“A man’s steps are from HaShem; but what does a man understand of his way?” Proverbs 20:24
Well, we have finally arrived!! The final chapter in Shir HaShirim! WOW…what a ride it has been! It has been a few years since we started this journey! There is SO much to unpack in this seemingly insignificant book of the Tanach!! The detailed description of the Bridegroom i.e. HaShem, the Master, Sustainer and Creator of all the universe eagerly awaiting the day when He can be joined to His bride i.e. Israel is astounding!
On a side note, I am including pictures of the universe to once again, hopefully, remind everyone the greatness and vastness of HaShem since His word says in Psalms 8:4-5 “When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is the frail human that You should remember him?” Keep this in mind!
What message of hope is more crucial for each of us today, especially in a world not only collapsing all around us but also erupting into complete lawlessness and war? It all seems very hopeless and lost at the moment. The world is very quickly turning against Israel, the nation in the Middle East, for simply defending herself from annihilation!
This is why I thought it was important to begin this Op with the opening verse from Proverbs to remind each of us, our steps are ordered by HaShem, even the steps in which we get frustrated with Him and let our guard down, because He is able to take that which was intended for evil and turn it to the good!
Tractate Chullin 7b from the Talmud Bavli states “A person does not stub his toe down below, on Earth, unless it has been decreed from Above (HaShem).” The commentary on this Proverbs verse asks “What is man’s task? He must understand the proper path and set out in that direction. Then HaShem will help him because, as Tractate Shabbos 104a from the Talmud Bavli states, ‘When a person comes to purify himself, he is aided by HaShem in doing so.'”
Chapter 6/1 from the Perkei Sholom book follows up on this concept from our opening verse from Proverbs: “Whoever engages in Torah study for its own sake merits many things; furthermore, the creation of the entire world is worthwhile for his sake alone. He is called, ‘Friend, Beloved.’ He loves the Omnipresent, he loves His creatures, he gladdens the Omnipresent, he gladdens His creatures. The Torah clothes him in humility and fear of HaShem; it makes him fit to be righteous, devout, fair, and faithful. It moves him away from sin and draws him near to merit. From him people enjoy counsel and wisdom, understanding and strength, as it is said ‘Mine are counsel and wisdom, I am understanding, mine is strength.’ The Torah gives him kingship and dominion and analytical judgment; the secrets of the Torah are revealed to him; he becomes like a steadily strengthening spring and like an unceasing river.”
Just something to keep in mind as we proceed into Shir HaShirim chapter eight. As always, never forget the following eternal attributes of HaShem and 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
Shir HaShirim 8:1 says “If only, despite my wrongs, You could comfort me as Joseph did, like a brother nurtured at my mother’s breasts, if in the streets I found Your prophets, I would kiss You and embrace You through them, nor could anyone despise me for it.”
Israel, the bride, continues to long for closeness to HaShem! This verse encapsulates the allegory of Israel pleading with HaShem to remove all the obstacles so Israel could serve HaShem and could study His Torah freely and unmolested. He plea to be comforted by Joseph, is a reference to when the brothers, who sold Joseph into Egyptian captivity, were reunited and Joseph, now the Viceroy over all Egypt, comforted his brothers and assured them he had no intention to punish or exact revenge upon them.
Israel’s comment wishing HaShem was likened as a brother, is not a desire to be on a familial level with Him, but in Israelis society to be brother meant primarily the brother had the responsibility to be a protector! This is what is being referenced here!
While Israel is scattered into the world in exile, the nations scorned and ridiculed Israel for keeping Shabbat and HaShem’s Feasts and constantly attempted to lure Israel away from HaShem’s Torah. It was in striving to keep His Torah which distinguished Israel i.e. the Bride of HaShem from the rest of the nations. Our great hope is when the exile finally comes to an end, all the obstacles will be once and for all removed out of the way and the nations will cease their ridicule! May it be so very soon in our days!
The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary is very revealing. It says “In continuity, HaShem had earlier expressed His desire to rest His Shechinah (Presence) upon His people once again. They now continue their response of 7:10-14 with a longing plea for His aid and comfort.”
The cross references cited in this commentary help explain what Israel is asking. Bereshit (Genesis) 50:21 when Yosef (Joseph) revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt he told them “So now, fear not, I will sustain you and your young ones. Thus he comforted them and spoke to their heart.” Keep this in mind!
The commentary goes on “This verse is to be understood as an intensely emotional utterance of a maiden (Israel) who craves for freedom of expression to her Beloved (HaShem) to suit the purity of her affection; ‘O that in the eyes of men You would be only a little brother to me, one who still nursed at my mother’s bosom! Then I could openly display affection for You, and no one would look askance. Allegorically, ‘O that all the obstacles toward serving You wholeheartedly would be removed. I would then be able to indulge unmolested in Your Torah and precepts wherever I went!'” To have all our needs met to such an extent where we didn’t need to be distracted with jobs, bills, health, etc, and be able to devote our time studying, learning and applying His Torah to our lives motivated out of love, devotion and loyalty to Him! This is what the Olam Haba (The World to Come) will be like! May it be so very soon in our days!
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:45 says “I will remember for them the covenant of the ancients, those whom I have taken out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be Elohim to them, I am HaShem.”
Eichah (Lamentations) 1:7 says “Jerusalem recalled the days of her suffering and sorrow, all the treasures that were hers in the days of old. With the fall of her people into the enemy’s hand and none to help her, her enemies saw her and gloated at her downfall.” The commentary expounds “The Jews observed the Sabbath and Sabbatical years in exile though they had not done so while in their own country. Their captors laughed at them saying ‘Fools! In your own country you did not observe them; now, in exile you are observant?'” Point is, HaShem’s enemies are watching us very closely just for this exact reason! Are we just talk or will we strive to walk in His Torah and be set apart from the world to Him?
Consider what another cross reference says from Mishlei (Proverbs) 2:6-8 “For HaShem will grant wisdom; from His mouth are knowledge and discernment. He will secure the eternal Torah for the upright; it is a shield for those who walk in innocence, to safeguard the paths of justice, and He will protect the way of His devout ones.”
So, you may be wondering why is this verse seemingly focusing on a change of status of relationship between HaShem and His bride i.e. Israel, to a relationship between brothers? The explanation is actually more profound when we again understand the culture. A husband and wife, in Israel, do not show public affection for each other, not even a kiss in public! However, the relationship between a brother and brother or a brother and a sister is very different. They can show affection for one another much more openly in public. This is one of the reasons for the verse in Shemot (Exodus) 4:27 which says “HaShem said to Aharon, ‘Go to meet Moshe, to the Wilderness.’ So, he went and encountered him at the Mountain of HaShem (Sinai), and he kissed him (Moshe).” The point being made is Israel has such an intense affection for HaShem, she wishes He were like her brother because then she could publicly show her affection for Him!
