| 1"I am a rose of Sharon, a rose of the valleys." |
|
אאֲנִי֙ חֲבַצֶּ֣לֶת הַשָּׁר֔וֹן שֽׁוֹשַׁנַּ֖ת הָֽעֲמָקִֽים: |
| a rose: Heb. חֲבַצֶלֶת. This is a rose (שּׁוֹשַׁנָה). |
|
חֲבַצֶּלֶת:
הִיא שׁוֹשַׁנָּה:
|
| a rose of the valleys: This is prettier than the rose of the mountains because it is always moist, since the sun has no strength there. |
|
שׁוֹשַׁנַּת הָעֲמָקִים:
נָאָה מִשּׁוֹשַׁנַּת הֶהָרִים לְפִי שֶׁמַּרְטֶבֶת תָּמִיד, שֶׁאֵין כֹּחַ הַחַמָּה שׁוֹלֵט שָׁם:
|
| 2"As a rose among the thorns, so is my beloved among the daughters." |
|
בכְּשֽׁוֹשַׁנָּה֙ בֵּ֣ין הַֽחוֹחִ֔ים כֵּ֥ן רַעְיָתִ֖י בֵּ֥ין הַבָּנֽוֹת: |
| As a rose among the thorns: which pierce it, but it remains constant in its beauty and its redness, so is my beloved among the daughters. They entice her to pursue them to stray like them after strange gods, but she remains firm in her faith. |
|
כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה בֵּין הַחוֹחִים:
שֶׁמְּנַקְּבִין אוֹתָהּ, וְתָמִיד הִיא עוֹמֶדֶת בְּנוֹיָהּ וְאַדְמִימוּתָהּ, "כֵּן רַעְיָתִי בֵּין הַבָּנוֹת", מְפַתּוֹת אוֹתָהּ לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם לִזְנוֹת כְּמוֹתָם אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, וְהִיא עוֹמֶדֶת בֶּאֱמוּנָתָהּ:
|
| 3"As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons; in his shade I delighted and sat, and his fruit was sweet to my palate. |
|
גכְּתַפּ֨וּחַ֙ בַּֽעֲצֵ֣י הַיַּ֔עַר כֵּ֥ן דּוֹדִ֖י בֵּ֣ין הַבָּנִ֑ים בְּצִלּוֹ֙ חִמַּ֣דְתִּי וְיָשַׁ֔בְתִּי וּפִרְי֖וֹ מָת֥וֹק לְחִכִּֽי: |
| As an apple tree among the trees of the forest: When an apple tree is among trees that do not bear fruit, it is more beloved than them all, for its fruit is good in both taste and fragrance. |
|
כְּתַפּוּחַ:
אִילָן שֶׁל תַּפּוּחִים, כְּשֶׁהוּא בֵּין אִילָנֵי סְרָק, הוּא חָבִיב מִן כֻּלָּן, שֶׁפִּרְיוֹ טוֹב בְּטַעַם וּבְרֵיחַ:
|
| so is my beloved among the sons: among the young men. The allegory is that so is the Holy One, blessed be He, chosen above all the gods. Therefore, in His shade I delighted and sat. The Midrash Aggadah (Song Rabbah), [states]: This apple tree-all flee from it because it has no shade. So did all the nations flee from the Holy One, blessed be He, at the giving of the Torah, but I in His shade I delighted and sat. |
|
כֵּן דּוֹדִי בֵּין הַבָּנִים:
בֵּין הַבַּחוּרִים. הַדֻּגְמָא: כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִכָּל הָאֱלֹהִים נִבְחָר. לְפִיכָךְ, "בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי". וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: הַתַּפּוּחַ הַזֶּה, הַכֹּל בּוֹרְחִים הֵימֶנּוּ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ צֵל. כָּךְ בָּרְחוּ כָל הָאֻמּוֹת מֵעַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמַתַּן תּוֹרָה, אֲבָל אֲנִי, "בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי":
|
| 4He brought me to the banquet hall, and his attraction to me [was symbolic of his] love. |
|
דהֱבִיאַ֨נִי֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַיָּ֔יִן וְדִגְל֥וֹ עָלַ֖י אַֽהֲבָֽה: |
| He brought me to the banquet hall: The Tent of Meeting, where the details and the explanations of the Torah were given. |
|
אֶל בֵּית הַיָּיִן:
אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד שֶׁשָּׁם נִתְּנוּ פְרָטֶיהָ וּבֵאוּרֶיהָ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה:
