Torah Compared to Water, Wine, Honey, and Milk

Regarding what the verse said: “By the fragrance of your good oils” (Song of Songs 1:3), the Rabbis said: The Torah was analogized to five matters: To water, to wine, to honey, to milk, and to oil. To water, from where is it derived? “Ho, everyone thirsty, go to water” (Isaiah 55:1). To wine, from where is it derived?

It is as it is stated: “Drink of the wine that I have mixed” (Proverbs 9:5). To honey and milk, from where is it derived? “Honey and milk under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11). Oil, from where is it derived?

It is as it is stated: “Your name is like poured oil” (Song of Songs 1:3). Just as this oil, its beginning is bitter and its end is sweet, so are matters of Torah: A person suffers from them at the beginning, but makes from them a good ending, as it is stated: “Though your beginning is small, your end will grow very great” (Job 8:7). Another matter: Just as this oil is life for the world,10Eating it, anointing with it, and healing with it. so, matters of Torah are life for the world.

Just as this oil is light for the world, so, matters of Torah are light for the world. Another matter: Just as this oil cannot mix with other liquids, so, Israel cannot mix with idol worshippers. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “And have distinguished you from the peoples to be Mine” (Leviticus 20:26).

Another matter: Just as this oil, even if you place it into several liquids, it becomes topmost of them all, so, Israel is uppermost over all idol worshippers, just as it is written: “The Lord your God will place you uppermost over all the nations of the earth.” Another matter: “It will be if you will heed” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If you heed My mitzvot, I, too, will heed your prayers.’

Another matter: Rabbi Yehoshua said that Rav Naḥman said: Anyone who comes to the synagogue and hears matters of Torah is privileged to sit in the midst of the Sages in the future, as it is stated: “An ear that heeds life’s rebuke will abide among the Sages” (Proverbs 15:31).