פירוש על שיר השירים 1:8

If you do not know. This is the shepherd’s reply, “If you do not know where you should go to pasture your sheep, you, O fairest of women, for the shepherd has ceased leading them³¹If you are uncertain about a matter of law, follow in the footsteps of your forefathers and follow their tradition. (Sforno) —

The Glory replies: If you do not know, O fairest of women the cause of my removal and the delay of the End and desire to return with your children to your cities and to your place, go follow the tracks of the sheep—direct your children with goodly instruction—in rectitude, fear of heaven, and propriety, so that they might hold fast to My service and faith and follow the practice of the patriarchs and shepherds rather than the nations’ laws, which are vain and deceitful. So Ezekiel expounds: “Cast away, every one of you, the detestable things that you are drawn to, and do not defile yourselves with the fetishes of Egypt. I am the Lord your God …” [20:7]. “Walk in My statutes …” [20:19]. Daniel promised that throughout this lengthy period of exile, Israel would observe Torah and hold fast to their faith, as it is written: “The enlightened will shine like the radiance of the firmament and those who lead the multitudes to righteousness will be like the stars forever” [Dan. 12:3].

Go forth in the footsteps of the sheep. Look at the footsteps, the way that the sheep went, and the footsteps are discernible;” traces in O.F. There are many similar instances [of עקב in Scripture, “and Your footsteps וְעִקְּבוֹתֶיךָ were not known,”³²Tehillim 77:20. [and] “your steps עֲקֵבָיִךְ were cut off,”³³Yirmiyahu 13:22. [and] “And it will return on its heel עָקֵב,”³⁴Bereishis 49:19. [meaning] that they will return in their tracks.³⁵Alternatively, one who seeks God [symbolized by the shepherd], should follow the footsteps of the flock until he reaches the “shepherd.” (Sefer Duda’im) You go on that path. And pasture your kids

near the dwellings of the shepherds. Among the dwellings of the other shepherds whom you are near. This is the allegory: If you do not know, My assembly and My congregation, O fairest of women, among other nations, where you should pasture and be saved from the hand of those who oppress you, to be among them, and not have your children perish, ponder the ways of your early ancestors, who accepted My Torah and kept My ordinance and My commandments, and go in their ways. As a reward for this, you will pasture your kids near the princes of the nations. And similarly Yirmiyahu said, “Set up markers for yourself ... set your heart to the path, etc.”³⁶Yirmiyahu 31:20.