|
| and his attraction to me [was symbolic of his] love: And his gathering, that he gathered me to him, that was love to me. I still remember his love. וְדִגְלוֹ is attrait in French. |
|
וְדִגְלוֹ עָלַי אַהֲבָה:
וּקְבוּצָתוֹ שֶׁדְּגָלַנִי אֵלָיו, אַהֲבָה הִיא עָלַי, עוֹדֶנִּי זוֹכֶרֶת אַהֲבָתוֹ. וְדִגְלוֹ אטר"ייט בְּלַעַ"ז:
|
| 5Sustain me with flagons of wine, spread my bed with apples, for I am lovesick. |
|
הסַמְּכ֨וּנִי֙ בָּֽאֲשִׁישׁ֔וֹת רַפְּד֖וּנִי בַּתַּפּוּחִ֑ים כִּֽי־חוֹלַ֥ת אַֽהֲבָ֖ה אָֽנִי: |
| Sustain me: now as is the manner of the sick, with flagons of grape wine or with cakes of pure white flour. |
|
סַמְּכוּנִי:
עַתָּה, כְּמִדַּת הַחוֹלִים, בַּאֲשִׁישֵׁי עֲנָבִים אוֹ בַאֲשִׁישׁוֹת סֹלֶת נְקִיָּה:
|
| spread my bed: Spread my bed around me with apples for a good fragrance, in the manner of the sick, for I am sick for his love, for I thirst for Him here in my exile. רְפִידָה is an expression of a couch, like (Job 41:22): “where he lies (יִרְפַּד) is gold upon the mire.” |
|
רַפְּדוּנִי:
רַפְּדוּ רְפִידָתִי סְבִיבוֹתַי בַּתַּפּוּחִים לְרֵיחַ טוֹב, כְּדֶרֶךְ הַחוֹלִים, כִּי חוֹלָה אֲנִי לְאַהֲבָתוֹ, כִּי צָמֵאתִי לוֹ פֹה בְגָלוּתִי. רְפִידָה לְשׁוֹן מַצָּע הִיא, כְּמוֹ "יִרְפַּד חָרוּץ עֲלֵי טִיט":
|
| 6His left hand was under my head, and his right hand would embrace me. |
|
ושְׂמֹאלוֹ֙ תַּ֣חַת לְרֹאשִׁ֔י וִֽימִינ֖וֹ תְּחַבְּקֵֽנִי: |
| His left hand was under my head: in the desert. |
|
שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי:
בַּמִּדְבָּר:
|
| and his right hand would embrace me: He traveled a three-days’ journey; to search out a rest for them [as in Num. 10:33], and in the place of the rest, He brought down manna and quails for them. All this I remember now in my exile, and I am sick for His love. |
|
וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי:
דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים נוֹסֵעַ לָתוּר לָהֶם מְנוּחָה, וּבִמְקוֹם הַמְנוּחָה מוֹרִיד לָהֶם מָן וּשְׂלָיו. כָּל זֶה אֲנִי זוֹכֶרֶת עַתָּה בְּגָלוּתִי, וְחוֹלָה לְאַהֲבָתוֹ:
|
| 7I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, that you neither awaken nor arouse the love while it is desirous. |
|
זהִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֜ם בְּנ֤וֹת יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֙ ִם֙ בִּצְבָא֔וֹת א֖וֹ בְּאַיְל֣וֹת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה אִם־תָּעִ֧ירוּ | וְֽאִם־תְּעֽוֹרְר֛וּ אֶת־הָאַֽהֲבָ֖ה עַ֥ד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּֽץ: |
| I adjure you: you nations. |
|
הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם:
אַתֶּם הָאֻמּוֹת:
|
| by the gazelles or by the hinds: that you will be abandoned and preyed upon like gazelles and hinds. |
|
בִּצְבָאוֹת אוֹ בְּאַיְלוֹת:
שֶׁתִּהְיוּ הֶפְקֵר וּמַאֲכָל כִּצְבָיִים וְאַיָּלִים:
|
| that you neither awaken nor arouse the love: that is between my beloved and I, to change it and to alter it and beg me to be enticed to follow you. |
|
אִם תָּעִירוּ וְאִם תְּעוֹרְרוּ אֶת הָאַהֲבָה:
שֶׁבֵּינִי לְדוֹדִי, לְשַׁנּוֹתָהּ וּלְהַחֲלִיפָהּ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנִּי לְהִתְפַּתּוֹת אַחֲרֵיכֶם:
|
| while it is desirous: as long as it is thrust in my heart, and he desires me. |
|
עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ:
