Midrash sobre Daniel 5:17
בֵּאדַ֜יִן עָנֵ֣ה דָנִיֵּ֗אל וְאָמַר֙ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א מַתְּנָתָךְ֙ לָ֣ךְ לֶֽהֶוְיָ֔ן וּנְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖ךְ לְאָחֳרָ֣ן הַ֑ב בְּרַ֗ם כְּתָבָא֙ אֶקְרֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א וּפִשְׁרָ֖א אֲהוֹדְעִנֵּֽהּ׃
Entonces Daniel respondió, y dijo delante del rey: Tus dones sean para ti, y tus presentes dalos á otro. La escritura yo la leeré al rey, y le mostraré la declaración.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“How fair you are and how pleasant you are, love, in delights” (Song of Songs 7:7).
“How fair you are and how pleasant you are,” how fair you are in the mitzvot, how pleasant you are in the performance of acts of kindness. “How fair you are” in positive mitzvot “and how pleasant you are” in prohibitions. “How fair you are” in the mitzvot of the house, in the distribution of teruma and tithes, “and how pleasant you are” in the mitzvot of the field, in gleanings, forgotten sheaves, produce in the corner of the field, the tithe given to the poor, and in renunciation of ownership.43During the Sabbatical year one is required to renounce ownership of the produce of one’s field. “How fair you are” in diverse kinds, “and how pleasant you are” in a garment with ritual fringes.44The midrash praises Israel for observing the prohibition of “diverse kinds,” which includes various types of forbidden mixtures, one of which is combining wool and linen in a garment. However, it was permitted to affix ritual fringes, which must include wool strings dyed sky-blue, to a linen garment. “How fair you are” in planting, “and how pleasant you are” in orla.45In observing the mitzva that prohibits eating or deriving benefit from the fruit that grows on a tree during the first three years after its planting. “How fair you are” in the produce of the fourth year “and how pleasant you are” in circumcision. “How fair you are” in uncovering46This is the completion of the act of circumcision, in which the thin membrane underneath the foreskin is removed. “and how pleasant you are” in prayer. “How fair you are” in the reciting of Shema “and how pleasant you are” in mezuza. “How fair you are” in phylacteries “and how pleasant you are” in sukka. “How fair you are” in lulav “and how pleasant you are” in repentance. “How fair you are” in good deeds “and how pleasant you are” in this world. “How fair you are” in the World to Come “and how pleasant you are” in the messianic era.
“Love, in delights,” this is the love of Abraham our patriarch, who excused himself before the king of Sodom.47He refused to receive the goods, or earthly delights, offered by the king of Sodom. That is what is written: “Abram said to the king of Sodom: I have raised my hand to the Lord…if so much as a thread to a shoelace, [or if I will take from anything of yours” (Genesis 14:22–23).
Another matter, “love, in delights,” this is the love of Daniel, who excused himself before Belshatzar, as it is stated: “Let your gifts be for you, and your grants [unvazbeyatakh] give to another” (Daniel 5:17). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Nevoz means head. There they would call the governor nevuzbezatakh. Rabbi Berekhya said: Your plunders [bizbuzekha]; you are plunderers sons of plunderers. The parable says: From one who inherited and not from one who plundered.
“How fair you are and how pleasant you are,” how fair you are in the mitzvot, how pleasant you are in the performance of acts of kindness. “How fair you are” in positive mitzvot “and how pleasant you are” in prohibitions. “How fair you are” in the mitzvot of the house, in the distribution of teruma and tithes, “and how pleasant you are” in the mitzvot of the field, in gleanings, forgotten sheaves, produce in the corner of the field, the tithe given to the poor, and in renunciation of ownership.43During the Sabbatical year one is required to renounce ownership of the produce of one’s field. “How fair you are” in diverse kinds, “and how pleasant you are” in a garment with ritual fringes.44The midrash praises Israel for observing the prohibition of “diverse kinds,” which includes various types of forbidden mixtures, one of which is combining wool and linen in a garment. However, it was permitted to affix ritual fringes, which must include wool strings dyed sky-blue, to a linen garment. “How fair you are” in planting, “and how pleasant you are” in orla.45In observing the mitzva that prohibits eating or deriving benefit from the fruit that grows on a tree during the first three years after its planting. “How fair you are” in the produce of the fourth year “and how pleasant you are” in circumcision. “How fair you are” in uncovering46This is the completion of the act of circumcision, in which the thin membrane underneath the foreskin is removed. “and how pleasant you are” in prayer. “How fair you are” in the reciting of Shema “and how pleasant you are” in mezuza. “How fair you are” in phylacteries “and how pleasant you are” in sukka. “How fair you are” in lulav “and how pleasant you are” in repentance. “How fair you are” in good deeds “and how pleasant you are” in this world. “How fair you are” in the World to Come “and how pleasant you are” in the messianic era.
“Love, in delights,” this is the love of Abraham our patriarch, who excused himself before the king of Sodom.47He refused to receive the goods, or earthly delights, offered by the king of Sodom. That is what is written: “Abram said to the king of Sodom: I have raised my hand to the Lord…if so much as a thread to a shoelace, [or if I will take from anything of yours” (Genesis 14:22–23).
Another matter, “love, in delights,” this is the love of Daniel, who excused himself before Belshatzar, as it is stated: “Let your gifts be for you, and your grants [unvazbeyatakh] give to another” (Daniel 5:17). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Nevoz means head. There they would call the governor nevuzbezatakh. Rabbi Berekhya said: Your plunders [bizbuzekha]; you are plunderers sons of plunderers. The parable says: From one who inherited and not from one who plundered.
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