Midrasch zu Schir haSchirim 4:10
מַה־יָּפ֥וּ דֹדַ֖יִךְ אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּ֑ה מַה־טֹּ֤בוּ דֹדַ֙יִךְ֙ מִיַּ֔יִן וְרֵ֥יחַ שְׁמָנַ֖יִךְ מִכָּל־בְּשָׂמִֽים׃
Wie sind deine Liebkosungen süß, meine Schwester, o Braut, wie sind köstlich deine Liebkosungen, mehr als Wein, und deiner Salben Duft vor allen Gewürzen!
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride; how much better is your loving than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all spices” (Song of Songs 4:10).
“How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: In ten places Israel is called bride; six here and four in the prophets. Six here: “With me from Lebanon, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:8), “you have charmed me, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:9), “how fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:10), “your lips drip [nectar] my bride (Song of Songs 4:11), “a locked garden is my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:12), “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride (Song of Songs 5:1); these are six. And four in the prophets: “The sound of gladness and the sound of joy, the sound of a groom and the sound of a bride” (Jeremiah 33:11), “like a bride who bedecks herself with her jewelry” (Isaiah 61:10), “you will tie them like a bride” (Isaiah 49:18), “like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride” (Isaiah 62:5).
Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He donned ten garments. “The Lord reigns; He is clothed in grandeur” (Psalms 93:1); this is one. “The Lord is clothed with strength” (Psalms 93:1); this is two. “Girded” (Psalms 93:1); this is three. “He donned righteousness like armor” (Isaiah 59:17); this is four. “He donned garments of vengeance” (Isaiah 59:17); this is five. “Attire” (Isaiah 59:17); this is six. “He clothed Himself with zealotry like a coat” (Isaiah 59:17); this is seven. “This that is majestic in attire” (Isaiah 63:1); this is eight. “Why is there red on Your attire” (Isaiah 63:2); this is nine. “You are clothed in splendor and glory” (Psalms 104:1); this is ten. This is in order to exact retribution from the nations of the world who prevented Israel from fulfilling the Ten Commandments, which [Israel] was holding close to them like a bride.
“And the fragrance of your oils than all spices” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Just like this oil is odorless, but, by means of scenting it you smell several fragrances, so too, you expound this verse and find several good ideas.
“How fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: In ten places Israel is called bride; six here and four in the prophets. Six here: “With me from Lebanon, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:8), “you have charmed me, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:9), “how fair is your loving, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:10), “your lips drip [nectar] my bride (Song of Songs 4:11), “a locked garden is my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:12), “I came to my garden, my sister, my bride (Song of Songs 5:1); these are six. And four in the prophets: “The sound of gladness and the sound of joy, the sound of a groom and the sound of a bride” (Jeremiah 33:11), “like a bride who bedecks herself with her jewelry” (Isaiah 61:10), “you will tie them like a bride” (Isaiah 49:18), “like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride” (Isaiah 62:5).
Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He donned ten garments. “The Lord reigns; He is clothed in grandeur” (Psalms 93:1); this is one. “The Lord is clothed with strength” (Psalms 93:1); this is two. “Girded” (Psalms 93:1); this is three. “He donned righteousness like armor” (Isaiah 59:17); this is four. “He donned garments of vengeance” (Isaiah 59:17); this is five. “Attire” (Isaiah 59:17); this is six. “He clothed Himself with zealotry like a coat” (Isaiah 59:17); this is seven. “This that is majestic in attire” (Isaiah 63:1); this is eight. “Why is there red on Your attire” (Isaiah 63:2); this is nine. “You are clothed in splendor and glory” (Psalms 104:1); this is ten. This is in order to exact retribution from the nations of the world who prevented Israel from fulfilling the Ten Commandments, which [Israel] was holding close to them like a bride.
“And the fragrance of your oils than all spices” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Just like this oil is odorless, but, by means of scenting it you smell several fragrances, so too, you expound this verse and find several good ideas.
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