SHIR HASHIRIM – THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM PART 7

“You shall not make idols for yourself, and you shall not erect for yourselves a statue or a pillar, and in your Land you shall not emplace a flooring stone upon which to prostrate oneself, for I am HaShem, your Elohim. My Shabbats shall you observe and My Sanctuary shall you revere, I am HaShem.” Leviticus 26:1-2

As I begin to compile this Op, it is 9 July 2023, and it is hot outside, a record breaking heat wave is consuming parts of the United States. More importantly, the state of the country and the world is astoundingly dire, which in turn means our personal walks with HaShem and the studying, learning and applying His Torah to our own lives is more vitally important than ever before!

For example of the collapse of the world deep into chaos: We now live in a world which is literally teaching the children, men can become women and vice versa! Further, they are now teaching men can give birth! Genders are rendered to be nothing more than a specific pronoun in which a person chooses for themselves how to be identified, its utterly insane. My point is not to focus on this, but to once more shine a giant spotlight on the level of corruption and rebellion our society has now willfully and gleefully embraced! Right is wrong and wrong is now right! It is the height of rebellion against HaShem and His Ways! Again, this shows us more than ever, the ONLY way we are going to navigate the debauchery and maintain our sanity is to keep our focus on HaShem and draw near to His Torah, His Shabbat, His Feasts and His Temple!!

Just a quick reminder per Leviticus 26:3-5: “If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them, then I will provide your rains in their time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will give its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety and you will dwell securely in your Land.” HaShem is literally begging Israel to keep His Torah so that He can bless His people! The choice is up to each of us!

Tractate Avoda Zara 5a from the Talmud Bavli expounds and says “The Sages taught with regard to the verse, ‘If you walk in My statutes’ per Leviticus 26:3, in this context, ‘If’ is a term that means nothing other than supplication i.e. HaShem is hoping, (begging) that the Jewish people will observe the Torah. And similarly, it is stated, ‘Oh that My people would hearken to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways, I would soon subdue their enemies’ per Psalms 81:14-15. And it states, ‘Oh that you would hearken to My commandments! Then your peace would be as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Your seed also would be as the sand, and the offspring of your body like its grains’ per Isaiah 48:18-19.”

The divide between the world and its ever increasing insanity as opposed to the truth and perfection of HaShem and His Torah is growing ever wider by the day! As such, as I always post in my Ops, never forget the eternal statements HaShem says concerning His Torah:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

This Op discussing Shir HaShirim chapter 7 is going to be a VERY in depth Op and will be a very heavily Temple focused Op! Chapter 7 discusses various aspects and specific locations as well as functions of the Temple. This will require us to go into deep exploration of the Temple to understand what HaShem is saying here in chapter 7!

This said, I wanted to begin with a very important excerpt from the Perkei Avos 2/20 which is very relevant for today! It says “Rabbi Tarfon says: ‘The day is short, the task is abundant, the laborers are lazy, the wage is great, and the Master of the house is insistent.'”

The focus on this Perkei Avos is, it is our job to strive to study, learn and apply to our lives the Torah of HaShem! The commentary from Perkei Avos says “The Torah is even longer than the earth in measure. This means it is impossible to say that you have ‘finished’ the Torah. No matter how much a person has learned, there is still abundant work to be done!” Another commentary says “Man is caught in the hourglass of time, struggling to hold back its onrushing sands. Try though as we might, life continues on, despite our efforts to make time stand still. Man’s challenge in life is to open the Torah scroll, for his mission is to reveal its secrets and live by its precepts.” This is based upon Joshua 1:8 which says “This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth; rather, you should contemplate it day and night in order that you observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will act wisely.”

Tractate Sanhedrin 99b from the Talmud Bavli expounds and says “Rabbi Elazar says: ‘Every man was created for labor, as it is stated ‘Man is born for toil’ per Job 5:7. Based on this verse, I do not know whether he was created for toil of the mouth, speech, or whether he was created for the toil of labor. When the verse states: ‘For his mouth presses upon him’ per Proverbs 16:26, you must say that he was created for toil of the mouth. And still I do not know with regard to the toil of the mouth whether it is for the toil of Torah or for the toil of conversation. When the verse states: ‘This Torah scroll shall not depart from your mouth’ per Joshua 1:8, you must say that he was created for the toil of Torah. And that is the meaning of what Rava said: ‘All bodies are like receptacles to store items until use. Happy is one who is privileged, who is a receptacle for Torah.'”

So, we can see, this excerpt from Perkei Avos is referenced by Yeshua Himself in Matthew 9:37-38! Its another example among hundreds which again shows Yeshua taught nothing new but reiterated what HaShem had already established and was being taught by Beit Hillel, the sect of the Pharisees Yeshua supported and quoted. Remember, it was the Pharisees of the sect of Beit Shammai, who were in power at the time Yeshua walked the earth, which was the sect which Yeshua contended with as is recorded in the Apostolic Writings! Keep this in mind as we proceed in exploring Shir HaShirim Chapter 7!

Shir HaShirim 7:1 says “The nations have said to me (Israel), ‘Turn away, turn away from Elohim, O nation whose faith in Him is perfect, turn away, turn away, and we shall choose nobility from you.’ But I replied to them, ‘What can you bestow upon a nation of perfect faith commensurate even with the desert camps encircling?'”

Israel replies to the nations who are attempting to seduce and manipulate her away from HaShem and embrace idolatry. The commentary from the Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim says “Israel retorts to the nations that their offer to honor her is ridiculous. What can they give her that can surpass her relationship with her Beloved?”

