Shemot Rabbah turns to Moses Sings and the Bond Between God and Israel Endures.
” Rabbi Levi offers a powerful image: Usually, a bride is adorned and perfumed before being led to the wedding canopy. But God didn't do that with Israel. Instead, God says, "With me from Lebanon, my bride… from the mortar and the bricks [levenim] I have taken you, and I have rendered you a bride.” God chose Israel not in their glory, but in their hardship, in the very depths of their slavery in Egypt.
Why "Lebanon" twice? The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) connects "Lebanon" to the Temple, which was also called Lebanon. It suggests that God is saying, "With Me you have been exiled from the Temple that is called Lebanon." But it doesn't stop there. The repetition hints at a future redemption, a return with God from exile. The Holy One says, "With Me you will return," echoing the initial call.
So, where does God go when Israel is exiled? Does God abandon them? Absolutely not! The text brings several verses to prove the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, accompanies Israel into exile. (Isaiah 43:14) says, “Because of you I sent to Babylon.” We also see Ezekiel receiving prophecy in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:3) and Daniel by the Tigris River (Daniel 10:4). Even (Leviticus 26:44) assures us that God will not forsake Israel, even in the land of their enemies. It's a constant reassurance: "I am the Lord their God." This is a profound statement about God's unwavering commitment.
The Midrash continues, linking this idea of exile and return to other kingdoms also called “Lebanon,” like Assyria (Ezekiel 31:3). It even quotes (Micah 2:13): “The one who breaches goes before them…and their king passed before them and God is at their head.” It’s a powerful image of God leading the people out of exile.
Then comes the verse, "Look from the top of Amana" (Song of Songs 4:8). Rabbi Yusta says Amana is a mountain marking the border of Israel. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosei adds that when the exiles reach Amana on their return, they will sing! That's why it says, "Look from the top of Amana.” It's a place of hope, a place of future rejoicing.
But why will Israel sing? What makes them worthy of this future redemption? The answer, according to Rabbi Nehemya, is emuna – faith. Israel merited to sing at the sea because "The people believed" (Exodus 4:31) and "They believed in the Lord" (Exodus 14:31). But Rabbi Shimon bar Abba takes it even further. He connects it all the way back to Abraham, the original believer. As (Genesis 15:6) says, "He believed in God." This faith, this emuna, is the foundation upon which Israel's redemption is built.
The Midrash cleverly interprets "Look [tashuri] from the top [rosh] of Amana" to mean: "You will sing [tashiri] due to the leader [rosh] of those who had faith [emuna]," namely, Abraham. It's all connected: The exile, the redemption, the song, and the enduring faith of Abraham.
So, what does this all mean for us? It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, when we feel like we’re stuck in the "mortar and bricks" of our own lives, we are not alone. God is with us, just as God was with Israel in Egypt, in Babylon, and in every exile throughout history. And just as Israel sang at the Sea of Reeds, and will sing again upon their return, we too can find our voice, our song of hope and faith, even in the midst of our struggles. Because, ultimately, our story is part of that grand, epic love story between God and humanity.
Another matter, “then Moses…sang” – that is what is written: “With me from Lebanon, my bride, [with me from Lebanon, come]” (Song of Songs 4:8). Rabbi Levi said: The standard practice is that a bride is adorned and perfumed and then she is taken to the wedding canopy. But the Holy One blessed be He did not do so, but rather, He said to the congregation of Israel: “With me from Lebanon [Levanon], my bride,” – from the mortar and the bricks [levenim] I have taken you, and I have rendered you a bride. Why does it say “with me from Lebanon” twice? The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘With Me you have been exiled from the Temple that is called Lebanon, as it is stated: “I climbed the highest mountain to the ends of Lebanon”’ (Isaiah 37:24). From where is it derived that the Divine Presence went with Israel into exile? It is as it is stated: “Because of you I sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14), and it says: “The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest” (Ezekiel 1:3).4This prophecy took place in Babylon. Likewise, Daniel says: “I was by the side of the great river, the Tigris” (Daniel 10:4). Likewise Moses said: “But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their enemies…I am not able to forsake them…as I am the Lord their God” (Leviticus 26:44). I have acted due to the sanctity of My name, and with Me you will return; that is what is written: “With me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon, come” (Song of Songs 4:8). From the kingdoms that are called Lebanon, as it is stated: “Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon” (Ezekiel 31:3). Likewise it says: “The one who breaches goes before them…and their king passed before them and God is at their head” (Micha 2:13).5God leads them out of exile, from the kingdoms called Lebanon. “Look from the top of Amana” (Song of Songs 4:8). Rabbi Yusta said: ‘There is a mountain named Amana. Until that mountain is the Land of Israel, and beyond it is outside the Land.’ Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosei said: When the exiles will reach there,6On their return from the exile. they will recite song; that is why it says: “Look from the top of Amana.” Alternatively, “look from the top of Amana [from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of leopards]” (Song of Songs 4:8). Israel is destined to recite song in the future, as it is stated: “Sing to the Lord a new song; as He has performed wonders” (Psalms 98:1). Due to whose merit does Israel recite song? It is due to the merit of Abraham, who believed in the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: ”He believed in God” (Genesis 15:6). This is the faith [emuna] by virtue of which Israel inherits [the Land], and in his regard, the verse states: “But the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4); that is: “Look from the top of Amana.” “From the top of Senir” – due to the merit of Isaac; “and Hermon” – due to the merit of Jacob; “from the lions’ den” – the Babylonian and Persian exile; “from the mountains of leopards” – this is Edom. Another matter, “look from the top of Amana” – Rabbi Neḥemya said: Israel merited to recite song at the sea only due to the merit of belief [emuna], as it is stated: “The people believed” (Exodus 4:31), and it is written: “They believed in the Lord” (Exodus 14:31). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Could they have seen all those miracles that were performed on their behalf and not have believed? Rather, Rabbi Shimon bar Abba said: It is because of the belief that Abraham believed in the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated; “He believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). Because of it, Israel merited to recite song, as it is stated: “Then Moses…sang” – that is: “Look from the top of Amana.”7The midrash interprets the verse “Look [tashuri] from the top [rosh] of Amana” to mean: You will sing [tashiri] due to the leader [rosh] of those who had faith [emuna], namely Abraham.