בְּכָל עוֹד שֶׁהִיא תְקוּעָה בְלִבִּי וְהוּא חָפֵץ בִּי:
|
| while it is desirous: Heb. עַד, like (1:12): “While (עַד) the king was at his table,” [i.e.,] while (בְּעוֹד) the king was still at his table. |
|
עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ:
כְּמוֹ "עַד שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ בִּמְסִבּוֹ", בְּעוֹד שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ בִּמְסִבּוֹ:
|
| that you neither awaken: Heb. תָּעִירוּ, if you cause hatred, like (I Sam. 28:16): “and has become your adversary (עָרֶךְ);” (Dan. 4:16): “and its interpretation for Your foes (לְעָרָךְ).” |
|
אִם תָּעִירוּ:
אִם תַּשְׂנִיאוּ, כְּמוֹ "וַיְהִי עָרֶךָ", "וּפִשְׁרֵהּ לְעָרָיךְ":
|
| nor contest: Heb. תְּעוֹרְרוּ, like (Keth. 13:6): “one who contests the ownership (הָעוֹרֵר) of a field,” chalon[j]èr in Old French, to contest, claim. There are many aggadic midrashim but they do not fit the sequence of the topics, for I see that Solomon prophesied and spoke about the Exodus from Egypt and about the giving of the Torah, the Tabernacle, the entry to the Land, the Temple, the Babylonian exile, and the coming of the Second Temple and its destruction. |
|
וְאִם תְּעוֹרְרוּ:
כְּמוֹ "הָעוֹרֵר עַל הַשָּׂדֶה" קלניי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז. יֵשׁ מִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה רַבִּים וְאֵינָם מִתְיַשְּׁבִים עַל סֵדֶר הַדְּבָרִים, כִּי רוֹאֶה אֲנִי שֶׁנִּתְנַבֵּא שְׁלֹמֹה וְדִבֵּר עַל יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם וְעַל מַתַּן תּוֹרָה וְהַמִּשְׁכָּן וּבִיאַת הָאָרֶץ וּבֵית הַבְּחִירָה וְגָלוּת בָּבֶל וּבִיאַת בַּיִת שֵׁנִי וְחֻרְבָּנוֹ:
|
| 8The sound of my beloved! Behold, he is coming, skipping over the mountains, jumping over the hills. |
|
חק֣וֹל דּוֹדִ֔י הִנֵּה־זֶ֖ה בָּ֑א מְדַלֵּג֙ עַל־הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים מְקַפֵּ֖ץ עַל־הַגְּבָעֽוֹת: |
| The sound of my beloved: The poet returns to earlier topics, like a person who was brief with his words and later said, “I did not tell you the beginning of the matter.” He commenced by saying, “The king brought me into his chambers,” but did not tell how He remembered them in Egypt with an expression of affection, and now he returns and states: This attraction that I told you about, that my beloved drew me and I ran after him, came about as follows: I had despaired of the redemption until the completion of the four hundred years that were foretold [in the Covenant] between the Segments. |
|
קוֹל דּוֹדִי:
חוֹזֵר הַמְשׁוֹרֵר עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת. כְּאָדָם שֶׁקִּצֵּר דְּבָרָיו וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: לֹא אָמַרְתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶם רֵאשִׁית הַדְּבָרִים. הוּא הִתְחִיל וְאָמַר: "הֱבִיאַנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ חֲדָרָיו", וְלֹא סִפֵּר הֵיאַךְ פְּקָדָם בְּמִצְרַיִם בִּלְשׁוֹן חִבָּה. וְעַכְשָׁיו חוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: מְשִׁיכָה זוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם, שֶׁמְּשָׁכַנִי דוֹדִי וְרַצְתִּי אַחֲרָיו, כֵּן הָיְתָה: נוֹאָשׁ הָיִיתִי אוֹמֶרֶת לִגְאֻלָּה עַד תּם אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמְרוּ בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים, וְ. . .