“You tempt me with offers of greatness, but I am greater than anything you can give me. Even in my earliest years in the Wilderness, when my tribes were arrayed around the Tabernacle, each with its own banner, my status as HaShem’s people made me greater than all your temptations.”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary expounds on this verse and says “The four repetitions of the word ‘Turn’, represent the four kingdoms that ruled over the people of Israel. The allegorical translation, according to Rashi’s interpretation, continues with the comments made by the nations of the world to the people of Israel. In chapter six, they taunted the Jewish people because seemingly HaShem had forsaken them: ‘Where is your God?’ they asked. These idolatrous nations recognize the greatness of the Jewish people, their wisdom, their abilities, their leadership qualities. They called Israel Shulamit, from the root shalom, complete, as it completes the habitation of the world, both in this world and the next.”

“Here, the nations attempt to dissuade the Jewish nation from following HaShem using different logic. ‘Until when will you give up your lives for your God, doing mitzvot for His sake, and willing to die to sanctify His Name, and He pays you back with tragedy and misfortune! Joint our ranks, and will make you officers and leaders among us!’ The nations are offering us lives of material success and honor, thinking that those are the things that we desire in life.”

“What can you offer us? responds the Jewish nation. ‘Have you ever ever heard that our Forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were idolatrous, so that their children would follow their pagan practice of idol worship? We will not follow your idolatrous ways! Can your idol worship compare to the dancing circles performed by 600,000 angels when Jacob left Laban’s house to return to Israel? Or like the circling done for us at the Sea of Reeds, or that will take place for us in the future when God will encircle us with love? Surely what you have to offer pales in comparison to what we already receive!”

“These idolatrous nations are making a fundamental mistake in their appeals to our people. They attempt to entice us away from God with the allure of fame and fortune, positions of prestige and trappings of materialism. They challenge a lifestyle that seems to receive less from their God than they receive! We respond that their priorities are skewed, and help them understand by explaining the essence of who we are as a people. We recognize that everything comes from the Almighty; since our inception as a nation He has provided us tools for living through the Torah and its commandments. At Mount Sinai, in front of nearly three million men, women, and children, we were given the Torah. A bond was forged between our nation and HaShem, forever. He would be our God and we would be His nation, and all the wiles of idolatrous civilizations could not move us from our historic role and our eternal destiny.”

This is precisely why the Orthodox Jews completely reject Christendom and the Jesus it promotes! To embrace Christendom would qualify as the Biblical definition of Avodah Zarah (Idolatry) because Jesus is the focus and not HaShem! I have heard some retort this Jesus is HaShem in the flesh, which is an absolute impossibility. HaShem says time and again no man has ever seen Him nor can any man see Him. Further, HaShem says He cannot die and He cannot lie. Christendom adopted from the pagans the concept of this human/deity hybrid concept and ran with it which again is biblically impossible. Yeshua is the Agent of HaShem, but Yeshua is NOT HaShem nor is Yeshua to replace HaShem! I digress.

Per the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.1 it states “Return, return is written four times in this verse, corresponding to the Four Kingdoms that would subjugate Israel, and indicating that Israel would fall into their hands in peace and ultimately emerge from all four of them in peace.”

The Four Kingdoms are:

• Babylon
• Persia/Media
• Greece
• Rome/Edom (We are currently in exile under Rome/Edom i.e. Christianity)

The Midrash expounds on verse 1 further and shows in Hebrew, Solomon, refers to Israel as ‘Shulamite’. “The Shulamite is Israel, the nation whom Shalom, namely, the Life giver of the world i.e. HaShem, accompanies. One of HaShem’s Names is ‘Shalom’ i.e. Peace. The Midrash is referring to the fact that wherever the Tabernacle traveled in the Wilderness, the Divine Presence traveled with it, accompanying Israel.”

Shir HaShirim 7:2 says “The nations continue to Israel: ‘But your footsteps were so lovely when shod in pilgrim’s sandals, O daughter of nobles. The rounded shafts of your libations abyss like trenches, handiwork of the Master Craftsman.'”

Be advised: This verse along with the subsequent verses in Chapter 7 will have a very heavy Temple focus to it with regards to the commentary cited, just be forewarned!

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary explains “The nations ask Israel to join us because of your beautiful deeds which we had observed in you when you were still in your full beauty i.e. your own land. How lovely were your steps, Jewish nation, daughter of Nobility, on your pilgrimages to the Temple to celebrate the Three Festivals: Passover, Shavuos, and Sukkot.”

Let’s quickly explore the Shelosh Regalim (Three Pilgrimage Festivals)! Exodus 23:14-17 says “Three pilgrimage festivals shall you celebrate for Me during the year. You shall observe the Festival of Matzos (Passover); seven days shall you eat matzos, as I have commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of spring time, for in it you left Egypt; you shall not be seen before Me empty handed. And the Festival of the Harvest (Shavuos) of the first fruits of your labor that you sow in the field; and the Festival of Ingathering (Sukkot) at the close of the year; when you gather in your work from the field. Three times during the year shall all your males appear before the Master, HaShem.”

The Shelosh Regalim are one of the major foundations of Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation! Remember, HaShem’s Word is eternal and cannot be changed or replaced despite what Christendom’s Replacement Theology teaches! I point this out because knowing the Shelosh Regalim is an absolute MUST when reading and interpreting the Apostolic Writings, especially the letters of Paul! I digress!