The Steinsaltz Five Megillot Shir HaShirim chapter eight commentary reinforces this. It says “Kissing a brother in public is not considered an undignified act. The young woman yearns to openly display her love for her Beloved in such a natural manner.”
There is a ton to glean out of this one verse alone with regards to the relationship between HaShem and His bride i.e. Israel! Let’s now go into verse number two!
Shir HaShirim 8:2 says “I would lead You, I would bring You to my mother’s Temple for You to teach me as You did in Moses’s Tent, to drink I’d give You spiced libations, wines like pomegranate nectar.”
Here is another verse from Shir HaShirim where we must know and understand the Temple of HaShem in order to fully grasp what He is saying here! What is one of the primary purposes of the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem? Not only is it the Place where His Presence dwells but it’s the place where we go to draw near to HaShem but its the Place we go to learn His Torah!
The Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse says it best “After I find You, my Beloved, I would bring You to the rebuilt Temple so that You can teach me how to serve You, as You did when we were united in the Wilderness. Wine symbolizes the pleasure and stimulation of Torah study, and the large number of seeds in a pomegranate symbolizes the 613 commandments. Thus, Israel declares to its Beloved that when they are reunited in the Temple, the nation will serve Him with alacrity. In exile I cannot serve You properly, but when You redeem me I will bring You the gratification of loyal service.”
The Artscroll Shir HaShirim book commentary on this verse explains “The Targum interprets these words as being addressed to the Messiah in reference to the time of Redemption ‘I will lead you, O King Messiah, and bring you up to my Temple; and you will teach me to fear the Master, and to walk in His way. There we will partake of a feast of Leviathan, and drink old wine which has been preserved in the grape since the days of Creation, and eat of pomegranates and fruits which have been prepared for the righteous in the Garden of Eden.‘” Wine is symbolic of the Torah
Now what must be understood is there was a twice daily wine libation (Nesachim) which was offered at the same time the two daily Tamid korbonot were offered, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. These daily Tamid korbonot were lambs which were designated as being an Communal Olah Korbonot (Burnt) offerings in that these korbonot were not eaten but were wholly burnt on the Mizbe’ach (Altar) as a pleasing aroma unto HaShem!
The Wine Libation was very specific according to the Torah of HaShem! Per Numbers 28:7 it says “And its libation is a quarter hin for the one lamb, to be poured on the holy Mizbe’ach (Altar), an intoxicating libation for HaShem.” The wine was poured by a kohen onto the top of the Mizbe’ach and drained into the Shissin, an open space beneath the Mizbe’ach, where it collected for many years and eventually congealed.
Tractate Sukkah 49a from the Talmud Bavli says “There was a small gap between the ramp and the altar west of the ramp, and once in seventy years young kohanim would descend there and gather from there congealed wine left over from the libations that set over time, which resembled round cakes of dried and pressed figs. They would then come and burn it in sanctity in the Temple courtyard, as it is stated ‘In sanctity shall you pour a libation of strong drink unto the Master’ per Numbers 28:7.”
Per Rambam Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 2.11 from the Mishneh Torah, it says “There were two holes in the southwest corner of the Altar’s base resembling two thin nostrils. They were called Shittin. The blood which was poured onto the Altar would run off through them and be mixed together in the drainage canal in that corner. From there, it would flow out to the Kidron River. Because of the large amount of blood that would flow into that river, its water was sold as fertilizer.”
I could go on further with more details of this wine libation being offered. Mostly I just want to try and convey to you just how much detail HaShem has inserted into His House and His Services! Moving on.
Again we see the reference to a pomegranate in this verse!
The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 8.1 explains the allegory: “I would give You spiced wine to drink is an allusion to the Mishnayos i.e. the foundation of the Oral Torah. The juice of my pomegranate, this is an allusion to the Aggadic (Allegorical) portions of Torah, whose taste is like that of a pomegranate. Just as one is tempted by the sweetness of a pomegranate, so is he drawn to the pleasantness of Aggadic teachings. Another interpretation likens these elements to the garments of the High Priesthood, as it states regarding the Robe worn by the High Priest, that it was adorned with pairs of a gold bell and a pomegranate per Exodus 28:34.”
Tractate Sanhedrin 37a from the Talmud Bavli further explains “Your temples are like a pomegranate split open, which teaches that even the empty people among you are as full of mitzvot as the pomegranate is full of seeds.” In other words, the pomegranate and its seeds is analogous to the Torah of HaShem!
The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse says “Before the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden, and later when the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and then the Holy Temple existed, there was a resting place for the Shechinah (Divine Presence), on this earth. Man’s sins below make the earth inhospitable to the Divine Presence. The Talmud, Tractate Rosh HaShanah 31a, speaks of the ten travels by HaShem as He left Holy Temple as it was being destroyed. The Shechinah left from its place on the cover of the Ark, and from there to the further reaches of the Temple, to the courtyard, the mountains, and beyond. The Shechinah even waited for six months in the desert; perhaps the Jewish nation would repent and HaShem would not have to remove His Presence. Here, we ask HaShem to return once more, with our commitment to fulfill our role as the beloved nation of HaShem.”
Per Tractate Rosh Hoshanah 31a from the Talmud Bavli it discusses the ten journeys HaShem’s Presence took when departing the Temple as it was being destroyed:
- From the Ark cover to the Cherub
- From one Cherub to the other Cherub
- From the second Cherub to the Threshold of the Sanctuary
- From the Threshold to the Courtyard
- From the Courtyard to the Altar
- From the Altar to the Roof
- From the Roof to the Wall of the Temple Mount
- From the Wall to the city
- From the city to a mountain close to Jerusalem
- From the mountain close to Jerusalem to the Wilderness
- From the Wilderness it ascended and rested in its place in Heaven
Hosea 5:15 says “I will go, I will return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My Face; in their distress they will seek Me.”
Shir HaShirim 8:3 says “Despite my laments in exile, His left hand supports my head and His right hand embraces me in support.”
This statement isn’t so much of Israel expressing her status in exile as it is a message from Israel to the nations of the world who keep mocking and pursuing Israel’s destruction. The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “Know, you nations, although I complain and lament, my Beloved holds my hand and is my support throughout my exile!”
