כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ מָצְאָ֣ה יָדִ֔י לְמַמְלְכֹ֖ת הָאֱלִ֑יל וּפְסִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם מִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וּמִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃
Como halló mi mano los reinos de los ídolos, siendo sus imágenes más que Jerusalem y Samaria;
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“You are fair, my love, like Tirtza, lovely like Jerusalem, formidable like banners” (Song of Songs 6:4).
“You are fair, my love, like Tirtza.” Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon interpreted the verse regarding offerings. “You are fair, my love, like Tirtza,” these are the offerings, as you achieve acceptance [mitratzim] with offerings, just as you say: “It will be accepted [venirtza] for him, to atone for him” (Leviticus 1:4). “Lovely like Jerusalem,” these are the consecrations in Jerusalem, just as it says: “Like the consecrated flock, like the flock of Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 36:38).
Another matter, “you are fair, my love, like Tirtza,” these are the women of the generation of the wilderness [tiran], as Rabbi said: The women of the generation of the wilderness were upright. They stood and asserted themselves and did not give their rings for the incident of the Golden Calf. They said: If the Holy One blessed be He smashed the hard idol, this soft idol, all the more so.6If God smashed the idols of Egypt, how much more so this golden calf. They referred to the idols of Egypt as hard because they were made from stone, which is harder than gold, or because the Egyptians worshipped Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, which is harder to destroy than a golden calf (see Etz Yosef). “Lovely like Jerusalem,” as anyone who wants and seeks molds of Peor, he would go and find in Jerusalem; that is what is written: “And their idols from Jerusalem and from Samaria” (Isaiah 10:10).7The midrash means that Israel is lovely to God for distancing themselves from the idols that had become ubiquitous even in Jerusalem and Samaria (Matnot Kehuna).
“You are fair, my love, like Tirtza.” Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon interpreted the verse regarding offerings. “You are fair, my love, like Tirtza,” these are the offerings, as you achieve acceptance [mitratzim] with offerings, just as you say: “It will be accepted [venirtza] for him, to atone for him” (Leviticus 1:4). “Lovely like Jerusalem,” these are the consecrations in Jerusalem, just as it says: “Like the consecrated flock, like the flock of Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 36:38).
Another matter, “you are fair, my love, like Tirtza,” these are the women of the generation of the wilderness [tiran], as Rabbi said: The women of the generation of the wilderness were upright. They stood and asserted themselves and did not give their rings for the incident of the Golden Calf. They said: If the Holy One blessed be He smashed the hard idol, this soft idol, all the more so.6If God smashed the idols of Egypt, how much more so this golden calf. They referred to the idols of Egypt as hard because they were made from stone, which is harder than gold, or because the Egyptians worshipped Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, which is harder to destroy than a golden calf (see Etz Yosef). “Lovely like Jerusalem,” as anyone who wants and seeks molds of Peor, he would go and find in Jerusalem; that is what is written: “And their idols from Jerusalem and from Samaria” (Isaiah 10:10).7The midrash means that Israel is lovely to God for distancing themselves from the idols that had become ubiquitous even in Jerusalem and Samaria (Matnot Kehuna).
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter, “craft for you two silver trumpets” – this is what the verse said: “Fear the Lord, my son, and the king” (Proverbs 24:21). What is “and the king”? Crown Him king over you. Alternatively, “and the king” – crown the good inclination over the evil inclination, that is called king, as it is stated: “A great king came to it and surrounded it” (Ecclesiastes 9:14).7See Nedarim 32b, where the great king is identified as the evil inclination.
Another matter, “and the king” – is it, perhaps, that if the king will say to you: ‘Engage in idol worship,’ you should heed him? The verse states: “Fear the Lord.” So we found regarding Nebuchadnezzar, who said to Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya to engage in idol worship, but they did not heed him. They said to him: “We will not worship your god, and we will not prostrate ourselves to the golden image that you have erected” (Daniel 3:18). Nebuchadnezzar said to them: ‘“Is that so, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego?” (Daniel 3:14). Is that so? Yesterday you said: Anyone who seeks to acquire an idol would go to Jerusalem, as it is stated: “And their idols from Jerusalem and Samaria” (Isaiah 10:10), and now you come to render my idol nothingness? "Is that so Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego?” Did the Holy One blessed be He not say to you that you should heed everything that the kingdom says to you, as it is stated: “I keep the king's directive, and the word of an oath to God”?’ (Ecclesiastes 8:2). They said to him: ‘You are our king for taxes and land taxes, but as far as engaging in idol worship, you and a dog are equal.’ “Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego spoke, saying to the king: Nebuchadnezzar” (Daniel 3:16). They said only: “Nebuchadnezzar. We have no need to reply to you in this matter. Behold our God, whom we worship, exists; He…will deliver us from your hand, king. Behold, if not…” (Daniel 3:16–18), whether He rescues us or does not rescue us, “let it be known to you, king, that we will not worship your gods” (Daniel 3:18). That is, “fear the Lord, my son, and the king.”