Sefer HaKorbonot Hilchot Chagigah 1.1 from the Mishneh Torah explains: “The Jewish people have been commanded to observe three positive commandments on each of the three pilgrimage festivals. They are:

1. To appear before HaShem’s Presence, as Exodus 23:17 states ‘All of your males shall appear.’
2. To bring a festive korbonot (Offering), as Deuteronomy 16:15 states ‘You shall bring a festive korbonot to Elohim Your Master.’
3. To celebrate, as Deuteronomy 16:14 states ‘You shall rejoice in festivals.’

“The Torah’s charge to appear before HaShem mandates that one should appear in the Temple Courtyard (Location is specifically north of the Altar, in between Beit HaMokeid and Beit HaNitzotz, which opens up onto the Azarah) on the first day of a festival and bring with him a Burnt Offering, whether from fowl or from domesticated animals i.e. a goat, sheep, or bull.”

What separates the offerings to the pagan gods from the offerings brought to HaShem in His Temple? The offerings to the pagan gods were meant solely for appeasing the deity and nothing more. The offerings brought to HaShem are explained in the Hebrew name for an offering i.e. Korbanot means ‘To draw near!’ So, the korbanot brought to HaShem is meant for the one bringing the offering to draw near to HaShem! It has NOTHING to do with appeasing HaShem! Further, the pagans engaged in human sacrifices as well as sacrifices in which many of them included the person being immersed in the blood of the animal. On a side note, no person was ever covered or immersed in the blood of a korbonot in the Temple of HaShem! Additionally, HaShem absolutely forbids human sacrifice! Learning this, caused me many years ago to seriously re-examine what I was taught in Christendom concerning the death and the application of the blood of “Jesus”, as what is taught is very highly influenced by paganism. I digress.

This said, we need to quickly explain the significance of a Burnt Offering. In Hebrew, it is an Olah Korbanot. There are two types i.e. an Individual and a Communal. HaShem commands a Communal Olah Korbanot be offered twice each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is known as the daily Tamid korbonot. Tamid means ‘Eternal’ and per Tractate Tamid from the Mishnah says “The daily offering, one lamb offered as a burnt-offering each morning and afternoon, accompanied by a meal offering and a wine libation.” The significance of an Olah Korbonot is no one derives any benefit from it because the entire korbon is wholly burnt or consumed in the fire on the Mizb’each (Altar) to HaShem as a pleasing aroma!

Shir HaShirim 7:3 says “At earth’s very center your Sanhedrin site is an ivory basin of ceaseless, flowing teaching, your national center an indispensable heap of nourishing knowledge hedged about with roses.”

WOW…so the very center of the earth is the Sanhedrin of HaShem i.e. JUSTICE! Where is the Sanhedrin located? It is located in Beit Avtinas i.e. the SE corner building in the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem! Specifically, the Sanhedrin is located inside Beit Avtinas in the Lishkat HaGazit or the Chamber of Hewn Stone! On a side note, we have previously discussed the Sanhedrin in Shir HaShirim chapter four.

What is the Sanhedrin? It is the court system HaShem appoints in several verses in His Torah i.e. Exodus 18:21-23, Numbers 11:16-17 and Deuteronomy 17:8-13. The court system is comprised of three levels:

• The Court of Three (Three judges) = The lowest level and oversees ordinary monetary claims
• The Court of Twenty Three = Lesser Sanhedrin which hears and rules upon capital cases
• The Court of Seventy One = The Great Sanhedrin which sets the Halacha (How to walk in the Torah), sets the calendar, appoints a king over Israel and declares a voluntary war.

The Great Sanhedrin was the FINAL authority in all questions of Torah. Whoever believes in the authority of the Torah MUST accept the decisions of the Sanhedrin as binding! The decisions of the Sanhedrin concerning the Halacha (How to walk in the Torah) is contained in the Mishnah. The commentary of the Mishnah is contained in the two editions of the Talmud i.e. Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi! It is these sources among a few others which comprise the Oral Torah, which unfortunately is widely rejected by Christendom, Hebrew Roots and the Messianic organizations, but this is another topic for another day.

The commentary on Shir HaShirim 7:3 says “Allegorically, the reference is to the Sanhedrin, which is regarded as the navel i.e. center of the world because it is the source of justice. The judges sit in a semicircle, like a round basin, so the judges could see and communicate with one another as they discussed the issue before them. The navel’s umbilical cord gives nourishment to the fetus, like the Sanhedrin that gives nourishing wisdom to the world.” In other words, the entire world is sustained in existence because of the rulings of the Sanhedrin on how to walk in the Torah of HaShem! Again, we see Replacement Theology taught by Christendom is completely refuted by biblical facts!

“Just as wheat is the basic food, so the Sanhedrin’s teachings are the staple of the world. Just as everyone benefits when wheat is plentiful, so everyone benefits from the deliberations of the Sanhedrin. Although, a hedge of roses has thorns, it can easily be trampled, so it is hardly a very protective barrier. However, one who appreciates beautiful roses will not trample them. Similarly, although there is no physical barrier to prevent people from sinning, one who appreciates the beauty and sanctity of the Commandments and their Commander (HaShem) will not transgress them.”

There is a very important prophecy given by HaShem concerning the restoration of the Sanhedrin in the End of Days as written in Isaiah 1:24-29 which says “Therefore, the Word of the Master, HaShem, Master of Legions, Mighty One of Israel. Oh, I shall be appeased of My adversaries, and I shall avenge Myself of My enemies! I will turn My Hand against you, until I refine your dross as with lye and I remove all your base metal. Then I will restore your judges (Sanhedrin) as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning (Remember He reveals the end from the beginning!); after that you will be called ‘City of Righteousness’, ‘Faithful City’. Zion will be redeemed through justice, and those who return to her through righteousness; but calamity awaits rebels and sinners together; and those who forsake HaShem will perish; for they will become ashamed of the idolatrous elms that you desired, and you will be embarrassed over the gardens that you chose.”