HaShem has not and will not ever let go of His bride, Israel, even in exile among the nations! Rashi comments on this verse and says it very well, he says “Though I have lamented my diminished stature when I am in exile, you nations should not gloat over me, because even in the dire straits, my Beloved does NOT let me fall. He supports me and embraces me.”
Shir HaShirim 8:4 says “I adjure you, O nations destined to ascend to Jerusalem, to what vain purpose do you dare cause hatred or disturb this love while it yet gratifies?”
Here Israel is again warning the nations who constantly attempt to separate Israel from HaShem and the futility in their efforts!
The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary says “Your (The nations) attempts to sway His love from me are in vain for the time will yet come when you yourselves will witness the public manifestation of His love for me, He will cause His Shechinah (Divine Presence) to dwell among me in love and warm embrace (In the Temple in Jerusalem). It is for this reason that I have already adjured you against these futile attempts. I have already acquired His love FOREVER!”
The futility of the nations attempting to separate Israel from HaShem is eternal! The irony is its not HaShem Who separates from Israel, but in reality it is the nations who will ultimately see the truth and realize HaShem’s staunch and unwavering support for Israel is eternal and they in turn repent and turn to HaShem! Then the Temple of HaShem will be what He intended from the beginning, a place of worship for ALL the nations of the world!
The commentary explains further “These verses (Shir HaShirim 8:3-4) describe the period immediately preceding the Redemption, when delivery is imminent and there need no longer be real fear of what harm the nations may plot. The wording of this adjuration is, therefore, different from the earlier adjuration in 2:7 where they are threatened and adjured by gazelles or by hinds of the field. Being so close to Redemption this adjuration carries no threats; its purpose is not to frighten the nations, but to make them know that whatever they plot their efforts to disturb HaShem’s love for Israel are in vain!”
The wording of these verses makes me think there is a subtle connection to Pesach (Passover) in here! Israel is scattered into the world in exile, basically slaves to the world order, an order who absolutely despises HaShem and Israel and would love nothing more than to first separate Israel and then destroy her! In reality it is HaShem Who rescues and redeems Israel just like He did from Egypt and Pharaoh at Pesach!
There is a reference in the commentary concerning these verses here in Shir HaShirim 8 connecting them to Shemot (Exodus) 14:13-14 which says “Moshe said to the people, ‘Do NOT fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of HaShem that He will perform for you today; for as you have seen Egypt today, you shall not see them ever again! HaShem shall make war for you, and you shall remain silent!'”
These two verses here in Shemot are absolutely Pesach verses and what must always be remembered is He reveals the end from the beginning! This is why we observe Pesach each year because if He rescued His people Israel once before, He will do so again!
Shir HaShirim 8:5 says “How worthy she is who rises from the desert bearing Torah and His Presence, clinging to her Beloved! Under Sinai suspended above me, there I roused Your love, there was Your people born a mother to other nations, there she endured the travail of her birth.”
This verse is HaShem and Israel talking to each other. HaShem is saying to Israel “How very worthy she (Israel) is, she who ascended from the desert bearing wonderful gifts from HaShem; there she was raised up spiritually through the giving of the Torah and cleaving to the Shechinah (Presence of HaShem). Her friendship was obvious to all and professing her love for her Beloved while she was still in Exile in Egypt.”
Israel responds in this verse “Seeking HaShem’s love, Israel interrupts and recalls how beneath Mount Sinai, which was suspended over my head like an apple. This is derived from the Midrashic account that HaShem uprooted Mount Sinai and suspended it above their head as it says in Deuteronomy 4:11 ‘And they stood beneath the mountain.'”
What is the significance of HaShem using the term “Born a mother to other nations, there she endured the travail of her birth?” The reference is an allegory to allude to the pain of child birth. “The travails indicate the enmity Israel experienced on the part of the heathen world as a direct result of receiving the Torah and thereby being elevated to its new status and responsibility.”
Tractate Shabbos 89a from the Talmud Bavli explains why Mount Sinai was named ‘Sinai’: “It is because it is a mountain upon which hatred for the nations of the world descended because they did not accept the Torah.” Per the Torah, HaShem offered the nations of the world the Torah, but they refused. He then offered it to Israel and she accepted, thus the nations from that point on have hated Israel!
The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah expounds on this verse and says “Clinging/leaning on her Beloved. It means she who will be relieved of her unresolved questions regarding chapters of Torah, and of the parts of the yoke of her subjugation to foreign kingdoms, in the Messianic Future. Thus, the verse is alluding to the End of Days, when Israel will find the answers to her unanswered questions in Torah matters and will also be relieved of the yoke of her subjugation to foreign kingdoms.”
We can see this verse in Shir HaShirim once again is referencing the End of Days and guess what? Nothing has changed! Replacement Theology Christendom does NOT exist when Messiah will come and rule the world from the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem!
Shir HaShirim 8:6 says “For the sake of my love, place me like a seal on Your heart, like a seal to dedicate Your strength for me, for strong till the death is my love; though their zeal for vengeance is hard as the grave, its flashes are flashes of fire, the flame of Elohim.”
The Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim commentary explains “Israel appeals to her Beloved to recall her former love and seal it on His heart, never to forget it. The seal on the heart represent permanent love; the seal on the arm represents manifestation of that love in actual practice.”
The significance of the statement ‘For strong till the death is my love’ means “My love for You is so strong that I would rather die than give it up. It is because my love is boundless that I ask You to seal me in Your heart, as it were.”
The statement ‘Though their zeal for vengeance is hard as the grave’ this is again referencing how the nations of the world view Israel and their absolute rage and hatred for her which is at its core based upon jealousy! The nations of the world could have accepted the Torah when HaShem offered it to them, but they willfully refused and rejected it, but again when Israel accepted it, they became enraged because they suddenly realized what they gave up! “Its flashes are flashes of fire, the flame of Elohim.” The commentary goes on and says “The flashes of the nations hatred are as torrid and damaging as the flames of Gehinnom.”
A cross reference verse to this verse in Shir HaShirim is Psalms 44:23 which says “Because for Your sake we are killed all day long, we are considered as sheep for slaughter.” Another cross reference is from Lamentations 1:21 “They heard how I sighed, there was non to comfort me. All my enemies heard of my plight and rejoiced, for it was You Who did it. O bring on the day You proclaimed and let them be like me!”
