Why the Song of Songs Is the Holiest of the Holy Writings

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Tetzaveh 1:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Exodus 27:20:) AND YOU SHALL COMMAND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, and so forth. This is what Scripture says (Song of Songs 1:15): "Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved," and so forth. Rabbi Akiva said: The whole world in its entirety was not as worthy as the day on which the Torah of the Song of Songs was given to Israel; for all the Writings are holy, but the Song of Songs is the holiest of the holy. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who took a se'ah of wheat and gave it to a baker, and said to him: Produce for me from it such-and-such fine flour, such-and-such coarse bran, such-and-such bran. So too all the Writings are holy, but the Song of Songs is the holiest of the holy. Rabbi said: See how the Holy One, blessed be He, praises the Assembly of Israel within it. "Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved"—behold, you are beautiful in deeds; behold, you are beautiful in the deeds of your ancestors; behold, you are beautiful in the house; behold, you are beautiful in the field. In the house, (as it is written, Deuteronomy 6:9): "Upon the doorposts of your house." In the field, through priestly offerings and tithes and through gleaning, the forgotten sheaf, and the corner. Behold, you are beautiful on the roof, (as it is written, Deuteronomy 22:8): "And you shall make a parapet for your roof." Behold, you are beautiful in this world; behold, you are beautiful in the world to come.

Themes

World To ComeMusicSolomonDeceptionWriting

Biblical References

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