So, again we see HaShem reveals the end from the beginning and there is nothing new under the sun! What is interesting to understand is for Messiah Yeshua to assume His place as King and rule from the Temple in Jerusalem, a Sanhedrin MUST be restored in order to appoint Him as King per the Torah!

When justice collapses and is corrupted, as we see today in the world and especially the USA, lawlessness increases, chaos ensues and ultimately societies and governments collapse. I digress.

The reference to the hedge of roses around the Sanhedrin, per the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.6-7, are the words of Torah, which are easy to breach and transgress as a fragile hedge of roses. Roses are very colorful, pleasing to the eye and emit spectacular fragrances, but they have thorns so if a person is careless with the roses bush, they will get pricked. Point is, to treat the rose bush with respect and appreciation just as we are to treat the Torah of HaShem with respect and appreciation! Once more, we see HaShem using His creation to teach us very important concepts!

Shir HaShirim 7:4 says “Your twin sustainers, the Tablets of the Torah, are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.”

The commentary from the Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim says “This expression is also found in Shir HaShirim 4:5, where it is interpreted as a reference to Moshe and Aaron, who nourished Israel like an infant nursing from its mother. Here, the concept is the same, but it refers to the two Tablets of the Torah or to the king and the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest), the material and spiritual leaders of the nation. They are likened to twins because they are of equal importance and stature.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary says “The twin Tablets of the Covenant, or, alternately, the King and High Priest. Thematically, this verse is as an exhortation regarding the bosom i.e. sources of Israel’s nourishment, the King and High Priest who are admonished to conduct themselves as two fawns, twins of a gazelle by complementing each other and striving for mutuality; the King in the affairs of state, and the High Priest in the service of HaShem.”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim 7:4 has some very interesting insight. It states: “Rashi explains how the commandments on the right (Concerning the Tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them) correspond to the parallel one on the left, citing our verse in Shir HaShirim as proof. I am your Elohim parallels ‘You shall not kill’ because by killing someone the murderer has minimized the image of HaShem, as all men were created in His image.”

“The second commandment, ‘You shall have no other gods’, corresponds to the seventh commandment, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ Fidelity to HaShem is compromised when one worships idols, just as the exclusivity to one’s wife has been severed if he is unfaithful to her.”

“The third commandment warns us not to take the Name of HaShem in vain. This parallels the prohibition against stealing, for one who steals will eventually be in a position where he will swear falsely.”

“When one does not honor the Sabbath, the fourth commandment, and desecrates it, he bears false witness against his Creator, the ninth commandment. Sabbath is HaShem’s manifestation on earth that it was He Who created it. It is as if he were saying that HaShem did not rest when He created the world.”

“The last of the mitzvot on the right side of the Tablet, ‘Honor your father and mother’, corresponds to ‘You shall not covet.’ One who transgresses and covets will eventually bear a child who will curse his real father, heaven forbid, and honor one who is not his father.”

And then our cities and schools remove the Ten Commandments and then cannot figure out why society is collapsing and lawlessness is increasing! Oh but I thought Jesus ‘fulfilled’ it all and tossed it all out because he did it all so we don’t have too! Yes, I am being sarcastic…my point is, just watch the news today and you will see how well Replacement Theology has worked out for society as a whole. I digress.

Shir HaShirim 7:5 says “Your altar and Temple, erect and stately as an ivory tower; your wise men aflow with springs of complex wisdom at the gate of the many peopled city, your face like a Lebanese tower, looks to your future boundary as Damascus.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah has a lot to expound on this verse and once more we must know about the intricacies of the Temple! The likening to an ivory tower, other translations have it ‘Your neck is like a tower of ivory’ has its roots to the account of Esau running to embrace Jacob and Esau fell upon his neck and kissed him per Genesis 33:4. The importance of this account is the Hebrew word used to describe Esau kissing Jacob is in fact literally saying Esau had embraced Jacob and bit him on his neck. Scripture tells us per Psalms 112:10 the wicked will gnash his teeth and melt away. This is a reference to Esau biting Jacob and his teeth were blunted by HaShem. Further, this statement of the ivory tower in our Shir HaShirim verse, likens Israel to a hard neck able to blunt the attacks of its enemies, just like our forefather Jacob!

The reference to ‘Your wise men aflow with springs of complex wisdom…’ is a reference to the Sanhedrin who are likened to the eyes of Israel. Numbers 15:24 discusses the eyes of the assembly i.e. the Sanhedrin. The Midrash says “There are two hundred and forty eight limbs in a man, and they all go after the eyes. So are the people of Israel; they cannot do anything without their Sanhedrin.”

‘Your face like a Lebanese tower’ is very important! The face being referenced here is a term for the Temple of HaShem! “Just as the face is placed at the high point of a person, so was the Holy Temple positioned on the highest part of the world!” What is the significance of the word ‘Lebanon?’ Lebanon in Hebrew means ‘To whiten’. The Midrash explains “It is because it (The Temple of HaShem) whitens i.e. atones for the sins of Israel like snow. For we find the expression ‘whitening’ used by Scripture to mean atonement, as it is stated, if your sins are like scarlet they will become white as snow per Isaiah 1:18. Psalms 48:3 describes the Temple as being the fairest of sites, joy of all the earth! Further, HaShem describes His Temple as being ‘My eyes and My heart shall be there all the days’ per I Kings 9:3.”

