דָּבַ֨ק לְשׁ֥וֹן יוֹנֵ֛ק אֶל־חכּ֖וֹ בַּצָּמָ֑א עֽוֹלָלִים֙ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ לֶ֔חֶם פֹּרֵ֖שׂ אֵ֥ין לָהֶֽם׃ (ס)
Lidah bayi yang menyusu melekat pada langit-langit mulutnya karena haus; anak-anak kecil meminta roti, tetapi tak seorang pun memecahkannya bagi mereka.
Derush Chiddushei HaLevanah
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings…. – Our Sages9Sotah 30b. understood this verse as referring to [the infants who joined in the recitation of] the song [sung in appreciation of the crossing of] the Sea of Reeds. However, according to my understanding, the [words olelim v’yonkim, which are commonly translated as “babes and sucklings,” should be understood differently. I posit that] the word yonkim should not be understood as “sucklings,” i.e., [as referring to] infants who nurse from their mothers, but [instead] as referring to young children of more advanced ages. Indeed, our Sages10For instance, in Shabbos 134a. See also Yoma 75b, Sukkah 46b. use the term ינוקא, yanuka, to refer to a young child. Similarly, Rashi11In his commentary to Tehillim 8:2. interprets עוללים, olelim, [which is commonly translated as “babes,”] as referring to mankind as a whole, [interpreting the verse as follows:
In Your great humility, You established strength from the mouths of olelim and yonkim, i.e., You caused Your presence to rest in the Beis HaMikdash and You ordained that Your strength would be acknowledged by the kohanim and the Levites, who are mortals who grow in filth, like babes and sucklings, as reflected by the verse,12Iyov 16:15. ‘I soiled (olalti) my radiance with dust.’ [Similarly,] all young children are called olelim because they are [live in] filth.” In the same vein, yonkim can be interpreted as referring to young children, as our Sages employ the term. This is closer to the simple meaning of the term. Rashi understands the verse as referring to [God’s] presence in the Beis HaMikdash, where the kohanim and Levites sing before Him. [Therefore, Rashi] cannot understand olelim [as referring to children, since children do not serve in the Beis HaMikdash. Rashi must therefore use the word as a metaphor for mankind as a whole]. However, I understand olelim and yonkim as referring to children of a slightly advanced age. [This understanding is reflected by one opinion] in the Midrashic understanding of this verse. As Midrash Tehillim [comments on the above verse]:
One [Sage] understood olelim as referring to infants in their mother’s womb, as reflected by the verse,13Ibid. 3:16. “Like fetuses (olelim) that never saw light.” Another [Sage] understands olelim as referring to infants that have emerged from the womb, as reflected by the verse,14Eichah 4:4. “Infants (olalim) asked for bread.”
In Your great humility, You established strength from the mouths of olelim and yonkim, i.e., You caused Your presence to rest in the Beis HaMikdash and You ordained that Your strength would be acknowledged by the kohanim and the Levites, who are mortals who grow in filth, like babes and sucklings, as reflected by the verse,12Iyov 16:15. ‘I soiled (olalti) my radiance with dust.’ [Similarly,] all young children are called olelim because they are [live in] filth.” In the same vein, yonkim can be interpreted as referring to young children, as our Sages employ the term. This is closer to the simple meaning of the term. Rashi understands the verse as referring to [God’s] presence in the Beis HaMikdash, where the kohanim and Levites sing before Him. [Therefore, Rashi] cannot understand olelim [as referring to children, since children do not serve in the Beis HaMikdash. Rashi must therefore use the word as a metaphor for mankind as a whole]. However, I understand olelim and yonkim as referring to children of a slightly advanced age. [This understanding is reflected by one opinion] in the Midrashic understanding of this verse. As Midrash Tehillim [comments on the above verse]:
One [Sage] understood olelim as referring to infants in their mother’s womb, as reflected by the verse,13Ibid. 3:16. “Like fetuses (olelim) that never saw light.” Another [Sage] understands olelim as referring to infants that have emerged from the womb, as reflected by the verse,14Eichah 4:4. “Infants (olalim) asked for bread.”