Midrasch zu Schir haSchirim 8:8

R. Akiba expounded: "As a reward for the righteous women who lived in that generation was Israel redeemed from Egypt; for when the women went out to fill water, the Holy One, praised be He, prepared for them small fish that would be filled in their pitchers. Thus one-half of the pitcher was filled with water and the one-half with fish. They would come home and put two pots on the fire, one containing hot water and the other the fish. They would then bring it to their husbands; with the water they would wash their feet, and their limbs. They would then feed them with the fish and give them to drink, thus refreshing their husbands during such rigorous work, as it is said (Ps. 68, 14) When ye lie still between the folds of thy cattle; i.e., in reward for your lying between the folds [of your cattle] Israel merited to enjoy the spoils of the Egyptians, as it is said there. The wings of the dove are covered with silver and her pinions with the shimmer of gold. And as soon as these women became pregnant, and were about to give birth to their children they would go and give birth in the field under an apple tree; [as it is said (Songs 8, 8) Under the apple tree have I waked thee up; there thy mother brought thee forth, there brought she ye forth where she bore thee], where the Holy One, praised be He, would send a Heavenly messenger to cleanse them, make them goodlooking like a midwife that cleanses an infant, as it is said (Ez. 16, 4) And as for thy birth on the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, nor wast thou washed in water to be cleansed; and thou wast not rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling clothes, and these angels gave to them two round cakes, one of honey and one of oil, as it is said (Deut. 32, 13) And he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of flinty stone; and as soon as the Egyptians learned of their existence they would come to kill them but miracles always happened that they were swallowed by the earth and the Egyptians would bring oxen to plow over the place where they were swallowed, as it is said (Ps. 129, 3) Upon my back have plow-men plowed. After the Egyptians would leave, these youngsters would grow out from the earth like grass in the field, as it is said (Ez. 16, 7) Myriads, like the vegetation of the field, did I make of thee, etc. And after these children grew up they would come in flocks to their homes, as it is said (Ib., ib., ib.) And thou attained the highest attractions with thy breasts developed, and thy hair full grown; i.e., do not read (adiadayim ) with thy breast developed, but read it b'adri adarim, in whole flocks. And when the Holy One, praised be He, revealed Himself at the Red Sea, these recognized Him at first, as it is said (Ex. 15, 2) He is my God and I will declare His praise."

Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred (Gen. 12:9). R. Berechiah opened the discussion with the verse: We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver; and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar (Song 8:8–9). To whom does Scripture refer in this verse? It refers to Abraham at the time when Nimrod ordered that he be hurled into the fiery furnace. He was little because the Holy One, blessed be He, had not yet performed any miracles in his behalf. By why was he called “sister” (ahot)? Because he united (iha) all mankind (into a single brotherhood) before God,³Abraham’s mission was to teach the Oneness of God and the oneness of mankind. just as one who tears a garment apart and then sews it together. Hence, he was called a sister.

[(Gen. 12:1:) NOW THE LORD SAID UNTO ABRAM: GO.] R. Berekhyah the Priest opened < his teaching > (with Cant. 8:8): WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER. How does the text speak about Abraham? In that, when Nimrod cast him into the midst of the fiery furnace,⁶Gen. R. 38:13; 39:3; 44:13; Cant. R. 8:8:2; Tanh., Gen. 3:2. This tradition is based on Gen 15:17, with UR (‘ur) OF THE CHALDEES understood as FIRE (‘ur) OF THE CHALDEES. up to that time the Holy One had performed no miracles for him. The ministering angels said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the World, behold, Nimrod has cast Abraham into the midst of the fiery furnace! R. Eliezer haQappar said: WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER. < The passage > speaks of one who rends asunder < a garment in mourning > and does not sew < it > together Abraham, < however >, sewed the world together before the Holy One. Since up to then he had no children, for that reason it (Cant. 8:8) called him "SISTER." (Cant. 8:8, cont.:) WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR OUR SISTER [IN THE DAY THAT SHE IS SPOKEN FOR]? On the day that Nimrod said to throw him into the midst of the fiery furnace, the Holy One said to the ministering angels (in vs. 9): IF SHE IS A WALL, WE SHALL BUILD UPON HER A SILVER TURRET. [If he gives his life for the sanctification of the name (i.e., in martyrdom), we shall build upon it (his life) a silver turret.] (Vs. 9, cont.:) AND IF SHE IS A DOOR (DLT), WE SHALL ENCLOSE HER IN A CEDAR PANEL. If he is too wretched (DL)⁷DL corresponds to the first two letters of the Hebrew DLT, which means “door.” to give his life for the sanctification of my name, WE SHALL ENCLOSE (rt.: TsUR) HER IN CEDAR PANEL. Just as a picture (rt.: TsUR) which is on a panel is easy to erase, so it is easy for him to perish from the world when I am not looking after him. Abraham said (in vs. 10): I AM A WALL. I am giving my life for the sanctification of your name. Straightway he gave his life. How? His father, Terah, was serving idols [and worshiping them]. The Holy One said to him. These are idolaters; yet you are residing among them. (Gen. 12:1:) GO FROM YOUR < NATIVE > LAND.