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?
“And we will gaze upon you.” The nations of the world say to Israel: Until when will you die for the sake of your God and be devoted to Him? That is what is written: “Therefore the young women love you” (Song of Songs 1:3). And until when will you be killed for His sake? As it is written: “For we are killed for Your sake all day” (Psalms 44:23). And until when will you perform acts of kindness on His behalf, and for Him Himself, while He repays you with harshness? Come over to us and we will appoint you dukes, governors, and generals. “And we will gaze [veneḥezeh] upon you,” you will be the focus [meḥezyatei] of the world. That is what is written: “You shall discern [teḥezeh] from among the entire people [capable men… to be leaders of thousands…]” (Exodus 18:21). Israel responds to them: “Why will you gaze at the Shulamite like at a dance of two companies?” Have you ever heard that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob engaged in idol worship, such that their descendants would engage in idol worship in their wake? Our ancestors did not engage in idol worship and we, in their wake, will not engage in idol worship. But what can you do for us? [You can perform] a dance like that performed for Jacob our patriarch when he departed from the house of Lavan.3You cannot accord us honor after we become idolators, because that will never happen, but you can accord us honor nonetheless. The reference to dance is due to the conclusion of the verse: “like a dance of two companies.” Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Six hundred thousand angels were dancing and frolicking before Jacob our patriarch upon his departure from the house of Lavan. The Rabbis say: One million and two hundred thousand; that is what is written: “Jacob said when he saw them: This is the camp [maḥaneh] of God” (Genesis 32:3), this is six hundred thousand;4“The camp of God” refers to a camp in which God rests His presence. The model for such a camp is the Israelite camp in the wilderness, in which there were six hundred thousand men, and in which God rested His presence (see Bereshit Rabba 74:17). “he called the name of that place Maḥanayim” (Genesis 32:3),5Maḥanayim literally means two camps. this is one million and two hundred thousand. Or can you perhaps perform for us a dance like that performed for our ancestors at the sea, as it is stated: “The angel of God traveled” (Exodus 14:19). Or can you perhaps perform for us a dance like that performed for Elisha, as it is stated: “The attendant of the man of God arose early and he set out, and behold, an army was surrounding the city, with horse and chariot. His attendant said to him: Alas, my master, what shall we do? (II Kings 6:15). And it is written: “He said: Fear not, as there are more who are with us than who are with them” (II Kings 6:16). Immediately, “Elisha prayed and he said: Lord, please open up his eyes and he will see. The Lord opened the attendant's eyes and he saw, and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and a chariot of fire, surrounding Elisha” (II Kings 6:17). Or can you perhaps perform for us a dance like that which the Holy One blessed be He is destined to perform for the righteous in the future? Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, Ulla of Birya and Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: In the future, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to lead a dance for the righteous, as it is stated: “Pay attention to its ramparts [leḥeila]” (Psalms 48:14); to the dance [leḥola] is written.6The word is in fact written leḥeila. See Rabbi David Luria’s commentary to Vayikra Rabba 11:9. And they will point to Him with their finger, as it is stated: “For this is God, our God, for ever and ever, He will guide us beyond death [al mut]” (Psalms 48:15), like young women [alamot], like the dance of the righteous.