The reference to the future boundary of Jerusalem being up towards Damascus (Syria), is literal but also allegorical because the term ‘Damascus’ entails an upward expansion of Jerusalem in its status in the world and in the World to Come. HaShem describes Jerusalem in Zechariah 2:9 by saying “And I will be for it, the Word of HaShem, a wall of fire all around and for glory will I be in its midst.” The Midrash states “That Jerusalem will be surrounded by a wall of fire is considered a much greater praise than its outward and upward expansion.” Jerusalem will be known in the world as the city of HaShem and the most important city on the entire planet!

Shir HaShirim 7:6 says “The Godly name on your head is as mighty as Carmel; your crowning braid is royal purple, your King is bound in Nazarite tresses.”

The reference to the Name of HaShem on the head of Israel is reference to the tefillin (Phylacteries) which are commanded by HaShem to be put on each day. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 28:10 supports this “Then all the peoples of the earth will see the Name of HaShem is called upon you, and they will be in awe of you.” The commentary on this verse says “How do the nations see the Name of HaShem called upon us? This refers to our head – Tefillin, which are worn prominently and visibly. Tefillin are the strength of the Jewish people, inspiring awe and fear in our enemies hearts.”

“Your crowning braid is royal purple, your King is bound in Nazarite tresses.” This is a midrash to convey the people are complying with HaShem’s Torah and purple is a picture of royalty. It is interesting here because the King being referenced here is HaShem and He, per the commentary, is ‘Bound in love to the mitzvos (Commandments) with which Israel runs before Him.’ Additionally, a King bound in tresses ‘Esoterically refers also to Messiah who figuratively is bound up and prevented from revealing himself.’

HaShem Himself wears Tefillin! Isaiah 62:8 says “The Master has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength….” According to Tractate Berakhot 6a from the Talmud Bavli it says “His right hand refers to the Torah, as it stated in describing the giving of the Torah: ‘From His right hand, a fiery Torah for His people’ per Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2. ‘The arm of His strength,’ His left hand, refers to phylacteries, as it is stated: ‘The Master gave strength to His nation’ per Psalms 29:11, in the form of the mitzva (Commandment) of phylacteries.”

Another understanding of this verse here in Shir HaShirim is from the Midrash which references the needy and poor of Israel. “The Holy One, blessed is He, said: The needy and the poor among Israel are as beloved to Me as one clothed in purple, referring to King David, as it is stated, ‘On that day, even the weakest among them (Israel) will be like David’ quoting Zechariah 12:8. And some say that they are as beloved as Daniel, of whom it is written, ‘They clothed Daniel in purple’ quoting Daniel 5:29.”

The poor and needy does not necessarily pertain to those who have difficulties with finances and paying the bills per se, it is also a description of a person who has little to no understanding and application of the Torah in their lives.

The Midrash explains: “Many people are poor in Torah knowledge. Despite the time and effort they have invested in Torah study, they are still needy, dependent on teachers and learning aids to understand the texts after a fashion. Such people may struggle with a lack of motivation and especially when comparing themselves to more advanced students, a nagging sense of futility. Why bother to study, they might ask themselves despairingly, when the obstacles are so great, my progress is so slow, and the only accomplishments I can realistically aim for are so modest.”

“One answer to this question lies, ironically, in the vastness of the Torah. The infinite breadth of its wisdom and the unplumbed depth of its commandments. Even the greatest Torah scholars have only begun to penetrate the surface. No one had a better grasp of the Torah or more intimate knowledge of its Giver than Moses himself. Yet in Moses’s own eyes, all that HaShem revealed to him was but an introduction, a first taste of the immense body of Divine wisdom that he aspired to, but could not, attain. You have begun, only begun, said Moses to HaShem near the end of his life, ‘To show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand’ per Devarim 3:24.”

“Thus, in the context of the Torah’s galactic range, even the most erudite scholar has not really progressed much closer to its limits than a bumbling novice. That is the lesson of our Midrash. Among Torah students, the poor and needy are equal in HaShem’s eyes to such paragons of Torah greatness as Elijah, David and Daniel. They are all beginners, having just started to plumb the Torah’s depths, and they are all treasured for whatever progress they have made.”

Shir HaShirim 7:7 says “How beautiful and pleasant are you, befitting the pleasures of spiritual love.”

The commentary explains here the nations of the world are praising Israel. It refers back to Shir HaShirim 1:15 and 1:16 when HaShem first praises Israel for their steadfastness and Torah observance, obviously referencing the time of the World to Come when Messiah is ruling and all of Israel has completely repented and turned to HaShem. The nations of the world will witness this and in my opinion will motivate the nations to want to repent and turn to HaShem as well.

Shir HaShirim 7:8 says “Such is your stature, likened to a towering palm tree, from your teachers flow sustenance like wine filled clusters.”

Notice once again HaShem is using elements of His creation to teach us an aspect of His Torah! In this instance He is using a palm tree. The commentary expands on this and says “Israel being compared to the palm tree is understood in the sense of ‘I will rise up’ i.e. HaShem will be glorified, uplifted, elevated through the virtue of this nation Israel. Rashi says ‘I (HaShem) boast about you (Israel) among the Celestial Hosts, that I am elevated through your actions on earth when My Name is hallowed by you among the nations of the world.”

