It's not just dry recitation – it's a story of resilience, faith, and the enduring bond between God and the Jewish people. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah 15, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It all starts with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you" (Exodus 12:2). But instead of a straightforward explanation, the Midrash (interpretive method) takes us on a beautiful, allegorical journey, connecting this idea of new beginnings to the trials and triumphs of the Jewish people throughout history.
The passage opens with a quote from the Song of Songs (6:10): “Who is she who appears like the dawn [shaḥar], beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun, fearsome as banners of a host?” The Midrash interprets these four descriptions as corresponding to the four major exiles the Jewish people experienced: Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman. Each exile is a dark night, but the Jewish people, through their unwavering faith, emerge like the dawn, the moon, the sun, and a mighty army.
Think about the Babylonian exile. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, bowed down to the sun, a false idol. But Daniel, as the text points out, would rise early – shoḥer – and pray towards Jerusalem, seeking God's mercy. The text references (Daniel 6:11), "And windows were open for him in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem," emphasizing his unwavering devotion. Even when thrown into the lions' den, Daniel was protected, just like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in the fiery furnace. These acts of faith, so powerful, caused even the idolaters to acknowledge and praise God, as Nebuchadnezzar himself proclaimed (Daniel 3:28), "Blessed is the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego.” Thus, Israel appears "like the dawn," dispelling the darkness.
Then there's the Persian exile. Imagine a world plunged into darkness when the moon is hidden. That's how it felt during the reign of Ahasuerus, when a decree threatened to annihilate the Jews. But then came Esther, who "illuminated" Israel, bringing "light and gladness" (Esther 8:16). That's why the text says, "Beautiful as the moon." And just as the moon is reborn after thirty days, Esther hadn't been called to the king for thirty days (Esther 4:11) before she took her courageous stand.
The Greek exile is described as "Pure as the sun." The text uses a fascinating, though somewhat corrupted, Greek phrase, “Sandrios eim Ulios,” which some interpret as referring to the Sanhedrin (the supreme rabbinic court) standing against the sun (i.e., the Greeks). The sun, or ḥama in Hebrew, is strong and powerful, but Matityahu the Hasmonean and his sons stood firm in their faith. They transformed "plowshares into swords" (Joel 4:10), and the Greeks fled. "Pure as the sun" signifies the unwavering commitment of the Jewish people to their faith, even in the face of immense pressure.
Finally, we arrive at the Roman exile, described as "Fearsome as banners." Why fearsome? Because even in a kingdom that inspires fear, Israel remains steadfast. The text draws a parallel between the twelve constellations in the sky and the twelve tribes of Israel, emphasizing their enduring presence. Just as the heavens need the constellations, the world needs the twelve tribes. The Midrash equates the "banners" with armies, both earthly and heavenly – Israel and the angels. And just as the angels are revered, so too are the Jewish people.
It's a powerful image, isn't it?
The Midrash beautifully connects the Jewish people to the angels. Angels are constantly praising God, and so is Israel. Angels are made of fire, and Israel is likened to fire. Angels are renewed every morning, and Israel, through repentance, is renewed each year. This cyclical renewal, this constant striving to be better, is at the heart of the Jewish experience.
So, what does all this mean for us today? It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the light of faith can shine through. It's a testament to the resilience of the Jewish people, their unwavering commitment to God, and their ability to emerge from every exile stronger and more determined than ever. And it's an invitation to find our own ways to be "like the dawn," "beautiful as the moon," "pure as the sun," and "fearsome as banners," illuminating the world with faith, hope, and love.
