The passage opens with the nations of the world addressing Israel, essentially saying, "Why do you keep suffering for your God? Why do you keep dying for Him?" As it says in Psalms 44:23, "For we are killed for Your sake all day." They continue, "Why do you do acts of kindness for Him when He repays you with harshness? Come join us! We'll make you dukes, governors, generals! You'll be the center of attention, the focus of the world [meḥezyatei]!" The implication is clear: abandon your faith, and you'll be rewarded handsomely.
The nations say, "And we will gaze [veneḥezeh] upon you," suggesting that Israel will become the focal point of the world's admiration. This is connected to the verse in Exodus 18:21, "You shall discern [teḥezeh] from among the entire people capable men…". The nations are offering Israel leadership and prominence if they abandon their faith.
But how does Israel respond to this tempting offer? They reply, "Why will you gaze at the Shulamite like at a dance of two companies?" It's a rhetorical question, a challenge. "Do you think we'd ever abandon the path of our ancestors?" They argue, "Have you ever heard of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob engaging in idol worship? Our ancestors didn't, and neither will we!"
The text then explores what kind of "dance" the nations could offer Israel. Could they create a celebration like the one for Jacob when he left Lavan's house? Rabbi Berekhya, in the name of Rabbi Levi, says that six hundred thousand angels danced before Jacob (or, according to the Rabbis, one million two hundred thousand!). Genesis 32:3 tells us, "Jacob said when he saw them: This is the camp [maḥaneh] of God," which is interpreted as representing six hundred thousand. "Maḥanayim," the name of the place, literally means "two camps," implying one million two hundred thousand. Can the nations match that divine celebration?
Or perhaps they could recreate the miracle at the sea, when the angel of God traveled with the Israelites (Exodus 14:19). Or conjure up the protective forces surrounding Elisha, as described in II Kings 6:15-17, when the mountain was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
The passage culminates with a vision of the future, a dance led by the Holy One, blessed be He, for the righteous. Rabbi Ḥanina says that in the future, God will lead a dance for the righteous, as it is stated in Psalms 48:14, "Pay attention to its ramparts [leḥeila]” – which is interpreted as "to the dance [leḥola]". And the righteous will point to Him, saying, "For this is God, our God, forever and ever, He will guide us beyond death [al mut]" (Psalms 48:15), like young women [alamot], like the dance of the righteous.
Ultimately, this passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah reminds us of the enduring power of faith and the importance of staying true to our values, even when faced with tempting alternatives. It asks us: what kind of "dance" are we chasing? And are we willing to compromise our integrity for a fleeting moment in the spotlight?