“And let your bosom be like clusters of grapes, and your breath literally the scent of your nostrils like the scent of apples. The simile comparing finest scents to that of an apple orchard occurs in the Talmud. Commenting upon the verse in Genesis 27:27 ‘Like the smell of the field with which HaShem had blessed him,’ the Talmud, Taanis 29b, identifies the beautiful fragrance as the scent of a field of apples.”

“Rashi perceives this as an exhortation to the ‘bosom’, i.e. the righteous and wise who, by their good example, nurture and inspire the young, in age or intellect, by withstanding and responding vigorously to the taunts of their heathen neighbors who wish to lead Israel astray.”

“This your stature is like a palm tree. We (The nations of the world) witnessed your (Israel’s) lovely stature in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. All the other nations succumbed and bowed down to the statue i.e. Daniel chapter 3, but you remained upright as this palm tree.”

“The Targum perceives in the imagery of this verse an allusion to the Kohanim (Priests serving in the Temple) as they bless the congregation: ‘When your Kohanim spread forth their hands in prayer and pronounce the blessings upon their brothers the House of Israel, their outspread hands resemble the branches of a palm tree, while your congregation stands facing the Kohanim, their countenances lowered toward earth like a cluster of grapes.”

The following excerpts from the Perek Shirah the Song of the Universe says regarding the palm tree: “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall. quoting Psalms 92:13. The date palm is straight and tall. It produces tasty and nutritious fruit. It is free of knots. So, too, are righteous people. They are spiritually upright and unblemished. They share their knowledge with others and inspire them to better themselves. And just as the palm tree includes the cedar in its praise, so the righteous are generous in lauding others.”

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my Beloved among the gods. In His shade I delighted and sat, and its fruit is sweet to my palate. quoting Shir HaShirim 2:3. When the Patriarch Jacob came to receive the blessing of his father Isaac, the scent of a blessed field came into the room with him. It was the scent of an apple orchard, the Sages teach, the scent of the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned. A scent is not only a reflection of the person from whom it emanates, it deposits its fragrance on his neighbors, as well. This is why we eat an apple on Rosh HaShanah, to inspire ourselves not only to personal growth, but to have a positive influence on others.”

“Thus says HaShem, ‘When the wine is found in a cluster, and someone says, do not destroy it, because there is blessing in it, so will I do for My servants, not to destroy everything’, quoting Isaiah 65:8. The vine itself has no value; its importance is in the fruit of the cluster, the wine that gladdens HaShem and man. Because of the wine, the cluster is spared, and because of the cluster, the vine is spared. So, too, though few people realize it, HaShem preserves the world because of its righteous people, who serve Him and whose performance of His commandments and study of His Torah are a source of merit for multitudes who do not know He exists.”

Can you see how much there is to learn just from a few examples from His creation and how those concepts can be applied to each of our lives in our service to Him? Keep this all in mind as this will continue in the next verse!

Shir HaShirim 7:9 says “I boast on High that your deeds cause Me to ascend on your palm tree, I grasp onto your branches. I beg now your teachers that they remain like clusters from which flow strength to your weakest ones, and the fragrance of your face like apples.”

This verse is represented by the picture above of the apple trees with their apple blossoms as HaShem once again connects the fragrance of apples to His people. Further, this verse connects to the significance and importance of a palm tree! The commentary on this verse says “Now HaShem compares Israel to a lofty, upright palm tree. If Israel rises to that spiritual level, HaShem, too, will be elevated because His Name will be sanctified in the world. Alternatively, Israel is the speaker. The nation pledges to repent and elevate itself like a palm tree. HaShem will grasp branches of Israel’s palm tree, as it were, as He is elevated and sanctified through Israel’s righteous conduct. If Israel is the speaker, it is pledging to hoist itself spiritually.”

“HaShem calls upon the teachers and leaders, to inspire the young or weak Jews by setting an example of loyalty to HaShem and resistance to the taunts and temptations of the nations. Alternatively, HaShem promises that if Israel restores its allegiance to Him, He will respond by restoring His Presence and clinging, as it were, to its branches. Then the teachings of its leaders will flow like wine from clusters and the aroma of its offerings will be accepted by Him.”

There are some cross reference verses connected to this verse here in Shir HaShirim. The cross reference is from Genesis 27:26-27 which says “Then his father Yitzchak (Isaac) said to him (Yaakov/Jacob), ‘Come close, if you please, and kiss me, my son.’ So, he drew close and kissed him; he smelled the fragrance of his garments and blessed him; he said, ‘See, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which HaShem had blessed.'”

According to Tractate Taanis 29b from the Talmud Bavli, “The smell was that of an apple orchard.” Further, the commentary from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli says “Apparently, this refers to a particular local type of apple, which ripens to a yellowish gold and has a sweet and juicy taste and a strong, pleasant odor.”

Again, we see HaShem using the elements of His creation to teach us concepts we can apply and understand in our own lives!

What is very interesting is this verse here in Shir HaShirim, connects to the events we read in Daniel 3 with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah being thrown into the fire and are protected even so much as to not have the slightest smell of smoke on their clothing!

Tractate Sanhedrin 93a from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli explains further: “At the moment that Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah emerged from the fiery furnace, all the nations of the world came and struck the enemies of Israel, a euphemism for the Jewish people, in the face and said to them ‘You have a God with capabilities like that and you bow to the graven image?’ Immediately Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah began and said, ‘Master, righteousness is Yours, but we are shamefaced, as of this day,’ quoting Daniel 9:7.”

