Ever read the Song of Songs and thought, "Wow, that's... descriptive?" It’s poetry, of course, but sometimes those ancient metaphors leave you scratching your head. Take Song of Songs 7:3: "Your navel is a moon-shaped goblet wherein mixed wine is not lacking; your belly is a pile of wheat hedged with lilies." Okay, beautiful imagery, sure. But what does it mean?

Well, Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, dives deep into this very verse. And the interpretation might surprise you. Ready for it?

According to the Rabbah, “Your navel… these are the Sanhedrin.”

The Sanhedrin! That's the ancient Jewish high court, the supreme council of elders. Why the navel? The Rabbah explains that just as a baby in the womb is sustained through its navel, so too Israel can accomplish nothing without the Sanhedrin. It's the life-source, the center of nourishment and guidance for the entire nation. Powerful stuff.

And that "moon-shaped goblet?" That’s a reference to the shape of the chamber where the Sanhedrin convened. Apparently, they sat in a semi-circular room – a “round chamber of admonition,” as it’s sometimes called. Avun bar Ḥisdai even pointed out that some places called the moon sahara, linking the imagery even further. We see this layout described in the Talmud, specifically in Sanhedrin 36b.

But what about the "mixed wine not lacking?" Here, the Rabbah offers a few intriguing possibilities. First, it could mean that the Sanhedrin must have no fewer than twenty-three members to be valid. There needs to be a quorum, a full cup, so to speak.

Another interpretation suggests that the Sanhedrin should always include its most distinguished member. You can't be missing your star player! The best of the best needs to be present.

And yet another idea connects the "mixed wine" to the process of halakhic (Jewish legal) decision-making. Just as diluted wine needs the right proportion of water to wine, so too the leader of the Sanhedrin would carefully analyze all sides of an issue to arrive at the correct ruling. This is supported by a reference to Nidda 19a, which discusses the ideal ratio for diluted wine, using wine from Sharon as an example. The leader is like a master mixologist, ensuring the final decision is balanced and sound.

Finally, the Rabbah offers a more poetic, almost mystical interpretation. “May the Butler of the world not be lacking.” The Butler, in this sense, is God. Just as the Psalmist declares, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1), so too may we never lack God's presence and guidance. The Sanhedrin, at its best, was a reflection of that divine guidance on Earth.

So, the next time you read Song of Songs 7:3, remember it's not just about a beautiful navel. It's about leadership, guidance, the importance of a strong and wise council, and ultimately, about our connection to something larger than ourselves. It’s a reminder that even the most sensual poetry can hold profound spiritual meaning if we're willing to look a little deeper. What other hidden meanings might be waiting for us in these ancient texts?