|
| The sound of my beloved! Behold, he is coming: before the end, as one skipping over the mountains and jumping over the hills. |
|
קוֹל דּוֹדִי הִנֵּה זֶה בָּא לִפְנֵי הַקֵּץ:
כִּמְדַלֵּג עַל הֶהָרִים וּמְקַפֵּץ בַּגְּבָעוֹת:
|
| 9My beloved resembles a gazelle or a fawn of the hinds; behold, he is standing behind our wall, looking from the windows, peering from the lattices. |
|
טדּוֹמֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ לִצְבִ֔י א֖וֹ לְעֹ֣פֶר הָֽאַיָּלִ֑ים הִנֵּה־זֶ֤ה עוֹמֵד֙ אַחַ֣ר כָּתְלֵ֔נוּ מַשְׁגִּ֨יחַ֙ מִן־הַ֣חֲלֹּנ֔וֹת מֵצִ֖יץ מִן־הַֽחֲרַכִּֽים: |
| My beloved resembles a gazelle: in the swiftness of his running, for he hastened to come like a gazelle and like a fawn of the hinds. עֹפֶר is a young hind. |
|
דּוֹמֶה דוֹדִי לִצְבִי:
בְּקַלּוּת מְרוּצָתוֹ, שֶׁמִּהֵר לָבֹא כִצְבִי וּכְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים. עֹפֶר אַיָּל בָּחוּר:
|
| behold, he is standing, etc.: I had expected to remain detained for many more days, and behold, he informed me that he was standing and peering from the windows of heaven at what was being done to me, as it is written (Exod. 3:7): “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people, etc.” |
|
הִנֵּה זֶה עוֹמֵד וגו':
סְבוּרָה הָיִיתִי לֵישֵׁב עֲגוּנָה עוֹד יָמִים רַבִּים. וְהִנֵּה הוּא הוֹדִיעַ שֶׁהָיָה עוֹמֵד וּמֵצִיץ מִן חַלּוֹנוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶת הֶעָשׂוּי לִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "רָאֹה רָאִיתִי אֶת עֳנִי עַמִּי וגו'":
|
| 10My beloved raised his voice and said to me, 'Arise, my beloved, my fair one, and come away. |
|
יעָנָ֥ה דוֹדִ֖י וְאָ֣מַר לִ֑י ק֥וּמִי לָ֛ךְ רַעְיָתִ֥י יָֽפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־לָֽךְ: |
| raised his voice: Heb. עָנָה, an expression of answering and [sometimes] an expression of a loud cry, and the following is the precedent for them all (Deut. 27:14): “And the Levites shall raise their voices (וְעָנוּ).” |
|
עָנָה:
לְשׁוֹן עֲנִיָּה וּלְשׁוֹן צַעֲקַת קוֹל רָם, וְזֶה בִּנְיַן אָב לְכֻלָּם "וְעָנוּ הַלְוִיִּם":
|
| and said to me: through Moses. |
|
וְאָמַר לִי:
עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה:
|
| Arise: (Exod. 3:17): “I will bring you up from the affliction of Egypt.” |
|
קוּמִי לָךְ:
"אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מֵעֳנִי מִצְרַיִם":
|
| 11For behold, the winter has passed; the rain is over and gone. |
|
יאכִּֽי־הִנֵּ֥ה הַסְּתָ֖ו עָבָ֑ר הַגֶּ֕שֶׁם חָלַ֖ף הָלַ֥ךְ לֽוֹ: |
| behold, the winter has passed: There is no difficulty in traveling now. סְתָיו is winter. The Targum of חֹרֶף (Gen. 8:22) is סִתְוָא. |
|
הִנֵּה הַסְּתָו עָבָר:
אֵין עַכְשָׁיו טֹרַח בַּדֶּרֶךְ. סְתָו חֹרֶף. תַּרְגּוּם חֹרֶף סִתְוָא:
|
| 12The blossoms have appeared in the land, the time of singing has arrived, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. |
|
יבהַנִּצָּנִים֙ נִרְא֣וּ בָאָ֔רֶץ עֵ֥ת הַזָּמִ֖יר הִגִּ֑יעַ וְק֥וֹל הַתּ֖וֹר נִשְׁמַ֥ע בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ: |
| The blossoms have appeared in the land: The days of summer are near, when the trees blossom and the travelers enjoy seeing them. |
|
הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ:
קָרְבוּ יְמֵי הַחַמָּה, שֶׁהָאִילָנוֹת מוֹצִיאִין פְּרָחִים, וְהוֹלְכֵי דְרָכִים מִתְעַנְּגִים לִרְאוֹתָם:
|
| the time of singing has arrived: when the birds give forth their song, and the sound is pleasant for travelers. |
|
עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ:
שֶׁהָעוֹפוֹת נוֹתְנִין זֶמֶר וְקוֹל עָרֵב לְהוֹלְכֵי דְרָכִים:
|