“With those who are different do not become involved” (Proverbs 24:21); with those who say there are two deities in the world, do not become involved with them, as their ultimate plight is to be eliminated from the world, as it is stated: “It will be in all the land, the utterance of the Lord, that two portions of it will be eliminated and perish, and the third will remain in it” (Zechariah 13:8). What is “the third”? These are Israel: “On that day Israel will be the third…in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 19:24). That is, “fear the Lord, my son, and the king.”
But anyone who fears the Lord will ultimately become king. From whom do you derive this? It is from Abraham. Because he feared the Lord, he became king, as it is stated: “I know that you are God-fearing” (Genesis 22:12). From where is it derived that he became king? It is, as it is stated: “To the valley of Shaveh, it is the valley of the king” (Genesis 14:17). What is “Shaveh”? They all agreed [shehishvu] and took counsel, chopped down cedar trees, crafted a throne, and seated him as king over them. Do not say that it is Abraham alone, but even Moses, who feared God, became king. That is why it is written: “Fear the Lord, my son, and the king.”8The midrash is interpreting the verse to mean "fear the Lord, my son, and become a king" (Matnot Kehuna). “Craft for you two silver trumpets” – so they will sound them before you like a king.
Another matter, “and the king” – is it, perhaps, that if the king will say to you: ‘Engage in idol worship,’ you should heed him? The verse states: “Fear the Lord.” So we found regarding Nebuchadnezzar, who said to Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya to engage in idol worship, but they did not heed him. They said to him: “We will not worship your god, and we will not prostrate ourselves to the golden image that you have erected” (Daniel 3:18). Nebuchadnezzar said to them: ‘“Is that so, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego?” (Daniel 3:14). Is that so? Yesterday you said: Anyone who seeks to acquire an idol would go to Jerusalem, as it is stated: “And their idols from Jerusalem and Samaria” (Isaiah 10:10), and now you come to render my idol nothingness? "Is that so Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego?” Did the Holy One blessed be He not say to you that you should heed everything that the kingdom says to you, as it is stated: “I keep the king's directive, and the word of an oath to God”?’ (Ecclesiastes 8:2). They said to him: ‘You are our king for taxes and land taxes, but as far as engaging in idol worship, you and a dog are equal.’ “Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego spoke, saying to the king: Nebuchadnezzar” (Daniel 3:16). They said only: “Nebuchadnezzar. We have no need to reply to you in this matter. Behold our God, whom we worship, exists; He…will deliver us from your hand, king. Behold, if not…” (Daniel 3:16–18), whether He rescues us or does not rescue us, “let it be known to you, king, that we will not worship your gods” (Daniel 3:18). That is, “fear the Lord, my son, and the king.”
“With those who are different do not become involved” (Proverbs 24:21); with those who say there are two deities in the world, do not become involved with them, as their ultimate plight is to be eliminated from the world, as it is stated: “It will be in all the land, the utterance of the Lord, that two portions of it will be eliminated and perish, and the third will remain in it” (Zechariah 13:8). What is “the third”? These are Israel: “On that day Israel will be the third…in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 19:24). That is, “fear the Lord, my son, and the king.”
