The Giving Of The Song Of Songs

"We will make you rows of gold" (Song of Songs 1:11). "We will make you rows of gold" - this is the spoil of the Sea. "With studs of silver" (Song of Songs 1:11) - this is the spoil of Egypt. Just as there is a difference between silver and gold, so the wealth of the spoil of the Sea was more excellent than the spoil of Egypt, as it is said: "And you came to be adorned with ornaments of ornaments" (Ezekiel 16:7) - "ornaments," this is the spoil of Egypt; "of ornaments," this is the spoil of the Sea. Another interpretation: "We will make you rows of gold" - this is the Torah that the angels learned in the mind of the Holy One, blessed be He. "With studs of silver" - Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: These are the letters. Rabbi Aha said: These are the words. Another interpretation: "We will make you rows of gold" - this is the writing. "With studs of silver" - this is the ruled lines. Another interpretation: "Rows of gold" - this is the Tabernacle, as that is what is written: "And the boards you shall overlay with gold" (Exodus 26:29). "With studs of silver" - just as you say: "The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver" (Exodus 27:10). Rabbi Berekhyah interpreted the verse as referring to the Ark: "Rows of gold" - this is the Ark, as it is written: "And you shall overlay it with pure gold" (Exodus 25:11). "With studs of silver" - these are the two pillars standing within, which were of silver, like a kind of colonnade. And how was the Ark made? Rabbi Hanina and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish. Rabbi Hanina said: He made it of three boxes, two of gold and one of wood. He put the one of wood inside the one of gold, and the one of gold inside the one of wood, and he overlaid its upper rims with gold. Resh Lakish said: He made it of one box and overlaid it from within and from without, as it is written: "From within and from without you shall overlay it" (Exodus 25:11). And how does Rabbi Hanina uphold the verse of Resh Lakish? Rabbi Pinhas said: That he overlaid between board and board. Yehudah son of Rabbi says: "Your cheeks are comely with rows" (Song of Songs 1:10) - this is the Torah. "Your neck with strings" (Song of Songs 1:10) - these are the Prophets. "Rows of gold" - these are the Writings. "With studs of silver" - this is the Song of Songs, a word sealed and a word concluded.