| and the voice of the turtledove: Heb. הַתּוֹר. According to its apparent meaning, this is a term referring to turtledoves and young pigeons. It is customary for the birds to sing and chirp in the days of Nissan. |
|
וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר:
כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ: תּוֹרִים וּבְנֵי יוֹנָה. דֶּרֶךְ הָעוֹפוֹת לִהְיוֹת מְשׁוֹרְרִים וּמְצַפְצְפִים בִּימֵי נִיסָן:
|
| 13The fig tree has put forth its green figs, and the vines with their tiny grapes have given forth their fragrance; arise, my beloved, my fair one, and come away. |
|
יגהַתְּאֵנָה֙ חָֽנְטָ֣ה פַגֶּ֔יהָ וְהַגְּפָנִ֥ים | סְמָדַ֖ר נָ֣תְנוּ רֵ֑יחַ ק֥וּמִי לָ֛ךְ (כתיב לָ֛כְי) רַעְיָתִ֥י יָֽפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־לָֽךְ: |
| The fig tree has put forth its green figs: [This is to be explained] according to its apparent meaning. |
|
הַתְּאֵנָה חָנְטָה פַגֶּיהָ:
כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
|
| and the vines with their tiny grapes: When the blossom falls, and the grapes are separated from one another, and each grape is recognizable by itself, it is called סְמָדַר. This entire episode, according to its simple meaning, is an expression of the affection of enticement, i.e., a young man appealing to his betrothed to follow him. So did my beloved do to me. |
|
וְהַגְּפָנִים סְמָדַר:
כְּשֶׁנּוֹפֵל הַפֶּרַח וְהָעֲנָבִים מֻבְדָּלִים זֶה מִזֶּה וְנִכָּרִים כָּל עֲנָבָה לְעַצְמָהּ, קְרוּיָה סְמָדַר. כָּל הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה, לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ, לְשׁוֹן חִבַּת פִּתּוּי, שֶׁבָּחוּר מְרַצֶּה אֶת אֲרוּסָתוֹ לֵילֵךְ אַחֲרָיו, כֵּן עָשָׂה לִי דוֹדִי:
|
| [10] My beloved raised his voice: through Moses. |
|
עָנָה דוֹדִי:
עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה:
|
| and said to me: through Aaron. |
|
וְאָמַר לִי:
עַל יְדֵי אַהֲרֹן:
|
| Arise, my beloved: Hurry (Exod. 11:2): “and let each man borrow from his neighbor.” |
|
קוּמִי לָךְ:
זָרְזִי עַצְמֵךְ, "וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ מֵאֵת רֵעֵהוּ":
|
| [11] For behold, the winter has passed: These are the four hundred years. I skipped them by counting them from Isaac’s birth. |
|
כִּי הִנֵּה הַסְּתָו עָבָר:
אֵלּוּ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה, דִּלַּגְתִּים לִמְנוֹתָם מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק:
|
| the rain: which is the hardship of winter, is over and has gone away; i.e., eighty-six years of harsh slavery were decreed upon you, and they have gone away. From the time that Miriam was born, the Egyptians intensified the bondage upon Israel; therefore, she was called Miriam, because they made it bitter (מַר) for them. |
|
הַגֶּשֶׁם:
שֶׁהוּא טַרְחוּתוֹ שֶׁל סְתָו, חָלַף וְהָלַךְ לוֹ. כְּלוֹמַר, שְׁמוֹנִים וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנָה שֶׁל קשִׁי הַשִּׁעְבּוּד נִגְזְרוּ עֲלֵיכֶם וְהָלְכוּ לָהֶם. מִשֶּׁנּוֹלְדָה מִרְיָם, הִקְשׁוּ הַמִּצְרִים שִׁעְבּוּד עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּלְכָךְ נִקְרֵאת מִרְיָם עַל שֶׁמֵּרְרוּם:
|
| [12] The blossoms have appeared in the land: Behold Moses and Aaron are prepared for you to fulfill all your needs. |
|
הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ:
הֲרֵי משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן מוּכָנִים לָכֶם לְכָל צָרְכֵיכֶם:
|
| the time of singing has arrived: you are destined to recite the Song by the Sea. |
|
עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ:
