“His head is the finest gold; his locks are curls, black as a raven” (Song of Songs 5:11). “His head [rosho] is the finest gold” – rosho, this is the Torah, as it is stated: “The Lord made me at the beginning [reshit] of His way” (Proverbs 8:22). Rabbi Ḥunya said in the name of Reish Lakish: The Torah preceded the creation of the world by two thousand years. What is the reason?
“I was with Him, as a protégé; I was a delight day after day” (Proverbs 8:30), and the day of the Holy One blessed be He is one thousand years, as it is stated: “As one thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday as it passes” (Psalms 90:4). “The finest gold” – these are words of Torah, as it is stated: “They are more desirable than gold, than much fine gold” (Psalms 19:11). “His locks are curls” – these are the ruled lines.42These are scored on the parchment in preparation for writing the verses of the Torah.
“Black as a raven” – these are the letters. Another matter: “His locks [kevutzotav] are curls [taltalim]” – heaps upon heaps [tilei tilim].43The locks and curls are understood to refer to the fine details of the letters in the Torah and their crowns. Heaps and heaps of halakhot are derived even from these details. Another matter: Rabbi Azarya says: Even matters that you consider as thorns [kotzim] of the Torah,44Thorns represent unimportant matters. they are like a finely coiffed hairstyle [kevutzei kevutzim].
Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua say: Heaps upon heaps. Another matter: Rabbi Azarya says: Even matters that you consider them as thorns [kotzim] of the Torah, they are heaps upon heaps. Through whom are they sustained? “Black as a raven” – through one who engages in them early and late.45One who rises early, while it is still dark, and stays up late into the night, studying Torah.
Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The amassing of Torah is only at night. What is the source? “She arises while still night” (Proverbs 31:15), and it is written: “Arise, cry out at night” (Lamentations 2:19).46Both verses are understood as referring to the Torah itself or to one who seeks Torah. Rabbi Shimon said: Day and night, based on what is stated: “You shall ponder it day and night” (Joshua 1:8).
Reish Lakish said: Rabbi Yoḥanan taught me well that the amassing of Torah is only at night. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: When I would labor in the Torah during the day, at night it would be illuminated for me, as it is written: “You shall ponder it day and night.”