Midrash for Isaiah 4:1
וְהֶחֱזִיקוּ֩ שֶׁ֨בַע נָשִׁ֜ים בְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֗ד בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לַחְמֵ֣נוּ נֹאכֵ֔ל וְשִׂמְלָתֵ֖נוּ נִלְבָּ֑שׁ רַ֗ק יִקָּרֵ֤א שִׁמְךָ֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ אֱסֹ֖ף חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃ (ס)
And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying: ‘We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.’
Eikhah Rabbah
“They ravished women in Zion, maidens in the cities of Judah” (Lamentations 5:11).
“They ravished women in Zion.” Nevuzaradan commanded his legions, saying to them: ‘The God of these hates lewdness, make certain that you do not touch a married woman.’ When the women heard this, they would go and say to a man: ‘We will eat from our own, we will clothe ourselves from our own, just let us be called by your name.’ That is what is written: “Seven women will grasp one man…” (Isaiah 4:1). Except for three women who were indolent, did not do so, and were ravished. That is why it says: “They ravished women in Zion, maidens [betulot] in the cities of Judah,” betulat is written.13The word maidens [betulot] is written without a vav so that it can be read in the singular, betulat. Thus, the word “women” is plural, denoting two, and the word maiden is singular, implying that three women were ravished.
“They ravished women in Zion.” Nevuzaradan commanded his legions, saying to them: ‘The God of these hates lewdness, make certain that you do not touch a married woman.’ When the women heard this, they would go and say to a man: ‘We will eat from our own, we will clothe ourselves from our own, just let us be called by your name.’ That is what is written: “Seven women will grasp one man…” (Isaiah 4:1). Except for three women who were indolent, did not do so, and were ravished. That is why it says: “They ravished women in Zion, maidens [betulot] in the cities of Judah,” betulat is written.13The word maidens [betulot] is written without a vav so that it can be read in the singular, betulat. Thus, the word “women” is plural, denoting two, and the word maiden is singular, implying that three women were ravished.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy