שיר השירים רבה ה׳Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5

Verse 1 · 1א׳

בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי, אָמַר רַבִּי מְנַחֵם חַתְנֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר אֲבוּנָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵנָה, בָּאתִי לְגַן אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא לְגַנִּי, לְגִנּוּנִי, לְמָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה עִקָּרִי מִתְּחִלָּה, וְעִקַּר שְׁכִינָה לֹא בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים הָיְתָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ג, ח): וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת קוֹל ה' אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא מְהַלֵּךְ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא מִתְהַלֵּךְ, מְקַפֵּץ וְסָלֵיק מְקַפֵּץ וְסָלֵיק, חָטָא אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה הַשְּׁכִינָה לָרָקִיעַ הָרִאשׁוֹן, חָטָא קַיִן נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשֵּׁנִי, חָטָא אֱנוֹשׁ נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, חָטָא דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הָרְבִיעִי, חָטָא דוֹר הַמִּגְדָּל נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַחֲמִישִׁי, חָטְאוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשִּׁשִּׁי, חָטְאוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשְּׁבִיעִי. כְּנֶגְדָּן עָמְדוּ שִׁבְעָה צַדִּיקִים וְהוֹרִידוּהָ לָאָרֶץ, זָכָה אַבְרָהָם הוֹרִידָהּ מִשְּׁבִיעִי לַשִּׁשִּׁי, עָמַד יִצְחָק וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִשִּׁשִּׁי לַחֲמִישִׁי, עָמַד יַעֲקֹב וְהוֹרִידָהּ מֵחֲמִישִׁי לָרְבִיעִי, עָמַד לֵוִי וְהוֹרִידָהּ מֵרְבִיעִי לַשְּׁלִישִׁי, עָמַד קְהָת וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִשְּׁלִישִׁי לַשֵּׁנִי, עָמַד עַמְרָם וְהוֹרִידָהּ מִשֵּׁנִי לָאֶחָד שֶׁהוּא רִאשׁוֹן, עָמַד משֶׁה וְהוֹרִידָהּ לָאָרֶץ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים לז, כט): צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶיהָ, הָרְשָׁעִים מַה יַּעֲשׂוּ תְּלוּיִין בָּאֲוִיר כִּי לֹא הִשְׁכִּינוּ שְׁכִינָה לָאָרֶץ, אֲבָל הַצַּדִּיקִים הִשְׁכִּינוּ שְׁכִינָה לָאָרֶץ, מַה טַּעַם צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶיהָ, יַשְׁכִּינוּ לַשְּׁכִינָה עָלֶיהָ (ישעיה נז, טו): שׁוֹכֵן עַד וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ, וְאֵימַת שָׁרַת שְׁכִינָה עָלֶיהָ, בַּיּוֹם שֶׁהוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ז, א): וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם כַּלּוֹת משֶׁה לְהָקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁכָּעַס עַל מַטְרוֹנָה וְהוֹצִיאָהּ מִתּוֹךְ פָּלָטִין שֶׁלּוֹ, לְאַחַר כָּךְ בִּקֵּשׁ לְהִתְרַצּוֹת לָהּ, שָׁלְחָה לוֹ וְאָמְרָה יַעֲשֶׂה לִי הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּבָר חָדָשׁ וְיָבוֹא אֶצְלִי. כָּךְ לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבֵּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת מִלְּמַעְלָה, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית ח, כא): וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ וגו', עַכְשָׁיו מְקַבֵּל מִלְּמַטָּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה. אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי, זֶה קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים וְקֹמֶץ הַלְּבוֹנָה, אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, אֵלּוּ אֵבְרֵי עוֹלָה וְאֵמוּרֵי קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים. שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, אֵלּוּ הַנְּסָכִים וְאֵמוּרֵי קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים. אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, זֶה משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן. שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים, אֵלּוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּכְּרוּ בְּצָרָתָן. אָמַר רַבִּי אִידֵי בִּקֵּשׁ דָּוִד לְהַקְרִיב קָרְבָּנוֹ כְּקָרְבָּנָן שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים סו, טו): עֹלוֹת מֵחִים אַעֲלֶה לָךְ וגו', אֵיזֶהוּ קָרְבָּן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ פָּרִים וְאֵילִים וְעַתּוּדִים, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זֶה קָרְבָּן שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר ז, יז): וּלְזֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים בָּקָר שְׁנַיִם. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹסֵינָא, לָמָה הוּא קוֹרֵא אֶל הַנְּשִׂיאִים רֵעִים, אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּוֵּן לְהַאֲהִיבָן וּלְקָרְבָן, וְאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹסֵינָא בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין הַיָּחִיד מֵבִיא קְטֹרֶת בִּנְדָבָה, וְכָאן קְטֹרֶת בִּנְדָבָה. בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין הַיָּחִיד מֵבִיא חַטָּאת נְדָבָה, וְכָאן חַטָּאת נְדָבָה. בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין קָרְבַּן יָחִיד דוֹחֶה טֻמְאָה וְשַׁבָּת, וְכָאן קָרְבַּן יָחִיד דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת וְאֶת הַטֻּמְאָה. בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין הַיָּחִיד מֵבִיא חַטָּאת אֶלָּא עַל חֵטְא, וְכָאן הַיָּחִיד מֵבִיא חַטָּאת שֶׁלֹא עַל חֵטְא. דָּבָר אַחֵר אִכְלוּ רֵעִים אֵלּוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים, שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים אֵלּוּ הַנְּסָכִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְזִמֵּן הָאוֹרְחִין, וְנָפַל הַשֶּׁרֶץ לְתוֹךְ הַתַּמְחוּי, שֶׁאִלּוּ מָשַׁךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת יָדוֹ הָיוּ הַכֹּל מוֹשְׁכִין אֶת יְדֵיהֶם, פָּשַׁט הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת יָדוֹ, וּפָשְׁטוּ הַכֹּל אֶת יְדֵיהֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי יַנַּאי לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְזִמֵּן אוֹרְחִין אֶצְלוֹ, וְהָיָה מַחֲזִיר עֲלֵיהֶם וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם יֶעֱרַב לָכֶם וִיבֻסַּם לָכֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְזִמֵּן אוֹרְחִין אֶצְלוֹ, לִכְשֶׁאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ אָמַר טְלוּ מָנָה זוֹ יָפָה וּתְנוּ לְבַעַל הַבַּיִת, אַף הָכָא כֵּן, בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, אַף אַתּוּן אִכְלוּן. שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, אַף אַתּוּן שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים.

“I came to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gathered my myrrh with my perfume; I ate my honeycomb with my honey; I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; drink abundantly, beloved ones” (Song of Songs 5:1). “I came to my garden” – Rabbi Menaḥem, son-in-law of Rabbi Elazar bar Avuna, said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yosena: It is not written here, “I came to a garden,” but rather “to my garden [legani]” – to My wedding canopy [leginuni], to the place that was the site of My initial appearance. Was not the first appearance of the Divine Presence in the lower realm? That is what is written: “They heard the voice of the Lord God moving about in the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Rabbi Abba said: It is not written here, “walking [mehalekh],” but rather moving about [mithalekh], leaping and ascending, leaping and ascending. Adam the first man sinned, and the Divine Presence ascended to the first firmament. Cain sinned, and it ascended to the second firmament. Enosh sinned, and it ascended to the third firmament. The Generation of the Flood sinned, and it ascended to the fourth firmament. The Generation of the Tower sinned, and it ascended to the fifth firmament. The residents of Sodom sinned, and it ascended to the sixth firmament. The Egyptians sinned during the days of Abraham, and it ascended to the seventh firmament. Corresponding to them were seven righteous men who lowered it to earth. Abraham was virtuous, and he lowered it from the seventh [firmament] to the sixth. Isaac arose and lowered it from the sixth to the fifth. Jacob arose and lowered it from the fifth to the fourth. Levi arose and lowered it from the fourth to the third. Kehat arose and lowered it from the third to the second. Amram arose and lowered it from the second to one, which is the first. Moses arose and lowered it to earth. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: That is what is written: “The righteous will inherit the earth and dwell upon it forever” (Psalms 37:29). What will the wicked do? They will be suspended in the air, because they did not cause the Divine Presence to rest upon the earth. But the righteous caused the Divine Presence to rest upon the earth. What is the source? “The righteous will inherit the earth and dwell [veyishkenu] upon it forever” – they caused the Divine Presence to rest [veyashkinu] upon it; “He dwells forever, and Holy is His name” (Isaiah 57:15). When did the Divine Presence rest upon it? It was on the day that the Tabernacle was erected, as it is stated: “It was on the day that Moses finished erecting the Tabernacle” (Numbers 7:1). Rabbi Azarya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: This is analogous to a king who was angry at the queen and expelled her from his palace. Later, he sought to appease her. She said: ‘Let the king prepare for me something new and come to me.’ So too, in the past, the Holy One blessed be He would accept offerings from on high, as it is written: “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma…” (Genesis 8:21). Now He accepts them from below. That is what is written: “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride.” “I gathered my myrrh with my perfume” – this is the incense of the spices and the handful of frankincense. “I ate my honeycomb with my honey” – these are the limbs of the burnt offering and the portions of the offerings of the most sacred order that are burned on the altar. “I drank my wine with my milk” – these are the libations and the portions of the offerings of lesser sanctity that are burned on the altar. “Eat, friends” – these are Moses and Aaron. “Drink abundantly, beloved ones” – these are Nadav and Avihu, who became inebriated to their detriment. Rabbi Idi said: David sought to sacrifice an offering for himself like the offering of the princes; that is what is written: “I will sacrifice to You burnt offerings of fattened animals [with the burning of rams; I will sacrifice bulls and goats]” (Psalms 66:15). What offering includes bull, rams, and goats? Say that this is the offering of the princes. That is what is written: “And for the peace offering, two oxen, [five rams, five goats]” (Numbers 7:17). Rabbi Shimon ben Yosena said: Why does he call the princes “friends”? It is because He intended to make them beloved and to draw them close. Rabbi Shimon ben Yosena said: In every other circumstance, an individual may not bring a voluntary incense offering, but here there was a voluntary incense offering. In every other circumstance, an individual may not bring a voluntary sin offering, but here there was a voluntary sin offering. In every other circumstance, the offering of an individual does not override impurity and Shabbat, but here the offering of an individual did override Shabbat and impurity. In every other circumstance, an individual brings a sin offering only for a sin, but here an individual brought a sin offering not for a sin. Another matter: “Eat, friends” – these are the princes; “drink abundantly, beloved ones” – these are the libations. Another matter: “Eat, friends” – Rabbi Berekhya said: [This is analogous] to a king who made a feast and invited guests, but an insect fell onto the tray. Had the king withdrawn his hand, everyone would have withdrawn his hand. The king extended his hand, so everyone extended his hand. “Drink abundantly, beloved ones” – Rabbi Yannai said: [This is analogous] to a king who made a feast and invited guests, and he would circulate among them and say to them: ‘May it be pleasant for you and may it be sweet for you.’ Rabbi Abbahu said: [This is analogous] to a king who made a feast and invited guests. After they ate and drank, he said: ‘Take this fine portion and give it to the host.’ Here, too, it was so. “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gathered my myrrh with my perfume; I ate my honeycomb with my honey” – you, too, eat. “I drank my wine with my milk” – you, too, “eat, friends; drink abundantly, beloved ones.”

Verse 2 · 1א׳

אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה, אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה מִן הַמִּצְווֹת, וְלִבִּי עֵר לִגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים. אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה מִן הַצְּדָקוֹת, וְלִבִּי עֵר לַעֲשׂוֹתָן. אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה מִן הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, וְלִבִּי עֵר לִקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּתְפִלָּה. אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלִבִּי עֵר לְבָתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת. אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה מִן הַקֵּץ, וְלִבִּי עֵר לַגְאֻלָּה. אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה מִן הַגְּאֻלָּה, וְלִבּוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֵר לְגָאֳלֵנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אֵיכָן מָצִינוּ שֶׁנִּקְרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִבָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִן הָדֵין קְרָא, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים עג, כו): צוּר לְבָבִי וְחֶלְקִי אֱלֹהִים לְעוֹלָם.

“I am asleep, but my heart is awake; it is the sound of my beloved knocking: Open for me, my sister, my love, my faultless dove, for my head is filled with dew, my locks, drops of night” (Song of Songs 5:2). “I am asleep” – the congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, “I am asleep” regarding the mitzvot, “but my heart is awake” for acts of kindness. “I am asleep” regarding acts of charity, “but my heart is awake” to perform them. “I am asleep” regarding the offerings, “but my heart is awake” for reciting Shema and Amida. “I am asleep” regarding the Temple, “but my heart is awake,” in synagogues and study halls. “I am asleep” regarding the end [of days], “but my heart is awake” for the redemption. “I am asleep” regarding the redemption, but the heart of the Holy One blessed be He is awake to redeem me. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: Where have we found that the Holy One blessed be He is called the heart of Israel? It is from this verse, as it is written: “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalms 73:26).

Verse 2 · 2ב׳

קוֹל דּוֹדִי דוֹפֵק, עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר (שמות יא, ד): וַיֹּאמֶר משֶׁה כֹּה אָמַר ה' כַּחֲצֹת הַלַּיְלָה אֲנִי יוֹצֵא בְּתוֹךְ מִצְרָיִם. פִּתְחִי לִי, רַבִּי יַסָּא אָמַר, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּנַי, פִּתְחוּ לִי פֶּתַח אֶחָד שֶׁל תְּשׁוּבָה כְּחֻדָּהּ שֶׁל מַחַט, וַאֲנִי פּוֹתֵחַ לָכֶם פְּתָחִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עֲגָלוֹת וּקְרוֹנִיּוֹת נִכְנָסוֹת בּוֹ. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא וְרַבִּי חוּנְיָא וְרַבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְּשֵׁם רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, כְּתִיב (תהלים מו, יא): הַרְפּוּ וּדְעוּ כִּי אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הַרְפּוּ מִמַּעֲשֵׂיכֶם הָרָעִים וּדְעוּ כִּי אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר אִלּוּ הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה אֲפִלּוּ יוֹם אֶחָד, מִיָּד הֵן נִגְאָלִין, וּמִיָּד בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא, מַה טַּעַם (תהלים צה, ז): כִּי הוּא אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַאֲנַחְנוּ עַם מַרְעִיתוֹ וְצֹאן יָדוֹ הַיּוֹם אִם בְּקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ, רַבִּי יוּדָן וְרַבִּי לֵוִי אָמְרֵי אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הַרְפּוּ מִמַּעֲשֵׂיכֶם הָרָעִים וַעֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה כְּהֶרֶף עַיִן, וּדְעוּ כִּי אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים. אֲחֹתִי, שֶׁנִּתְאֲחוּ לִי בְּמִצְרַיִם בִּשְׁתֵּי מִצְווֹת, בְּדַם הַפֶּסַח וּבְדַם הַמִּילָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל טז, ו): וָאֶעֱבֹר עָלַיִךְ וָאֶרְאֵךְ מִתְבּוֹסֶסֶת בְּדָמָיִךְ וָאֹמַר לָךְ בְּדָמַיִךְ חֲיִי זֶה דַּם הַפֶּסַח, וָאֹמַר לָךְ בְּדָמַיִךְ חֲיִי זֶה דַּם הַמִּילָה. רַעְיָתִי, שֶׁרִעוּ אוֹתִי בַּיָּם וְאָמְרוּ (שמות טו, ב): זֶה אֵלִי. וְאַנְוֵהוּ, (שמות טו, יח): ה' יִמְלֹךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד, יוֹנָתִי, בְּמָרָה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם נִצְטַוּוּ וְנִצְטַיְּנוּ בְּכָל הַמִּצְווֹת וּצְדָקוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים כְּיוֹנָה זוֹ שֶׁמְצֻיֶּנֶת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות טו, כה): שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט. תַמָּתִי, תַּמּוּתִי שֶׁנִּתַּמְּמוּ עִמִּי בְּסִינַי, וְאָמְרוּ (שמות כד, ז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע. רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר תְּאוֹמָתִי, כִּבְיָכוֹל לֹא אֲנִי גְּדוֹלָה מִמֶּנָּהּ וְלֹא הִיא גְּדוֹלָה מִמֶּנִּי. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי תְּאוֹמָתִי מָה הַתְּאוֹמִים הַלָּלוּ אִם חוֹשֵׁשׁ אֶחָד מֵהֶן בְּרֹאשׁוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ מַרְגִּישׁ, כָּךְ כִּבְיָכוֹל אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (תהלים צא, טו): עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה. שֶׁרֹאשִׁי נִמְלָא טָל, עַל שֵׁם (תהלים סח, ט): אֶרֶץ רָעָשָׁה אַף שָׁמַיִם נָטְפוּ. קְוֻצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָיְלָה, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים ה, ד): גַּם עָבִים נָטְפוּ מָיִם.