“What is the meaning of that which is written ‘I said, I will climb into the palm tree, I will grasp its boughs, per Shir HaShirim 7:9?’ I said ‘I will climb into the palm tree’, this is a reference to the Jewish people, who are likened to a palm tree, as they are upright and have one heart directed toward their Father in Heaven, HaShem continues, ‘And now I have tested them by means of the decrees of Nebuchadnezzar, I have succeeded in grasping in My hand only the one bough of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, as only they were willing to give their lives.'”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.14 sums it up with the following commentary: “Having written concerning Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, when they emerged from the furnace, that they had not absorbed the smell of fire, per Daniel 3:27, it states in our verse, and the fragrance of your countenance like apples, that is, since they did not absorb the smell of fire, to what was their smell similar? To the smell of an apple orchard.”

“The term ‘Apple orchard’ in our Midrash is a metaphor for the Garden of Eden, which is called a field or an orchard in Genesis 27:27, and more specifically, an apple orchard.”

So, again we see HaShem lives up to His Word in that He never changes, His word is firmly established and He reveals the end from the beginning!! Keep this in mind as we proceed to the next verse here in Shir HaShirim!

Shir HaShirim 7:10 says “And may your utterance be like finest wine. I shall heed Your plea to uphold my faith before my Beloved in love so upright and honest that my slumbering fathers will move their lips in approval.”

The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book explains: “Exercise caution, and let your response to the taunts of the heathens be as clear and potent as fine wine.” Great advice especially when dealing with many of the mocking and the taunts of those on the various blogs who are vehemently opposed to anything Jewish and especially those many in Christendom who abhor the Torah of HaShem.

The commentary continues: “This is Israel’s reply of assurance intimating ‘I am cautious to stress in my response to them (The taunting heathens) that I will stand firm in my faith, that my palate should flow forth before my Beloved in righteous sincere love.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 7.15 Insights section expounds on this verse and highlights the following: “Jewry owes a great spiritual debt to its forefathers. By modeling in their own lives the selfless devotion required to serve HaShem in the harshest of circumstances, the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) instilled in their descendants the ability to sanctify HaShem’s Name in life and in death.”

Shir HaShirim 7:11 says “I am My Beloved’s and He longs for my perfection.”

This verse here parallels the verse in Shir HaShirim 6:3 “I am My Beloved’s and My Beloved is mine.” Israel is speaking to the taunting and mocking nations.

Rashi expounds further says “His longing is upon me might be interpreted to mean ‘the longing for Him is upon me’ i.e. I am totally consumed with longing for Him, and upon me is the obligation to love Him with all my heart, soul, and possessions. For one who attains the high degree of being able to say ‘I am my Beloved’s’ upon that person has descended the proper feeling of His longing i.e. the true longing for HaShem that only the righteous attain, a longing so deep that they become sick with love.”

Consider this concept which is understood to be a fact in this verse: “He who is deserving that HaShem’s desire be towards him, that person is sent the inspiration from above to serve HaShem properly.” None of us are deserving per se because of our sin, but HaShem’s mercy is fresh and anew every morning and He takes that which destroys us and turns it to the good! Keep this in mind.

The commentary on this verse says “This verse is Israel’s relieved reply after having heard all of HaShem’s admonitions and promises in the previous verses: ‘I always knew that I am His people and He will not despise me and exchange me for another.'” This once again flushes Replacement Theology down the toilet!

“The ‘I’ in this verse is a statement of man subordinating his entire self, his egocentricity, to his Creator by proclaiming: ‘I am my Beloved’s’, my entire self is subordinated entirely to my Beloved, and thus ‘His longing is upon me.'”

The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary explains “Jerusalem said ‘As long as I go in the way of the Master of the Universe, He causes His Shechinah to rest in my midst and His longing is towards me, but when I turn away from His way, He removes His Shechinah from my midst and causes me to wander among the peoples, and they rule over me as a man who rules over his wife.”

Did Yeshua teach something similar about loving HaShem as recorded in the Apostolic Writings? Absolutely He did! Matthew 22:36-40 says “Master, which is the great command in the Torah? And Yeshua said to him, ‘You shall love HaShem your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great command. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”

Was Yeshua teaching something new? Not at all! He was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love HaShem your Elohim, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources.” He was also quoting Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your fellow as yourself, I am HaShem.”

This is absolute proof once more Yeshua taught keeping the Torah as the way to serve HaShem because even He states these two commands encapsulate the entire Torah of HaShem!!!

Mitzvah #418 The Obligation to Love HaShem. It is HaShem’s desire we are motivated to study and walk out His Torah out of love for Him, not out of fear of retribution but a genuine love for Him. Rambam says in the Mishnah Torah Hilchot Teshuvah 10 “The ultimate service of HaShem is one that is motivated by love for Him and a sincere desire to do His Will. To attain this level of serve, however, one must first cultivate a love of HaShem.” This cultivation can begin by simply observing His creation around us and acknowledging His Kingship over all of His Creation which reveals Who He is! Noticing the colors, the mountains, the flowers, the birds, the sky, the stars, etc. It all reveals His greatness! It is out of this cultivation in which we desire to learn His Torah.

Mitzvah #419 The Obligation to Study Torah. HaShem says in Deuteronomy 6:7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons, and you shall speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise.”

The underlying purpose of this mitzvah is obvious “Through the study of Torah, a person can attain knowledge of the ways of HaShem, blessed be He. By contrast, without Torah knowledge, one will neither know nor understand HaShem’s ways, and, as such, he will be likened to an animal.”