שֶׁאַתֶּם עֲתִידִים לוֹמַר שִׁירָה עַל הַיָּם:
|
| and the voice of the turtledove: Heb. הַתּוֹר, the great guide (תַּיָר). Another explanation: קוֹל הַתּוֹר means the voice [announcing] that the time of your exodus from Egypt has arrived. [תּוֹר is explained to mean time, as in Esther (2:12,15).] |
|
וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר:
קוֹל הַתַּיָּר הַגָּדוֹל. דָּבָר אַחֵר: "קוֹל הַתּוֹר": קוֹל שֶׁהִגִּיעַ זְמַן יְצִיאַתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם:
|
| [13] The fig tree put forth its green figs: The time to bring the first fruits has arrived, for you will enter the Land. |
|
הַתְּאֵנָה חָנְטָה פַגֶּיהָ:
הִגִּיעַ זְמַן שֶׁל בִּכּוּרִים לִקְרֹב, שֶׁתִּכָּנְסוּ לָאָרֶץ:
|
| and the vines with their tiny grapes: The time of the wine libations has drawn near. Another explanation: The pious among you ripened and blossomed good deeds before Me and emitted a pleasant scent. |
|
וְהַגְּפָנִים סְמָדַר:
קָרֵב זְמַן נִסְכֵּי הַיָּיִן. דָּבָר אַחֵר: כְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבָּכֶם חָנְטוּ וְהֵנֵצוּ לְפָנַי מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְהֵרִיחוּ רֵיחַ טוֹב:
|
| arise: Heb. קוּמִי לָכִי. A superfluous “yud” is written. Arise to receive the Ten Commandments. Another explanation: “The fig tree has put forth its green figs” -These are the transgressors of Israel, who perished during the three days of darkness. |
|
קוּמִי לָכְי:
כְּתִיב יו"ד יְתֵרָה, "קוּמִי לָךְ" לְקַבֵּל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת הַתְּאֵנָה חָנְטָה פַגֶּיהָ אֵלּוּ פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁכָּלוּ בִשְׁלשֶׁת יְמֵי אֲפֵלָה.
|
| and the vines with their tiny grapes gave forth their fragrance: Those who remained of them repented and were accepted. So it is interpreted in Pesikta (Rabbathi 15:11, 12; Pesikta d’Rav Kahana, p. 50). |
|
וְהַגְּפָנִים סְמָדַר נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ:
אֵלּוּ הַנִּשְׁאָרִים מֵהֶם, עָשׂוּ תְשׁוּבָה וְנִתְקַבְּלוּ. כָּךְ נִדְרַשׁ בִּפְסִיקְתָּא:
|
| 14My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the coverture of the steps, show me your appearance, let me hear your voice, for your voice is pleasant and your appearance is comely.' |
|
ידיֽוֹנָתִ֞י בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֗לַע בְּסֵ֨תֶר֙ הַמַּדְרֵגָ֔ה הַרְאִ֨ינִי֙ אֶת־מַרְאַ֔יִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִ֖נִי אֶת־קוֹלֵ֑ךְ כִּֽי־קוֹלֵ֥ךְ עָרֵ֖ב וּמַרְאֵ֥יךְ נָאוֶֽה: |
| My dove, in the clefts of the rock: This is said concerning that time when Pharaoh pursued them and overtook them camping by the sea with no avenue of escape before them because of the sea, and they could not turn because of the wild beasts. What did they resemble at that time? A dove that fled from a hawk and entered the clefts of the rocks, and a snake was hissing at her. Should she enter within, there was the snake. Should she go outside, there was the hawk. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her, “Show Me your appearance,” the propriety of your deeds, to whom you turn in time of trouble. |
|
יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע:
זֶה נֶאֱמַר עַל אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה שֶׁרָדַף פַּרְעֹה אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְהִשִׂיגָם חוֹנִים עַל הַיָּם, וְאֵין מָקוֹם לָנוּס לִפְנֵיהֶם מִפְּנֵי הַיָּם, וְלֹא לְהִפָּנוֹת מִפְּנֵי חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת. לְמָה הָיוּ דוֹמִין בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה? לְיוֹנָה שֶׁבּוֹרַחַת מִפְּנֵי הַנֵּץ וְנִכְנְסָה בִנְקִיקֵי הַסְּלָעִים, וְהָיָה הַנָּחָשׁ נוֹשֵׁף בָּהּ. תִּכָּנֵס לִפְנִים, הֲרֵי הַנָּחָשׁ, תֵּצֵא לַחוּץ, הֲרֵי הַנֵּץ. אָמַר לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: "הַרְאִינִי אֶת מַרְאַיִךְ", אֶת כִּשְׁרוֹן פְּעֻלָּתֵךְ, לְמִי אַתְּ פּוֹנָה בְּעֵת צָרָה:
