The Three Oaths and Why God Will Not Avenge Israel's Blood

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Devarim 4:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"You have circled this mountain long enough" (Deuteronomy 2:3). This is what Scripture says: "I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles" (Song of Songs 2:7). Why are there three oaths in the Song of Songs? One, that the Holy One, blessed be He, adjured Israel that they should not reveal the End; and that they should not press for the End; and that they should not rebel against the kingdoms. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: If you uphold the oaths, well and good; but if not, I will permit your flesh, like the gazelles or like the hinds of the field, which have no one to claim them and no one to seek them; so too I will not claim your blood.

Themes

CovenantViolenceMusicSolomonKings

Biblical References

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