To get into the heart of this verse in Shir HaShirim, let’s look at what the Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary reveals! “Place me like a seal on Your heart. This is a reference to the tefillin worn on the arm. We are asking HaShem to always place us before Him, as the Talmud says per Tractate Berachot 6a, HaShem wears tefillin, as it were. What does it say in the tefillin of HaShem? Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land? When we place tefillin on our arm and on our head, we affirm our love and connection to our Creator; we ask HaShem to reciprocate that intense love for His people, always recognizing our positive qualities.”
So, you may be asking what are Tefillin?
Tefillin consists of two small boxes and a long strap. One box is affixed to the forehead and the other is affixed to the left arm on the upper bicep with the strap being wrapped from the head to the arm: Tefillin Shel Rosh (Head Tefillin) and Tefillin Shel Yad (Arm Tefillin). What is the reason for the Tefillin? Exodus 13:9 says “And it (Tefillin) shall be for you a SIGN on your arm and a reminder between your eyes, so that HaShem’s Torah may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand HaShem removed you from Egypt.” The commentary on this verse says “Our pasuk (Verse) tells us that the purpose of tefillin is for us to have a sign that we are upholding HaShem’s Torah.”
Tractate Menachos 34b from the Talmud Bavli explains further: “Both boxes of the tefillin contain the four scriptural passages which mention the mitzvah of tefillin”:
- Sanctify Me found in Exodus 13:1-10
- And it shall come to pass, when HaShem brings you found in Exodus 13:11-16
- Hear O Israel found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9
- It will be that if you hearken found in Deuteronomy 11:13-21
The Head Tefillin has four compartments each containing one of the four verses (Listed above). The Arm Tefillin has a single compartment and all four verses are placed inside.
Scripture refers to the Head Tefillin three times as ‘Totafos’ which is Hebrew and means ‘Ornamental Headgear’:
- Exodus 13:16
- Deuteronomy 6:8
- Deuteronomy 11:18
Per Tractate Sanhedrin 44a from the Talmud Bavli it says “Tefillin connotes ‘Demonstration’. Since Tefillin demonstrate to the world Israel’s union relationship with HaShem.” Where in the Torah is the command to put on tefillin? It is in the Shema prayer which we pray twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon! The Shema is the foundation of our relationship with HaShem!
The Shema says:
“G-d, trustworthy King. Hear, O Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem, the One and Only. Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity. You shall love HaShem, your G-d, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your resources. Let these matters that I command you today be upon your heart. Teach them thoroughly to your children and speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise. BIND THEM AS A SIGN UPON YOUR ARM AND LET THEM BE TEFILLIN BETWEEN YOUR EYES. And write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.”
“And it will come to pass that if you continually hearken to My commandments that I command you today, to love HaShem, your G-d, and to serve Him, with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will provide rain for your land in its proper time, the early and late rains, that you may gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil. I will provide grass in your field for your cattle and you will eat and be satisfied. Beware lest your heart be seduced and you turn astray and serve gods of others and bow to them. Then the wrath of HaShem will blaze against you. He will restrain the heaven so there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its produce. And you will swiftly be banished from the goodly land which HaShem gives you. PLACE THESE WORDS OF MINE UPON YOUR HEART AND UPON YOUR SOUL; BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON YOUR ARM AND LET THEM BE TEFILLIN BETWEEN YOUR EYES. Teach them to your children, to discuss them, while you sit in your home, while you walk on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates. In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that HaShem has sworn to your ancestors to give them, like the days of the heaven on the earth.”
“And HaShem said to Moshe saying ‘Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them that they are to make themselves tzitzis (Fringes) on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations. And they are to place upon the tzitzit of each corner a thread of techeiles (Sky blue wool dyed thread). And it shall constitute tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of HaShem and perform them; and not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray. So, that you may remember and perform all My commandments; and be holy to your G-d. I am HaShem, your G-d, Who has removed you from the land of Egypt to be a G-d to you. I am HaShem your G-d, it is true.”
“And certain, established and enduring, fair and faithful, beloved and cherished, delightful and pleasant, awesome and powerful, correct and accepted, good and beautiful is this affirmation to us forever and ever. True the G-d of the universe is our King; the Rock of Jacob is the Shield of our salvation. From generation to generation He endures and His Name endures and His throne is well established; His sovereignty and faithfulness endure forever. His words are living and enduring, faithful and delightful forever and to all eternity; for our forefathers and for us, for our children and for our generations, and for all the generations of Your servant Israel’s offspring.”
“Upon the earlier and upon later generations, this affirmation is good and enduring forever. True and faithful, it is an unbreachable decree. It is true that You are HaShem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, our King and the King of our forefathers, our Redeemer, the Redeemer of our forefathers; our Molder, the Rock of our salvation; our Liberator and our Rescuer, this has ever been Your Name. There is no G-d but You.”
What some may not know is Yeshua Himself adhered to The Shema as we see in the Apostolic Writings! Matthew 22:36-40 says “Rabbi, which is the great command in the Torah? And Yeshua said to him, ‘You shall love HaShem your Elohim with all your heart, and will 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.” Yeshua is quoting The Shema which as you can see twice HaShem instructs us to wear tefillin! This means Yeshua not only prayed The Shema twice a day, but He also wore tefillin and tzitzit as HaShem commands! Quite a bit different from all the pictures Christendom has created over the centuries of this effeminate, long haired, white, pasty faced, blue eyed young guy wearing Roman senatorial garments with a red or blue sash? I digress.
So, the seal being spoken of here in Shir HaShirim 8:6 is referencing the Tefillin which both HaShem and His bride wear to demonstrate to the world Israel belongs to HaShem! Could it be something akin to a wedding ring? The wedding ring is to demonstrate to the world this person is in covenant relationship with another and is off limits. The Torah of HaShem is the marriage covenant between Him and Israel and the Tefillin is the wedding ring per se. And HaShem says they are eternal! This all said, when someone comes along and tries to tell you Christendom’s Jesus ended the Torah, changed the Feasts and destroyed the Temple, only one character in the Bible does those things i.e. the Man of Lawlessness or the Man Without the Torah AKA the False Messiah! Keep this in mind!
Shir HaShirim 8:7 says “Many waters of heathen tribulation cannot extinguish the fire of this love, nor rivers of royal seduction or torture wash it away. Were any man to offer the treasure of his home to entice you (Israel) from your Love (HaShem), they would scorn him to extreme.”
This verse is even more important today as I put this together as Israel is currently in the midst of fighting its two front war against Hamas and Hezbollah and in addition to the combat, Israel is being pressured by America to end the war or face economic and defense consequences! Again, the rest of the world is crashing down on Israel to try and separate her from HaShem and what do these verses here in Shir HaShirim keep reiterating? These nations WILL absolutely fail in their agenda to separate Israel from HaShem!