|
| let me hear your voice: (Exod. 14:10): “And the Children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” |
|
הַשְׁמִיעִנִי אֶת קוֹלֵךְ:
"וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה'":
|
| in the clefts of: Heb. בְּחַגְוֵי, in the clefts; this is a term referring to a breach, and similar to this is (Ps. 107:27): “They were frightened (יָחוֹגוּ) and staggered;” (Isa. 19:17): “And the land of Judah will be to Egypt for a dread (לְחָגָא),” and in the plural Scripture calls them חַגְוֵי. Similarly, from קֵץ (end) קַצְוֵי, and so, (II Sam. 10:4): “and he cut off their garments (מַדְוֵיהֶם).” |
|
בְּחַגְוֵי:
בִּנְקִיקֵי, וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן שֶׁבֶר, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ "יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ". "וְהָיְתָה אַדְמַת יְהוּדָה לְמִצְרַיִם לְחָגָּא". וּכְשֶׁהֵן רַבִּים, קוֹרֵא לָהֶן חַגְוֵי, וְכֵן: קָצָה קַצְוֵי, וְכֵן "וַיִּכְרֹת אֶת מַדְוֵיהֶם":
|
| steps: Heb. מַדְרֵיגָה, échelons, in French, steps. When they make a ditch around the towers and pour the earth from above to raise the mound roundabout, they make it [in] many steps, one above the other. |
|
הַמַּדְרֵגָה:
אישקלוי"ש בְּלַעַ"ז. כְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין חָרִיץ סְבִיבוֹת הַמִּגְדָלִים וְשׁוֹפְכִים הֶעָפָר לְמַעְלָה לְהַגְבִּיהַּ הַתֵּל סָבִיב, עוֹשִׂין אוֹתוֹ מַדְרֵגוֹת מַדְרֵגוֹת זוּ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוּ:
|
| in the coverture of the steps: There are sometimes holes in them, and reptiles and birds enter therein. |
|
בְּסֵתֶר הַמַּדְרֵגָה:
פְּעָמִים שֶׁיֵשׁ בָּהֶן חוֹרִים וְנִכְנָסִים שָׁם שְׁרָצִים וְעוֹפוֹת:
|
| 15Seize for us the foxes, the little foxes, who destroy the vineyards, for our vineyards are with tiny grapes. |
|
טואֶֽחֱזוּ־לָ֨נוּ֙ שֽׁוּעָלִ֔ים שֻֽׁעָלִ֥ים קְטַנִּ֖ים מְחַבְּלִ֣ים כְּרָמִ֑ים וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ סְמָדַֽר: |
| Seize for us the foxes: The Holy One, blessed be He, heard their voice, commanded the sea, and it inundated them. That is the meaning of “Seize for us” these “foxes,” the little ones with the big ones, for even the little ones were destroying the vineyards, when our vineyards were still with סְמָדַר, when the grapes were tiny. When a Jewish woman gave birth to a male and hid him, the Egyptians entered their houses and searched for the males, but the baby was concealed, and he was a year or two old. So they would bring a baby from an Egyptian home; the Egyptian baby would speak, and the Jewish baby would answer him from his hiding place; and they would seize him and cast him into the Nile. Now why does he call them foxes? Just as the fox looks to turn around to flee, so did the Egyptians look behind them, as it is written (Exod. 14:25): “I shall flee from before Israel.” |
|
אֶחֱזוּ לָנוּ שׁוּעָלִים:
