Ever read the Song of Songs and thought, "Wait, is this... about breasts?" Well, you’re not wrong! But in the world of Jewish interpretation, things are rarely just what they seem. Take this verse from Song of Songs 4:5: "Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies." Beautiful imagery, right? But what does it mean?
Well, Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classic rabbinic commentary on Song of Songs, takes us on a fascinating journey, connecting this sensual imagery to something far more profound: the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
The commentary states plainly: "Your two breasts – these are Moses and Aaron." Why? Because, it argues, just as breasts are a source of beauty, honor, and nourishment for a woman, so too were Moses and Aaron for the Israelites.
Think about it. Breasts are the "splendor and the glory" of a woman, and Moses and Aaron were the "splendor and the glory of Israel." Breasts are filled with milk, and Moses and Aaron filled Israel with Torah. As it says in Exodus 4:28, "Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord." The Rabbis even say that he revealed to him the Shem HaMeforash, the ineffable name of God! They shared the deepest secrets, the most profound wisdom.
And here's a beautiful detail: "Just as the breasts, one of them is not larger than the other, so it was with Moses and Aaron." We find this reflected in the way the Torah phrases their names at times, sometimes saying "Moses and Aaron" (Exodus 6:27), and other times "Aaron and Moses" (Exodus 6:26). Neither was greater than the other in Torah. Rabbi Abba uses the analogy of a king with two perfect pearls, perfectly balanced on a scale. That’s how Moses and Aaron were: equal in their greatness.
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa even declares, "Blessed is the Omnipresent who selected these two brothers, who were created only for the Torah and for the glory of Israel."
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, quoting Rabbi Levi, brings an interesting story from Alexandria. Apparently, there were two families of priests, one with a cold body temperature and the other with a hot one. Doctors found that a combination of tissue from both families created a healing ointment. Similarly, Moses and Aaron complemented each other in leading Israel. They brought different strengths to the table, creating a powerful and effective leadership.
Rava, in the name of Rabbi Shimon, shares a powerful idea about divine healing. Usually, we see the wound and then prepare the dressing. But God, in His infinite wisdom, prepares the remedy before the affliction. As Jeremiah 33:6 says, "Behold I am bringing it a remedy and a cure, and I will heal them…" He prepared the cure for Jerusalem before He struck it. This idea is further reinforced by Hosea 7:1, which states when God heals Israel, "the iniquity of Ephraim and the evils of Samaria will be revealed." Only after preparing the cure will they be taken to task for their wickedness.
This is contrasted with how God treats other nations, who are struck and then healed. As Isaiah 19:22 states, "The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing." The commentary connects this to Moses and Aaron again, suggesting that the striking came by means of Aaron and the healing by means of Moses.
The passage concludes with a reiteration of the brothers' blessed status. It quotes the prophet Samuel saying, "The Lord who produced Moses and Aaron" (I Samuel 12:6). And then, full circle, back to where we started: "That is 'your two breasts' – these are Moses and Aaron."
So, the next time you read the Song of Songs, remember this interpretation. It’s a reminder that even the most sensual and earthly imagery can point us towards deeper spiritual truths. It's about the nourishing power of leadership, the importance of balance and complementarity, and the idea that true leaders, like Moses and Aaron, can be a source of glory and healing for an entire nation. What does it mean for us, today, to be "breasts" for our community – to nourish, uplift, and bring honor to those around us? That's something worth pondering.