“This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:2). Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn [shaḥar], [beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun, fearsome as banners of a host?]” (Song of Songs 6:10). There are four terms of praise of Israel here, corresponding to the four exiles. For during the four exiles that Israel experienced, they did not deny the Holy One blessed be He. In the Babylonian exile, from where [can this be seen]? It is as it is stated: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself to the sun, as it is stated: “How have you fallen from the heavens, glowing morning [shaḥar] star” (Isaiah 14:12).18“Morning star” refers to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel19Daniel lived during the Babylonian exile. would rise early [shoḥer] and pray to the Omnipresent, as it is stated: “And windows were open for him in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:11), evening, morning, and noon. Why would he rise early and pray? It was so the Holy One blessed be He would have mercy upon Israel. In his regard, Solomon said: “He who seeks [shoḥer] good seeks favor” (Proverbs 11:27). God was present for them in their time of distress, as it is stated: “I love those who love me…” (Proverbs 8:17). Likewise, we find, when Daniel was cast into the lions’ den, he was not harmed, as it is stated; “God sent His angel and closed the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were cast into the fiery furnace and were not harmed, as it is stated: “The hair of their heads was not singed [. . .] and the odor of fire did not cover them” (Daniel 3:27). Rather, they illuminated the world like the dawn, which illuminates the world. Therefore, “who appears like the dawn.” They caused the idolaters to acknowledge the Holy One blessed be He and to praise Him, as Nebuchadnezzar said when Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya emerged from the furnace: “Blessed is the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego” (Daniel 3:28),20These are the Babylonian names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. “the servants of the exalted God” (Daniel 3:26). Likewise, Darius said after Daniel fell into the lions’ den “to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, who is the living God” (Daniel 6:27); therefore, it is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” “Beautiful as the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in the Median [Persian] exile; you find during the night that if the moon is not seen in the sky, there is darkness in the world, and a person is unable to walk, even in the city. When the moon is seen in the sky, everyone is glad, and they walk on the road. So, during the days of Aḥashverosh, when they decreed against the Jews to “destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13), and Esther came and illuminated for Israel, as it is stated: “The Jews had light and gladness, [and joy and honor]” (Esther 8:16); that is why it is written: “Beautiful as the moon,” about the Median exile. If your wish is to know why Esther was likened to the moon: Just as the moon is reborn after thirty days, so too, Esther said: “But I have not been summoned to the king these thirty days” (Esther 4:11); that is why “beautiful as the moon” is in the Median exile. “Pure as the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10) – during the Greek kingdom. Sandrios eim Ulios:21This phrase is in corrupted Greek, and two interpretations of it have been given. (1) The Sanhedrin against the sun, i.e., the Jewish Sanhedrin stands in opposition to the Greeks, represented by the sun (Mirkin); and (2) Alexander, son of Helios, i.e., Alexander the original Macedonian emperor, is the son of the god of the sun, Helios (Jastrow). The sun [ḥama] is its name, and the sun is called a strong man [gibor], as it is stated: “Rejoices as a strong man [gibor] to run its course” (Psalms 19:6).22The verse is referring to the movement of the sun on its course. During the summer, who can withstand the sun; everyone flees from it, as it is stated: “And nothing hides from its heat [meḥamato]” (Psalms 19:7). So, with regard to the Greek kingdom, everyone fled from it, and Matitya the priest and his sons were steadfast in their faith in the Holy One blessed be He, and the troops of Greece fled from before them and were all killed. So, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; the weak will say: I am mighty [gibor]” (Joel 4:10). And it says: “So may all Your enemies perish, Lord…” (Judges 5:31), to fulfill what is stated: “Pure as the sun.” “Fearsome as banners” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in [reference to the hegemony of] Edom [Rome]; why is it [Israel] called fearsome? It is because it remains steadfast in a kingdom that inspires fear, as it is stated: “And behold a fourth beast, dreadful and fearsome, and strong” (Daniel 7:7). What is “fearsome as banners?” You find that there are twelve constellations in the sky. Just as the heavens cannot endure without the twelve constellations, so, the world cannot endure without the twelve tribes, as it is stated: “If [these] statutes depart [from before Me, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel will also cease from being a nation before Me forever]” (Jeremiah 31:35). “Fearsome as banners” – banners are nothing other than armies, as it is stated: “The banner of the camp…and their host and their numbered” (Numbers 2:3–4). Likewise, the banners of the heavens are the angels, and the banners of the earth are Israel. The hosts of the heavens are angels, as it is stated: “And the entire host of the heavens standing…” (II Chronicles 18:18). The hosts of the earth are Israel, as it is stated: “All the hosts of the Lord emerged from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:41). The Master of them both is the Holy One blessed be He. Just as everyone fears the Holy One blessed be He and the angels, so too, the idolaters fear Israel, as it is stated: “And all the peoples of the land will see that the name of the Lord [is called upon you, and they will fear you]” (Deuteronomy 28:10). This is why it is stated: “Fearsome as banners,” because the Holy One blessed be He likened Israel to the angels. Regarding angels it is stated: “Seraphim were standing above Him” (Isaiah 6:2), and regarding Israel it is stated: “You are standing today” (Deuteronomy 29:9). The angels say each day: “Holy, holy, holy [is the Lord of hosts]” (Isaiah 6:3), and Israel says: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.23At the beginning of the Amida prayer. Both the angels and Israel praise God with a threefold prayer. Angels are called fire, as it is written: “The flaming fire His servants” (Psalms 104:4), and Israel likewise, as it is written: “The house of Jacob will be fire” (Obadiah 1:18). Angels are renewed every morning, and praise the Holy One blessed be He and then return to the river of fire from which they emerged; and the Holy One blessed be He again renews them and restores them as they had been initially, as it is stated: “They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). So, [the people of] Israel sink into iniquities due to the evil inclination that is in their bodies, and they repent. Each year, God forgives their iniquities and renews their hearts to fear Him, as it is stated: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). That is why it is written: “Fearsome as banners.”