Consider what the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah commentary on this verse says: “The verse employs two seemingly similar metaphors – that of the many waters attempting to extinguish the love between Israel and HaShem, and that of the rivers seeking to wash it away. There is a significant difference between them. It is the nature of water to extinguish fire, so if a fire is exposed to a sufficient amount of water the fire will go out. But the river’s ability to wash away that which is in its path is not an inherent quality of its water. Still water can be quite gentle; it is the mighty force of the river’s flow that makes it destructive. Hence, many waters, represents the idolatrous nations, for as it is a rule of nature that water extinguishes fire, it is also a rule of nature that man is influenced by his environment. When the Jews are in exile, living among idolaters, it would only be natural that they be affected by the behavior of their neighbors. One would expect that in the course of time their devotion to HaShem would dampen and that eventually they would abandon their faith. But the verse tells us otherwise. The love between Israel and HaShem is so powerful and so intense that despite centuries of exile among the many waters of the nations, that love will not be extinguished and Israel will remain steadfast in her faith.”
“The oppressive kingdoms, the rivers, present a different kind of threat. They do not rely on natural processes taking their toll on the Jewish people’s loyalty to HaShem and His Torah. Rather they seek to use their overpowering force to coerce Israel to forsake HaShem. They employ persecutions and pogroms, threats of imprisonments and of death, in their attempts to convince the Jews to give up their religion. Yet the verse tells us that they too will prove unsuccessful. Israel’s love of HaShem is so strong that the mighty rivers with all their persecutions will not be able to wash it away, for Israel would rather face death than be disloyal to HaShem!”
“The three clauses in the verse correspond to the characterizations of the love one should have for HaShem as delineated in the first passage of The Shema i.e. You shall love HaShem, your Elohim, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources, per Deuteronomy 6:5. Loving HaShem with all your heart means with an intense and overwhelming love. That corresponds to, many waters cannot extinguish the love, for a love that is truly strong and intense will prove immune to the influences of the many waters of the nations. With all your soul means one should be willing to give up his soul, i.e. life, for his love of HaShem. That corresponds to, and rivers cannot wash it away, for it was such fierce devotion to HaShem that allowed the Jewish people to resist the persecutions of the rivers. The verse concludes, if a man would give all the substance of his house in exchange for the love, he would surely scorn it. That corresponds to the final aspect mentioned in The Shema, to love HaShem, with all your resources, meaning that one should be willing to surrender all his financial resources, all his earthy possessions, for the sake of HaShem.”
How very important is this understanding for us today in the midst of a world erupting not only into hostility towards the Jews and Israel, but also the attempts and agendas of the nations to coerce and entice Israel away from HaShem? We, now more than ever, must understand this for our own lives because it is a fact, all of us, will at one point or another, face being persecuted, threatened and/or coerced and enticed to walk away from HaShem and His Torah!
There are two cross reference verses from Isaiah 17 which connects here to our verse in Shir HaShirirm. These cross reference verses say from 12-13 “Woe to the tumult of the many nations, who are as tumultuous as the tumult of the seas; and to the uproar of the nations, who roar like the uproar of powerful waters. Nations roar like the roar of many waters, but He will rebuke them and they will flee far away; they will be pursued like the chaff of mountains before the wind, and like pollen before a stormy wind.”
Shir HaShirim 8:8 says “Israel desires to cleave to us, the small and humble one, but her time of spiritual maturity has not come. What shall we do for our cleaving one on the day the nations plot against her?”
The glaring question we must ask and answer in this verse is who or what is the reference to ‘Israel desires to cleave to US?’ The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse points to a term referred to as ‘The Heavenly Tribunal.’
Daniel 7:9-10 says the following “I watched till thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days sat, His garment white as snow, and the hair of His head like clean wool; His throne fiery flames, its wheels blazing fire; a stream of fire flowing forth from before Him, a thousand thousands serving Him and myriad myriads standing before Him, the judgement was set, and the books were opened.” The term ‘The books were opened’ is a direct reference to the Fall Biblical Feast of HaShem Rosh HaShanah when the three books are opened and examined by HaShem and His tribunal to determine where each living person on earth, according to their deeds will have their names sealed in on Yom Kippur. On a side note its interesting as the Book of Revelation in the Apostolic Writings, chapter 4 discusses the 24 Elders, sitting on 24 thrones around the Throne of HaShem! Keep this in mind!
The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim translation of this verse is very interesting! This translation says “We have a little sister who has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?” The commentary explains “In the lower realms, who is united and joined and desirous to be with us, and she is small and humbles herself more than all the other nations, as it is stated per Deuteronomy 7:7 ‘Not because you are more numerous, etc’ for you are the smallest of all the peoples.”
Referring to Israel as a ‘Sister’ is a Hebrew expression of ‘Joining together, stitch’. For further reference, I have previously addressed this issue in my Shir HaShirim Chapter 5 Op. An excerpt states the following:
So, why does HaShem refer to Israel as His ‘Sister’ or His ‘Bride’? Per the Shir HaShirirm Midrash Rabbah it tells us HaShem refers to Israel as His sister because Israel clung unto HaShem during the exile. He refers to Israel as His bride because Israel was decimated for Him while in exile and quotes Psalms 44:23 which says “Because for Your sake we are killed all day long, we are considered as sheep for slaughter.” In the Messianic future HaShem will refer to Israel as His sister because Israel will be fully attached to Him. He will refer to Israel as His bride because of Lamentations 2:15 which says “All who pass along the way clap hands at you; they whistle and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, ‘Could this be the city that was called Perfect in Beauty, Joy of All the Earth?’” The nations here realize how incredibly destructive for the world it was for them to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem and had they known just how destructive it was going to be, they wouldn’t have done so.
What is very interesting is the Midrash again discusses this verse and explains another aspect of HaShem’s relationship to Israel. It says “When HaShem divided mankind into seventy nations in the generation of Dispersion, He drew lots by which each of the seventy angels surrounding His Throne of Glory was assigned to become the celestial prince of one of the newly created nationalities, WHEREAS HASHEM HIMSELF WOULD CONTROL ISRAEL.”
So, each nation has an angelic prince assigned to watch over it in accordance with HaShem’s decrees but Israel itself is watched over by HaShem Himself! Another reason why the world is so infuriated by Israel and seeks to destroy it at every chance it can get!