“It is the sound of my beloved knocking” – by means of Moses when he said: “Moses said: So said the Lord: At about midnight, I will emerge in the midst of Egypt” (Exodus 11:4). “Open for me” – Rabbi Yasa said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: My children, open for Me one opening of repentance like the eye of the needle, and I will open for you openings that wagons and carriages enter through it. Rabbi Tanḥuma, Rabbi Ḥunya, and Rabbi Abbahu [said] in the name of Reish Lakish: It is written: “Desist, and know that I am God…” (Psalms 46:11) – the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: Desist from your evil actions and know that I am God. Rabbi Levi said: Were Israel to repent even one day, they would be redeemed immediately and the son of David would come immediately. What is the reason? “For He is our God, and we are the people of His flock and the sheep under His hand; today, if you heed His voice” (Psalms 95:7). Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Levi say: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: Desist from your wicked actions and repent in the blink of an eye, “and know that I am God.” “My sister [aḥoti]” – as they were stitched [nitaḥu] to Me in Egypt with the blood of the paschal offering and the blood of circumcision. That is what is written: “I passed you and saw you wallowing in your blood, and I said to you, in your blood you shall live” (Ezekiel 16:6) – this is the blood of the paschal offering. “I said to you, in your blood you shall live” – this is the blood of circumcision (Ezekiel 16:6). “My love [rayati]” – as they fell in love [sheriu] with Me at the sea and said: “This is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), “the Lord will reign for ever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). “My dove” – at Mara, as from there they were commanded and became distinctive through all the mitzvot, acts of charity, and good deeds, like the dove that is distinctive. That is what is written: “There He instituted for it statutes and ordinances” (Exodus 15:25). “My faultless [tamati]” – My wholehearted ones [tamuti], as they were wholehearted with Me at Sinai, and said: “Everything that the Lord said, we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). Rabbi Yannai said: My twin [teomati], as it were; I am not greater than it and it is not greater that I am. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: My twin [teomati], just as with twins, if one has a headache his counterpart feels it. So too, as it were, the Holy One blessed be He says: “I am with him in times of trouble” (Psalms 91:15). “For my head is filled with dew” – on the basis of: “The earth quaked, the heavens dripped” (Psalms 68:9). “My locks, drops of night” – on the basis of what is stated: “The clouds dripped water” (Judges 5:4).