Akiva says — "I shall speak of His beauty"—of the praise

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Shirah 3:13

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 25, 2025

R. Akiva says: "I shall speak of His beauty"—of the praise of the Holy One Blessed be He, who spoke and brought the world into being. The peoples of the world ask Israel (Song of Songs 5:9) "How is your Beloved (different) from the beloved (of all the other nations) that you have thus besworn us? (see Ibid. 8) that you thus die for Him and are thus murdered for Him, viz. (Ibid. 1:3) "alamoth have loved You"—they have loved You "al maveth" ("above death"), and (Psalms 44:23) "for over You we are slain all the day"? You are comely, you are strong. Come and join us.

Themes

Death Charity Holy Land

Biblical References

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