They understood that a community, just like a person, needs eyes to see, to discern, to navigate the complexities of life.
And where do we find these "eyes"? The answer, surprisingly, lies in the beautiful, poetic verses of the Song of Songs, or Shir HaShirim. Specifically, in the verse, "Your eyes are pools in Ḥeshbon."
Now, when we hear "eyes," we might think of physical eyes, but the Rabbis in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classic commentary on the Song of Songs, see something deeper. They interpret "your eyes" as referring to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin, of course, was the ancient Jewish high court, comprised of seventy-one learned scholars. They were the eyes of the congregation, the ones who provided guidance and made crucial decisions. As the verse says in Numbers 15:24, "It shall be, if from the eyes of the congregation…"
Think about it: just like our bodies rely on our eyes to function, so too did Israel rely on the Sanhedrin. The text emphasizes that there are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, and all of them follow the eyes. Similarly, Israel is unable to do anything without its Sanhedrin. It was the central body that provided direction and leadership.
But why "pools in Ḥeshbon"? What's the significance of Ḥeshbon? Ḥeshbon, in Hebrew, means "calculation" or "reckoning." This refers to the careful and meticulous process of judgment that the Sanhedrin undertook. Each case was weighed, each argument considered.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah goes on to explain that in matters of judgment, thirty-six members of the Sanhedrin had to vote to exonerate someone for them to be acquitted. Can you imagine the weight of such a decision? The lives, the futures, that hung in the balance?
And what about "by the gate of Bat Rabim?" This, we're told, refers to the halakha, the Jewish law, that emerges from the court and is then disseminated to the multitudes. It's like the wisdom of the Sanhedrin flowing out to the people, guiding their actions and shaping their lives. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi connects this to the verse "Inclining after the majority [rabim]" (Exodus 23:2), highlighting the importance of following the collective wisdom of the sages.
So, what's the takeaway here? Is it just an interesting interpretation of a biblical verse? I think it's much more. It's a reminder of the importance of leadership, of guidance, and of having wise counsel in our lives. Whether it's a formal body like the Sanhedrin, or the mentors, teachers, and friends we turn to for advice, we all need those "eyes" to help us navigate the complexities of the world. And just like the Sanhedrin of old, we should strive to find those voices of wisdom and discernment, those who can help us see clearly and make informed decisions.