שָׁמַע הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת קוֹלָם, צִוָּה אֶת הַיָּם וּשְׁטָפָם. זֶהוּ: "אֶחֱזוּ לָנוּ הַשּׁוּעָלִים הַלָּלוּ", הַקְּטַנִּים עִם הַגְּדוֹלִים, שֶׁאַף הַקְּטַנִּים הָיוּ מְחַבְּלִים אֶת הַכְּרָמִים בְּעוֹד כְּרָמֵינוּ סְמָדַר, שֶׁהָעֲנָבִים דַּקִּים. כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה בַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹלֶדֶת זָכָר וְהִיא טוֹמַנְתּוֹ, וְהָיוּ הַמִּצְרִים נִכְנָסִים לְבָתֵּיהֶם וּמְחַפְּשִׂין אֶת הַזְּכָרִים, וְהַתִּינוֹק טָמוּן, וְהוּא בֶן שָׁנָה אוֹ בֶן שְׁנָתַיִם. וְהֵן מְבִיאִין תִּינוֹקוֹת מִבֵּית מִצְרִי, וְתִינוֹק מִצְרִי מְדַבֵּר, וְתִינוֹק יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹנֵהוּ מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁטָּמוּן שָׁם, וְהָיוּ תוֹפְשִׂין וּמַשְׁלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ לַיְאוֹר. וְלָמָּה קָרָא אוֹתָם שׁוּעָלִים? מָה הַשּׁוּעָל הַזֶּה מַבִּיט לִפְנוֹת לַאֲחוֹרָיו לִבְרֹחַ, אַף מִצְרִים מַבִּיטִים לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אָנוּסָה מִפְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל":
|
| little foxes: Heb. שֻּׁעָלִים. It is written without a “vav”, because He punished them with water, which was measured with the gait (בְּשָּׁעֳלוֹ) of the Omnipresent. |
|
שֻׁעָלִים קְטַנִּים:
כְּתִיב חָסֵר וי"ו עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהָיָה נִפְרָע מֵהֶם בְּמַיִם, שֶׁנִּמְדְּדוּ בְשָּׁעֳלוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם:
|
| 16My beloved is mine, and I am his, who grazes among the roses. |
|
טזדּוֹדִ֥י לִי֙ וַֽאֲנִ֣י ל֔וֹ הָֽרֹעֶ֖ה בַּשּֽׁוֹשַׁנִּֽים: |
| My beloved is mine, and I am his: He demanded all His needs from me; He commanded only me: Make a Passover sacrifice, hallow the firstborn, make a Tabernacle, sacrifice burnt offerings, and He did not demand these things of any other nation. |
|
דּוֹדִי לִי וַאֲנִי לוֹ:
הוּא כָל צְרָכָיו תָּבַע מִמֶּנִּי, וְלֹא צִוָּה אֶלָּא לִי: "עֲשׂוּ פֶסַח, קַדְּשׁוּ בְכוֹרוֹת, עֲשׂוּ מִשְׁכָּן, הַקְרִיבוּ עוֹלוֹת", וְלֹא תָבַע מֵאֻמָּה אַחֶרֶת:
|
| and I am his: All my needs I demanded of Him, and not of other deities. |
|
וַאֲנִי לוֹ:
כָּל צְרָכַי תָּבַעְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא מֵאֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים:
|
| who grazes: his flock among the roses, in a good, pleasant, and beautiful pasture. |
|
הָרֹעֶה:
אֶת צֹאנוֹ בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים בְּמִרְעֶה טוֹב וְנוֹחַ וְיָפֶה:
|
| 17Until the sun spreads, and the shadows flee, go around; liken yourself, my beloved, to a gazelle or to a fawn of the hinds, on distant mountains." |
|
יזעַ֤ד שֶׁיָּפ֨וּחַ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְנָ֖סוּ הַצְּלָלִ֑ים סֹב֩ דְּמֵֽה־לְךָ֙ דוֹדִ֜י לִצְבִ֗י א֛וֹ לְעֹ֥פֶר הָֽאַיָּלִ֖ים עַל־הָ֥רֵי בָֽתֶר: |
| Until the sun spreads: This refers back to the preceding verse: “My beloved is mine, and I am his,” until the time that the iniquity caused the sun to darken me in the heat of the day, and the heat to intensify. |
|
עַד שֶׁיָּפוּחַ הַיּוֹם:
מוּסָב לַמִּקְרָא שֶׁל מַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ: "דּוֹדִי לִי וַאֲנִי לוֹ", עַד זְמָן שֶׁגָּרַם הֶעָוֹן וּשְׁזָפַתְנִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם וְגָבַר הַשָּׁרָב:
|
| and the shadows flee: We sinned with the Calf; we sinned with the Spies, and the shadows fled, the merits that protected us. We broke off His yoke. |
|
וְנָסוּ הַצְּלָלִים:
חָטָאנוּ בָעֵגֶל, חָטָאנוּ בַמְרַגְּלִים. "וְנָסוּ הַצְּלָלִים", זְכֻיּוֹת הַמְגִנּוֹת עָלֵינוּ, פָּרַקְתִּי עֻלּוֹ:
|
| go around, liken yourself, my beloved: I caused him to leave me on mountains distant from me. |
|
סֹב דְּמֵה לְךָ דוֹדִי:
גָּרַמְתִּי לוֹ לְהִסְתַּלֵּק מֵעָלַי עַל הָרִים הַמֻּפְלָגִים מִמֶּנִּי:
|
| distant: Heb. בָתֶר, an expression of separation and distancing. |
|
בָתֶר:
לְשׁוֹן חֲלֻקָּה וְהַפְלָגָה:
|