The reference here in this verse to Israel being likened to a sister with no breasts, is an allegory to denote Israel is not yet spiritually mature. The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse explains further and says “Ramban interprets this phrase as ‘She (Israel) is bereft of her source of nourishment for she has been exiled from the Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel), the Land of Life, separated from the place of Torah, as it says per Isaiah 2:3 ‘For Torah shall go forth from Zion,’ whereas in Exile, Scripture says per II Chronicles 15:3 ‘For a long time Israel had been without the true Elohim, and without a teaching priest, and without Torah.’ She presently has no great leaders, like Moshe or Aaron to fend for her.”
But I would point out HaShem IS awakening His people and they are repenting and returning to Him and His Torah! They are realizing, through His help, all we had inherited i.e. our religious upbringing, etc, was all idolatry and completely useless! Then we grab onto His Torah, just a tiny drop of water size amount and we suddenly realize the difference and realize HaShem Himself and His Torah are the truth and is the life we have been searching for! Then we can truly see Messiah Yeshua for Who He truly is! I digress.
The commentary continues and says “How will we comport ourselves toward her when the nations plot against her and she seeks our protection? As Rashi explains, when the heathens murmur against her to cut her off as it is written per Psalms 83:5 ‘They say, come let us destroy them as a nation.’ By what means can we sustain her and give her hope while in Exile? This verse echoes the words of the Jews who, upon reflecting upon the promise of imminent Redemption are concerned about the fate of their brethren, the ten tribes still scattered about the countries of their captivity. The ten tribes, quite unprepared for Redemption, had not had leaders and prophets to nourish them with the milk of wisdom of Torah. By what merit Israel asks, will they become deserving of Your deliverance at the pre destined time? All depends upon how they comport themselves and answers the question in verse nine.”
Shir HaShirim 8:9 says “If her faith and belief are strong as a wall withstanding incursions from without, we shall become her fortress and beauty; building her City and Holy Temple; but if she wavers like a door, succumbing to every alien knock, with fragile cedar panels, shall then enclose her.”
This is a very interesting verse when we examine it deeper! The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary expounds and says “If Israel will gird herself with faith and act toward the nations as if fortified with walls of brass per Jeremiah 1:18, which they cannot infiltrate i.e. if she will neither intermarry nor intermingle with the nations. Then we will build upon her a turret of silver i.e. we will become unto her a fortified city, a crown and adornment, and we will rebuilt the Holy City (Jerusalem) and Temple. But if she be a door which revolves on its hinges and opens whenever someone knocks. Similarly, if her conduct is such that she is open to all blandishments, then, we will enclose her with panels of cedar i.e. rather than fortifying her with non corroding silver, we will line her doors with wood panels which rot and are eaten away thus leaving her exposed to danger and pillaging.”
So, we see if Israel’s commitment, affection and loyalty is to HaShem and His Torah, He will protect and fortify her from outside influences and corruption. But, if she doesn’t remain committed and loyal to HaShem and His Torah, and opens up for everyone and acts like the nations, then His protection will not be in place and she will be pillaged and torn asunder! She will remain exiled if she conducts herself as the commentary says ‘licentiously‘.
The Illuminated Shir HaShirim says “What is the proof that the Jewish nation has remained steadfast and resolute, preparing itself for the Final Redemption and not succumbing to the entreaties of the heathen nations? The test will be her faith, the emunah in HaShem and His Torah, the ability to be a firm wall, impervious to the attacks and the enticements that hoped to distance us from our Beloved. If we have demonstrated our faithfulness by not intermingling with the other nations, by yearning and longing to return, then HaShem will build upon her a silver crown, the Holy Temple. HaShem looked to see how we presented ourselves during the exile; strong and resolute like a wall, or weak and frail, unable to withstand the onslaught of the nations.”
Shir HaShirim 8:10 says “(Israel speaking) “My faith is firm as a wall, and my nourishing synagogues and study halls are strong as towers! Then, having said so, I became in His eyes like a bride found perfect.”
The commentary explains this verse very well. Remember this is all an allegory! It says “I comport myself (Israel) not like the door, but like the wall You mentioned, strong, in the love of my Beloved, and though You thought me not ripe for Redemption, know that I am quite ripe. My bosom i.e. my synagogues and my study houses, which nurture Israel with words of Torah, are like towers i.e. fortifying and serving as towers of strength for all.”
“I am strong as a wall in the performance of the Torah’s precepts, and my sons are stout as a tower. Then will the Assembly find favor in the eyes of HaShem, and all the inhabitants of the earth shall seek her welfare. Homiletically, the Talmud comments: ‘I am a wall, refers to the Torah which protects Israel like a wall; my bosom is like towers which refers to scholars who nurture the people of Israel their Torah wisdom.'”
An excerpt from Tractate Pesachim 87a in the Talmud Bavli says “I am a wall and my breasts are like towers. Rabbi Yohanan said: ‘I am a wall’; this is a reference to the Torah. ‘And my breasts are like towers’; these are the Torah scholars, who, by disseminating their Torah and influencing the masses protect them like watchtowers. And Rava said, ‘I am a wall’; this is the Congregation of Israel. ‘And my breasts are like towers’; these are the synagogues and study halls in which the Congregation of Israel is nurtured by the Torah, from which it draws its spiritual strength.”
On a side note, consider the current state of the nation of Israel today, in June 2024 (As I input this section). Israel is currently engaged in a seven front war against Iran and all of their allies. The effect is Israel is more united than ever before and many Israelis are now turning to HaShem and returning to His Torah! Keep this in mind!
Here is an excerpt from the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah on this verse. The note is very interesting because it expounds concerning the End of Days with the following thought “If you see an abundance of Babylonians and Persians ascending to the Land of Israel for battle, know that the Messiah’s arrival is imminent.” Consider today with the war raging in Israel on seven fronts there is Persia i.e. Iran and all their allies attempting to slaughter and annihilate Israel, and there is Babylon i.e. America and her allies also operating in Israel. While America isn’t outright fighting against Israel, it is diplomatically friendly with Persia and working against Israel via diplomacy and economically! Is it then possible this is another indicator Messiah’s arrival is imminent? Again, keep this in mind!
Shir HaShirim 8:11 says “Israel was Shlomo’s (Solomon’s) vineyard in populous Jerusalem. He gave His vineyard to harsh, cruel guardians; each one came to extort his fruit, even a thousand silver pieces.”
This verse is Israel reminiscing on the circumstances of her current plight while in exile. The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary expounds on this verse and says “Rashi explains that vineyard is an allusion to Israel, as in the verse per Isaiah 5:7 ‘For the vineyard of HaShem of Hosts is the House of Israel.'”