But anyone who fears the Lord will ultimately become king. From whom do you derive this? It is from Abraham. Because he feared the Lord, he became king, as it is stated: “I know that you are God-fearing” (Genesis 22:12). From where is it derived that he became king? It is, as it is stated: “To the valley of Shaveh, it is the valley of the king” (Genesis 14:17). What is “Shaveh”? They all agreed [shehishvu] and took counsel, chopped down cedar trees, crafted a throne, and seated him as king over them. Do not say that it is Abraham alone, but even Moses, who feared God, became king. That is why it is written: “Fear the Lord, my son, and the king.”8The midrash is interpreting the verse to mean "fear the Lord, my son, and become a king" (Matnot Kehuna). “Craft for you two silver trumpets” – so they will sound them before you like a king.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation [(of Numb. 10:2): MAKE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS]. This text is related (to Prov. 24:21): FEAR THE LORD, MY CHILD, AND THE KING. R. Isaac bar Eleazar of Caesarea said: What wisdom made was a crown for her head.44yShab. 1:3 (or 5) (3c). Her humility made {slippers} a slipper]45Lat.: solea. for her foot.46The foot with such a covering need fear no thorns. See Gen. R. 44:12. It is written elsewhere (in Ps. 111:10): THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD and it is written (in Prov. 22:4): THE HEEL47‘QB. The Masoretic text vocalizes the word as ‘eqev which means “effect” but the word may also be vocalized as ‘aqev to mean “heel.” See Tanh. Gen. 1:1. OF HUMILITY IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD. Solomon therefore said (in Prov. 24:21): FEAR THE LORD, MY CHILD, AND THE KING. But what is the meaning of AND THE KING? Simply <this>: Make him (i.e., the Holy One) king over you.48Tanh. Numb. 3:9 cont.; Numb. R. 15:14 cont. Another interpretation (of Prov. 24:21): AND THE KING. Be king over the evil drive, which is called a king where it is stated (in Eccl. 9:14): <THERE WAS A LITTLE CITY WITH FEW PEOPLE IN IT,> AND A GREAT KING CAME AGAINST IT….49Cf. see above Gen. R. 11:1; 23:2; also Eccl. R. 4:13:1; 9:14:6, 9. Another interpretation (of Prov. 24:21): AND THE KING. "<More> than the king," lest it be supposed that, if the king says to you: Worship an idol you should heed him.50See above Gen. 2:15. The text reads (in Prov. 24:21): FEAR THE LORD, MY CHILD. Thus <when> Nebuchadnezzar told Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to worship an idol, they did not heed him. Instead they said to him (in Dan. 3:18): WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS, NOR WILL WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE IMAGE OF GOLD WHICH YOU HAVE SET UP. (Dan. 3:14:) IS IT TRUE, SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO? [Yesterday you were actually51Gk.: ontos. saying: Whoever wanted to take an idol for himself came to Jerusalem, as stated (in Is. 10:10): AND THEIR GRAVEN IMAGES WERE FROM JERUSALEM AND FROM SAMARIA.52It is in this literal sense that the midrash understands the passage. English renderings usually translate in the following sense: AND THEIR GRAVEN IMAGES EXCEEDED THOSE OF JERUSALEM AND SAMARIA. But now you have come to destroy my idol worship. (Dan. 3:14:) IS IT TRUE, SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO? Did not the Holy One say this to you that you should obey royalty in whatever it tells you, where it is stated (in Eccl. 8:2): I <SAY>: KEEP THE KING'S COMMAND? They said to him: You are king over us for taxes and crop levies;53Lat.: annona. but in regard to the service of idols, Nebuchadnezzar and a dog <have> equal <authority>. (Dan. 3:16–17:) SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO ANSWERED [AND SAID TO THE KING: O NEBUCHADNEZZAR], WE DO NOT {CARE} [NEED] <TO ANSWER YOU> IN THIS <MATTER>. IF OUR GOD <WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO SAVE US, HE SHALL SAVE US FROM THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE AND FROM YOUR HAND O KING>. They said: Whether he delivers us or whether he does not deliver us (in vs. 18): BE IT KNOWN TO YOU, <O KING, THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS NOR PAY HOMAGE TO THE IMAGE OF GOLD WHICH YOU HAVE SET UP>. Ergo (in Prov. 24:21): FEAR THE LORD, MY CHILD, AND THE KING; AND DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH THOSE WHO WOULD DIFFER, <i.e.,> DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH those who say that there are two gods in the world, for the end of <such people> is to perish from the world. It is so stated (in Zech. 13:8): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND, SAYS THE LORD, THAT TWO-THIRDS [IN IT] SHALL BE CUT OFF [AND DIE], BUT ONE-THIRD SHALL REMAIN IN IT. And who is the one-third? This is Israel as stated (in Is. 19:24): AND ISRAEL SHALL BE A THIRD <PARTNER WITH EGYPT AND ASSYRIA, A BLESSING IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH>. Ergo (in Prov. 24:21): FEAR THE LORD MY CHILD AND THE KING.