Sometimes, the answer lies not in the present, but in the deep echoes of the past, in the merit of our ancestors. Let's dive into a fascinating exploration of this idea, as seen through the lens of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the great commentary on the Song of Songs.
We begin with a verse from Song of Songs, "Your hair is like a flock of goats" (Song of Songs 4:1). Rabbi Huna, in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, interprets this verse in connection to the crossing of the Jordan River. He suggests that the Israelites were only able to cross the Jordan because of the merit of our patriarch, Jacob. It’s a powerful idea, isn't it? That the actions of someone long gone could pave the way for future generations.
Rabbi Huna connects this idea to the verse in Joshua 4:22, "You shall inform your children, saying: Israel crossed [this Jordan] on dry land." Notice that the verse uses "Israel" rather than the more common "children of Israel." Rabbi Huna sees this as a hint that they crossed in the merit of Israel, meaning Jacob.
Rabbi Yudan, quoting Rabbi Yoḥanan, takes this idea even further. He says that we find evidence in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings that Israel crossed the Jordan only because of Jacob's merit.
He points to Genesis 32:11, "For with my staff I crossed this Jordan," spoken by Jacob himself. In the Prophets, he reiterates Joshua 4:22. And in the Writings, Psalm 114:5 asks, "What is it, sea, that makes you flee? The Jordan, [that you turn back?]", answering that it retreats "from before the God of Jacob" (Psalm 114:7). It's a powerful image – the very river bending to the will of God, acting on the merit of Jacob.
The midrash then shifts to another verse from Song of Songs 4:1, "That streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad." Here, the Rabbis see an allusion to the Jordan River, "the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered it a memorial for the nations of the world." What was taken away? "Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes" (Song of Songs 4:2) – which is interpreted as the plunder from Siḥon and Og, the mighty kings defeated before the crossing. According to the Etz Yosef commentary, the "ordered ewes" refer to the rows of soldiers.
And it continues! "That have come up from bathing" (Song of Songs 4:2). Rabbi Elazar boldly states that the land of Canaan was conquered with sixty thousand soldiers. The commentaries grapple with how this number is derived, but the essential idea is that a well-ordered army of that size was key to the conquest. Rabbi Elazar emphasizes that any war involving more than sixty thousand soldiers would descend into chaos.
Then, Rabbi Yehuda, in the name of Ḥizkiya, points out the seemingly inexact numbers used in scripture. For example, Joshua 4:13 states "About forty thousand, the vanguard of the army," while I Chronicles 5:18 states "Forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty." Rabbi Aḥa offers a solution: they started with complete thousands, but some perished along the way.
The midrash continues, interpreting phrases like "That are all paired [matimot]" (Song of Songs 4:2) as referring to the balance between the vanguard and the rearguard, and "And there is none missing among them" (Song of Songs 4:2) as meaning that none were harmed.
"Your lips are like a scarlet thread" (Song of Songs 4:3) represents the people's obedience to Joshua, saying, "Everything that you commanded us we will perform…" (Joshua 1:16). "Your speech is lovely" (Song of Songs 4:3) is their pledge of loyalty: "Anyone who will defy your word…will die" (Joshua 1:18).
Joshua, impressed by their dedication, praises them: "Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice" (Song of Songs 4:3) – meaning even the empty [hareikan] among you is packed with Torah like a pomegranate is packed with seeds. The commentary continues, relating "Behind your braid [letzamatekh]" (Song of Songs 4:3) to the modest and fervent [metzumatin] among them.
"Your neck is like the tower of [kemigdal] David" alludes to how David elevated [gidel] them in his book, saying, "Who smote great kings" (Psalms 136:17). "Built magnificently [letalpiyot]" refers to a book recited by many mouths [piyot]. "One thousand bucklers" symbolizes the protection afforded to those who crossed the Jordan, only because of the merit of the one who came after one thousand generations – Moses.
And it doesn't stop there. "All the shields of the mighty" represents anyone who overcomes their inclination, like Moses, David, and Ezra. Their entire generation depends on them. Ultimately, the crossing of the Jordan was due to "your two breasts" (Song of Songs 4:5) – Joshua and Elazar.
So what does it all mean? This passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah isn't just about a historical event. It's about the enduring power of merit, the connection between generations, and the importance of leadership. It suggests that our actions today can ripple through time, impacting those who come after us, just as the actions of our ancestors paved the way for us. Think about that – what kind of legacy are we building? How will our actions impact the future? It's a question worth pondering.