Shir HaShirim 7:12 says “Come my Beloved, let us go to the fields where Your children serve You in want, there let us lodge with Esau’s children who are blessed with plenty yet still deny.”

An interesting explanation of this verse is found in Tractate Eruvin 21b in the Talmud Bavli which explains “Come, my Beloved, let us go forth into the field, the Congregation of Israel said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: ‘Master of the Universe, do not judge me like those who reside in large cities where there is robbery and licentiousness, and vain oaths and false oaths, but rather, let us go forth into the field, come and I will show You Torah scholars who work the land but nonetheless engage in Torah study, in poverty and in distress.'”

“Let us lodge in the villages, do not read the phrase as: ‘In the villages, but rather as by the deniers, meaning, come and I will show You the nations of the world, whom You showered with good, yet they have denied You.'”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary expounds further and says “The overriding theme of Shir HaShirim is the relationship between the Jewish nation and HaShem. The role of our people among the idolatrous nations of the world is often referred to as well. Chapter six discusses how the nations mock us because it seems that HaShem has forsaken us, and chapter seven begins with the nations offering us positions of prominence if we forsake HaShem and join them in their endeavors.”

“The larger cities are filled with thievery and licentiousness, a result of the affluent lifestyle found there. The people of Israel ask to be judged by HaShem in the rural areas; despite the poverty in such places, the scholars uphold the study of Torah. Rural villages can be read as people who deny the Almighty. Look at the difference between us and the Children of Esau! We proclaim to HaShem. We are steadfast in our faith in You, despite our poverty, yet the nations have denied Your greatness, despite the beneficence You have showered upon them.”

Shir HaShirim 7:13 says “Let us wake at dawn in vineyards of prayer and study. Let us see if students of Writ have budded, if students of Oral Torah have blossomed, if ripened scholars have bloomed, there I will display my finest products to You.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary says “Let us rise early for the vineyards is an allusion to the synagogues and study houses which are already occupied from early morning. According to the Midrash vineyards refers to Israel, as it says in Isaiah 5:7 ‘For the vineyard of HaShem of Hosts is the house of Israel.'”

“Let us see if the vine has budded, if the blossom has opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom. If the vine has budded is an allusion to the students of Scripture i.e. the Written Torah; if the blossom has opened is an allusion to the students of the Mishnah (Oral Torah) because, as Rashi explains blossoming refers to the period when the blossom falls away and the grapes become visible; the students of Mishnah are so described because they are a stage closer to enabling others to benefit from them, the students, by enjoying their teaching.”

“If the pomegranates are in bloom i.e. in the last stages of ripeness. This alludes to the students of the Talmud (Babylonian and Yerushalmi) who have achieved wisdom and are ripe and worthy to instruct in Torah matters.”

Once more we see HaShem using His creation to teach us of spiritual concepts! Another reason why we should be aware of creation around us because He is using these elements to teach each of us! Baruch HaShem!

Shir HaShirim 7:14 says “All my baskets, good and bad, emit a fragrance, all at our doors have the precious fruits of comely deeds, those the Scribes have newly ordained and Your Torah’s timeless wisdom, for You, Beloved, has my heart stored them.”

The commentary explains this final verse of Shir HaShirim chapter seven with the following “The baskets or otherwise known as mandrakes yield fragrance. The Talmud renders baskets i.e. the baskets of figs, both good and bad figs, as signified in the verse from Jeremiah 24:1 ‘And behold two baskets of figs set before the Temple of HaShem; one basket had very good figs and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten they were so bad.’ Good figs are an allusion to those who are righteous in every respect; bad figs are an allusion to those who are wicked in every respect. But lest you imagine that their hope is lost and their prospect is frustrated, it was explicitly stated the baskets yield fragrance, both the wicked as well as the righteous will in time to come give forth fragrance, they will all seek out HaShem.”

All of our actions, good and bad figuratively and in some cases literally emit a fragrance depending on what that action was i.e. good or bad. Again, we see HaShem using His creation to teach us His Torah!

I will wrap up this chapter of Shir HaShirim with what Psalms 31:20 says “How abundant is Your goodness which You have treasured for Your reverent ones, that You performed for those who seek refuge in You, in the presence of men.”

This verse here in Psalms describes so much! The abundance of HaShem will bestow upon the righteous is beyond the power of mortal man to describe. Rambam emphasizes “That in this finite, material world we cannot conceive of the finite spiritual rewards stored in the Hereafter. Just as the blind man has no conception of colors nor the deaf man an idea of sound, similarly, our limited senses have no way of sensing the spiritual bliss as long as we are enclosed in the body which restricts our soul. Therefore, the Torah never makes promises of spiritual rewards for obeying its commands, for they are indescribable!”

This completes Chapter Seven of Shir HaShirim! Just one more chapter to go and this will complete this entire set! It has taken a serious amount of time to get this done. This chapter in itself has taken nearly five months to complete! I began on 9 July 2023 and have finished it 8 December 2023! There is SO much to pull out and I have not even began to touch what all is here in Shir HaShirim!! I am hoping these Op’s will spur your curiosity and you will take it upon yourselves to do your own study of Shir HaShirim and see HaShem’s commitment, loyalty and His compassion for His bride i.e. Israel and all He has done to redeem her! May it be so very soon in our days!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scriptures Research
• The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
• The Rubin Edition The Prophets by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah by Artscroll
• Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
• Mishnah Torah
• Kehati Mishnah
• The Illuminated Shir HaShirim by Artscroll