation. ‘O daughters of Jerusalem’ R’ Yochanan said: in the future Jerusalem will become the metropolis of all the countries, and be drawn to her for her glory, as it is written “Ashdod with her towns (bnoteha) and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages…” (Joshua 15:47) Until Lesha (comp. Genesis 10:19) This is the opinion of R’ Yochanan, because R’ Yochanan said: It is written “…and I shall give them to you for daughters (b’not), but not from your covenant.” (Ezekiel 16:61) What does ‘for daughters’ mean? For villages. ‘But not from your covenant,’ not from your dowry, but from Mine. R’ Bibi said in the name of R’ Reuven: “Sing you barren woman…” (Isaiah 54:1) Should she sing? She is barren! Rather, sing you barren woman because you have not born children for Gehinnom. R’ Berachia said in the name of R’ Shmuel bar Nachman: Israel is compared to a woman. Just as a woman takes a tenth of her father’s possessions and leaves, so Israel inherited the lands of the seven peoples who are one-tenth of the seventy nations. And since Israel inherited like a woman, they sang a song in the feminine, as it says “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song (shirah) to the Lord…” (Exodus 15:1) But in the time to come they will inherit all the possessions of their father like a man, this is what is written “…from the eastern side to the western side, for Judah; one portion,” (Ezekiel 48:7) Dan ha on portion, Asher has one portion. All of them are so, and they are all written in the masculine, as it says “Sing to the Lord a new song (shir chadash)…” (Psalms 96:1) It doesn’t say a new song in the feminine (shirah chadashah) but rather in the masculine (shir chadash). R’ Berachia and R’ Yehoshua ben Levi: why is Israel compared to a woman? Just as a woman loads and unloads, loads and unloads, and then unloads but does not load again, so to Israel is enslaved and redeemed, enslaved and redeemed but then they are redeemed and never enslaved again. In this world, because their pain is like that of a woman in labor, they sing a song before Him in the feminine form. In the world to come there pain will not be like that of a woman in labor and they will sing their song in the masculine, as it is written “On that day, this song (hashir) shall be sung…” (Isaiah 26:1)

’I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye awaken not, nor stir up love, until it please.’

The watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.