Throughout history, there have been four major world powers which have subjugated Israel under harsh rulership i.e. Babylon, Media, Greece and the most fiercest of all was Edom. Babylon destroyed the First Temple and it was Edom who destroyed the Second Temple. We still see the effects of Edom’s cruel rulership today! But in order to explain this we need to see just who is Edom!
Per the Jewish Encyclopedia Edom is defined as being Rome i.e. the Roman Empire, i.e. the birthplace of Christianity! It is a fact Christendom has been the most fierce, cruel and vile subjugators of Israel over the last several thousand years! I digress!
Lamentations 4:21 says “Rejoice and exult, O daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz; to you, too, will the cup pass, you will become drunk and you will vomit.” This verse is an almost sarcastic statement made towards Edom as if to say “Rejoice while you can because you will not escape punishment for your sins.”
Psalms 137:7 says “Remember, HaShem, for the offspring of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, for those who say ‘Destroy! Destroy! to its very foundation.'” Per the commentary from the Artscroll Psalms book on this verse, it explains “The day of Jerusalem is the day of its destruction…..The First Temple was not completely destroyed; the Babylonians merely burned the roof, leaving the walls intact. The Second Temple, however, was razed to its very foundation. The fact the destruction of the Second Temple was more extensive proves that the people’s iniquity was more extensive.”
There is a Midrashic parable which further explains this Shir HaShirim verse. It says “HaShem is here likened to a King Who was angry with his son and handed him over to his servant. The latter (Servant) thereupon began beating the son with a tick, saying, ‘Don’t listen to your Father.’ The son said to him ‘Stupid fool! The only reason why my Father handed me over to you was because I did not obey Him and you say to me ‘Don’t listen to your Father!’ So, too, when in consequence of Israel’s iniquities the Temple was destroyed and the children of Israel were exiled to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Do not listen to the Law of your Father in Heaven, but you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made.’ The Jews said to him, ‘Stupid fool!’ The only reason why HaShem has delivered us into your hand is because we bowed down to an image, and you say to us, ‘Fall down and worship the image which I have made!’ Woe to that man! Thereupon HaShem said, ‘My vineyard which is Mine, is before Me.’ i.e. My nation is again before Me, and speaks up in defense of Our love!”
Keep all this in mind as it will lead into the next verse!
Shir HaShirim 8:12 says “(HaShem speaking) The vineyard is Mine! Your iniquities are before Me! The thousand silver pieces are Yours, Shlomo, and two hundred more to the Sages who guarded the fruit of Torah from our designs.”
This verse is even more relevant to us today in 2024 as the world piles judgment and rejection upon Israel as it is currently engaged in a seven front war for their very survival. The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this states “HaShem will NOT forever countenance this injustice. On the Day of Judgment, He will proclaim to the nations ‘My vineyard (Israel) is Mine, is before Me! Although I transferred it to you (The exile), it is nevertheless Mine. I am the sole Owner. All the injustices you perpetrated by plucking their fruit for yourselves are before Me; nothing that you have filched from them eludes Me.'”
What is the significance of the one thousand pieces of silver and two hundred more added? Again we have to know the Torah of HaShem because He established in Leviticus 27:27 and I will quote the commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirirm book which says “One who benefits unjustly from consecrated property must repay the principal plus a penalty of an additional fifth. Israel is consecrated to HaShem and per Jeremiah 2:3 ‘All that devour it shall be held guilty’, and hence the nations are making the gesture of returning the principal i.e. the thousand pieces of silver they are accused of filching plus an additional fifth of two hundred.” Remember this Shir HaShirim verse is speaking of the very end of days and we see the Torah is still in place and has not been tossed aside as Replacement Theology Christendom teaches because of the Halachah (The rulings of the Sanhedrin on how to walk in the Torah) are still being observed and in place as proof HaShem is directing the nations restore to Israel what they stole and add a fifth! His Torah is forever!!! Baruch HaShem!
The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary explains further and says “My vineyard which is Mine is before Me for on the day of judgement, the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring them (The nations) to justice, and He will say, ‘My vineyard, even though I delivered it into your hands, is Mine, and before Me is all that you seized for yourselves, its fruit. And that which you collected from them is not hidden from Me.’ And they (The nations) will say ‘You, O Solomon, shall have the thousand, ‘The thousand pieces of silver that we collected from them, we will return everything to You.’ And those who watch its fruit, two hundred, and we will add much more of our own, and we will give it to them, to their heads and their sages, as it is stated in Isaiah 60:17 ‘Instead of copper I will bring gold.’ Who watch its fruit, these are the Torah scholars, and those payments are for the Torah scholars, as it is stated per Isaiah 23:18 ‘But those who sit before the Master shall have her commerce’ and her hire, i.e. that of Tyre. And it can also be explained and two hundred for those who watch its fruit according to the law of a person who derives benefit from consecrated objects, who pays the principal and a fifth. We too will pay for per Jeremiah 2:3 ‘Israel is holy to the Master, the first of His grain,’ the principal and a fifth, a fifth of the principal, and two hundred is a fifth of a thousand.”
The Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim commentary further explains “HaShem will not forever tolerate the persecution of His people. When the Day of Judgment arrives, He now admonishes His enemies ‘The vineyard is Mine! Your iniquities are before Me!’ Although I gave you mastery over My children, they remained Mine. I am aware of your depredations and everything you stole from them.”
Now more than ever we need to see this with the whole world turning against Israel today in 2024!! HaShem knows exactly what is happening and He WILL exact justice at the time of the Final Redemption!
Shir HaShirim 8:13 says “(HaShem speaking) O My beloved dwelling in far flung gardens, your fellows, the angels hearken to your voice of Torah and prayer. Let Me hear it that they may then sanctify Me.”
Again we see HaShem speaking to His bride i.e. Israel. The commentary explains “You who are dispersed (Exiled) in the Diaspora, tending the gardens of others, and who dwell in the synagogues and study houses. The Ministering Angels your companions hearken, and congregate to listen to your voice i.e. prayers and sound of Torah study in your synagogues.”
What do we see once again with regard to the Torah of HaShem? It is still the Ketubah i.e. the marriage contract between HaShem and His bride Israel! Keep this in mind as we continue!
“Let Me hear it, for after you are finished, they will commence to sanctify Me. As the Midrash comments it is written per Job 38:7 ‘When the morning stars sang together’, this refers to Israel; and only after that ‘And all the sons of HaShem’ shout for joy, this refers to the Ministering Angels. This is in consonance with the Talmud which states ‘Israel is dearer to HaShem than the Ministering Angels, for the Ministering Angels do not begin to sing praises in heaven until Israel has sung below in earth per Tractate Chullin 91b.”
The Illuminated Shir HaShirirm records a parable for this verse and it states “A king was angry at his servants and ordered that they be incarcerated. He took his officers and other servants to listen to the statements of those whom he had put in jail. He heard them saying ‘Our master, the king, we praise him, for he is our life. May we never be deprived of our master, the king!’ The king, obviously pleased with what he heard, asked the imprisoned servants to raise their voices, to let their other friends hear it as well. The Jewish people are downtrodden and weary during the days of the week, yet come to the synagogues and study halls on Shabbat. They raise their voices in praise to HaShem, unified in their thoughts and deeds. HaShem, as it were, calls the ministering angels who sit in the heavenly gardens to hear their praise.”
The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah gives more insight and says “The Midrash implies that when there is dissension among the Jews, the ministering angels condemn them for not involving themselves in the Torah. This is hard to understand. Even if a community is weak in the area of neighborly relations, it could well be very strong in other areas of Torah life. Why should its divisiveness, though admittedly sinful and destructive be tantamount to a wholesale abandonment of HaShem’s Torah? To answer this question, we need to understand that shalom, peaceful relations and harmonious cooperation lies at the heart of HaShem’s prescription for human life. A failure to maintain shalom is not an isolated flaw in our spiritual development; it frustrates HaShem’s primary aim in giving us the Torah.”
“Great is shalom’, writes Rambam in a homiletic digression in his Mishneh Torah, for the entire Torah was given in order to make shalom in the world, as it is written in Proverbs 3:17 ‘Its (Torah’s) ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its pathways are peace.'”
So, again we see, toss out the Torah of HaShem and everything goes into instant chaos and destruction! Another shining example of why Replacement Theology Christendom is NOT of HaShem! The Church is NOT the bride! It is impossible!
Shir HaShirim 8:14 says “(Israel speaking) Flee, my Beloved, from our common Exile and be like a gazelle or a young hart in Your swiftness to redeem and rest Your Presence among us on the fragrant Mount Moriah, site of Your Temple.”
We have finally reached the end of this very long study as this is the final verse of the entire book of Shir HaShirim!!! Look at this verse very closely as it is Israel, the Bride, speaking to HaShem, her Beloved, and she is imploring Him to come out of the Exile with her as He has been with her in the entire Exile and to return to Jerusalem, the Temple Mount i.e. Mount Moriah and rebuild His Temple! Remember the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem is the fullest expression of the marriage relationship between HaShem and His bride Israel! The rebuilt Temple is NOT demonic, satanic, or solely for the False Messiah as Christendom likes to teach. The Temple of HaShem is His House and His dwelling place on earth! I digress.
The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary explains further “Who has accompanied us throughout every exile! And let us leave this Exile together and hasten the Redemption and cause Your Shechinah to abide among us. Mount Moriah and the Holy Temple, may it be rebuilt speedily in our days!”
The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah sums it up with the following Midrash “The message of this verse is analogous to a king who made a feast and invited the guests. Some of the guests were eating and drinking and blessing the king, but some of them were eating and drinking and cursing the king. The king discerned what this second group was doing and sought to introduce a commotion among them during his feast and to disturb it. A noblewoman entered and offered defense of the unruly guests; she said to the king, ‘My master the king, before you look upon the ones who are eating and drinking and cursing you, look upon the ones who are eating and drinking and blessing you and praising your name!’ Similarly, when the people of Israel eat and drink and bless, praise, and acclaim the Holy One, blessed is He, He listens to their voice and He is appeased. But when the nations of the world eat and drink and blaspheme and insult the Holy One, blessed is He, with the matters of sexual immorality that they discuss, at that time, the Holy One, blessed is He, contemplates even destroying His world. And the Torah enters and offers defense and says, ‘Master of the Universe, before You look at those who blaspheme and cause anger before You, look at the people of Israel, who bless, praise, and acclaim Your great Name through Torah, through songs, and through hymns!’ And the Divine Spirit i.e. the Torah cries out to HaShem, ‘Flee, my Beloved, meaning, flee from the nations of the world and cling to the people of Israel!'”
I hope throughout this entire study of these eight chapters, you can clearly see HaShem is absolutely and completely committed to Israel? He has NOT tossed Israel aside and He certainly hasn’t replaced Israel with a Torahless entity such as the Church! He remains the same and His Word is firmly established and will never pass away!
I want to add this one final prayer which is recited after reading and studying Shir HaShirim for your consideration on how important this Book is in relation to the rest of Scripture! Remember, Shir HaShirim is the Holy of Holies of the entire Scripture!
“Master of the Worlds, may it be the will before You, HaShem, my Elohim and the Elohim of my forefathers, that in the merit of Shir HaShirim which I read and learned, which is Holy of Holies, in the merit of its verses, and in the merit of its words, and in the merit of its letters, and in the merit of its vowels, and in the merit of its cantillations, and in the merit of its Names and combinations and allusions and holy secrets, pure and awesome, which emanate from it, that this hour be an hour of mercy, an hour of attentiveness and listening, that we may call out to You and be answered; that we may beseech You and You may respond to us. May our reading and learning of Shir HaShirim ascend before You, as though we had achieved all of its wondrous and awesome secrets which are sealed in it, in all its conditions. May we merit to reach the place from where the souls are hewn, as if we have done all that it is incumbent upon us to achieve, whether in this incarnation or in another one. May we be among those who ascend and merit the World to Come, with other righteous and pious individuals. Fulfill all the desires of our hearts for goodness, and may You be with our hearts and the utterances of our mouths at the time of our thoughts, and with our hands at the time of our efforts. May You send blessing and success and expansiveness in all the works of our hands, and raise us up from the dust and exalt us from the ash heaps of our poverty, and return Your Divine Presence to Your Holy City, speedily and in our days, Amen!”
Shalom and may it be so very soon in our days!!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
- The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
- Song of Songs by Artscroll
- The Milstein Edition Jeremiah by Artscroll
- Tehillim by Artscroll
- The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
- The Milstein Edition Shemot of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
- The Milstein Edition Vayikra of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
- The Milstein Edition Bamidbar of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
- The Milstein Edition Devarim of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
- The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov
- Tractate Menachot, Kehati Mishnah
- The Early Prophets Joshua/Judges by Artscroll
- The Book of Ruth by Artscroll
