קֹר֤וֹת בָּתֵּ֙ינוּ֙ אֲרָזִ֔ים רחיטנו [רַהִיטֵ֖נוּ] בְּרוֹתִֽים׃
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Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“The beams of our houses are cedars, and our panels are cypresses” (Song of Songs 1:17).
“The beams of our houses are cedars,” Rabbi Menaḥama [said] in the name of Rabbi Berekhya: The stones upon which Jacob our patriarch slept became like a bed and a duvet beneath him. What growth sprouted from it? “The beams of our houses are cedars.”307These stones became the foundation for Solomon’s Temple, which was constructed with the wood of cedar and cypress trees.
Another matter, “the beams of our houses are cedars,” these are the righteous men and righteous women, the prophets and prophetesses, who descended from him.
“The beams of our houses are cedars,” Rabbi Menaḥama [said] in the name of Rabbi Berekhya: The stones upon which Jacob our patriarch slept became like a bed and a duvet beneath him. What growth sprouted from it? “The beams of our houses are cedars.”307These stones became the foundation for Solomon’s Temple, which was constructed with the wood of cedar and cypress trees.
Another matter, “the beams of our houses are cedars,” these are the righteous men and righteous women, the prophets and prophetesses, who descended from him.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“Our panels are cypresses.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: A person does not benefit from this cypress. Why? Because it bends.308Consequently, it is not useful in construction. This is [consistent with another] opinion, of Rabbi Yoḥanan, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “I am like a fresh cypress” (Hosea 14:9). It is I309God. who bent over to eliminate the inclination of idol worship. “Ephraim: What more have I [to do with idols]” (Hosea 14:9). What do I have to do with the inclination of idol worship? “I respond [aniti]” (Hosea 14:9), I submitted [uneti] to Him: “I will gaze upon them [va’ashurenu]” (Hosea 14:9), did we not ashurenu? Did we not sing song [shira] to You?310In this verse, Israel, represented by Ephraim, is portrayed by the prophet as stating that they have given up idolatry, and that this is consistent with their history of submitting to God’s authority and singing songs to Him at the Red Sea. Rather, say: It is I who bent over to eliminate the inclination of idol worship.311God responds that it was He who eliminated the inclination for idol worship and that is why Israel has ceased worshipping idols.
Another matter, “our panels [rahitenu] are cypresses,” the place where the priests would move quickly was [overlaid] with cypress, just as you say: “He overlaid the floor of the House with boards of cypress” (I Kings 6:15). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Torah taught proper conduct. A person should roof with cedars and floor with cypresses, as it is stated: “The beams of our houses are cedars, and our panels are cypresses.”
Another matter, “our panels [rahitenu] are cypresses,” the place where the priests would move quickly was [overlaid] with cypress, just as you say: “He overlaid the floor of the House with boards of cypress” (I Kings 6:15). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Torah taught proper conduct. A person should roof with cedars and floor with cypresses, as it is stated: “The beams of our houses are cedars, and our panels are cypresses.”
Bereshit Rabbah
“He took from the stones of the place” (Genesis 28:11) – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehuda said: He took twelve stones. So, the Holy One blessed be He decreed that he would produce twelve tribes. He [Jacob] said: ‘Abraham did not produce them, Isaac did not produce them, I, if these twelve stones join with one another, I know that I will produce twelve tribes.’ When the twelve stones joined together one to another, he knew that he would produce twelve tribes.
Rabbi Neḥemya said: He took three stones. He said: ‘Abraham, the Holy One blessed be He designated His name upon him; Isaac, the Holy One blessed be He designated His name upon him; I, if these three stones join with one another, I know that He will designate His name upon me.’ When the three stones joined with one another, he knew that the Holy One blessed be He would designate His name upon him.
The Rabbis said: The minimum number of “stones” is two. Abraham, waste emerged from him – Ishmael and all the sons of Ketura. Isaac, Esau and all his chieftains emerged [from him]. I, if these two stones join with one another, I will know that waste will not emerge from me.
Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Yosei bar Zimra: He made them in the shape of a roof gutter and placed it beneath his head because he feared the beasts.
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina: It is written: “For, behold, the Lord emerges from His place, and will descend and tread on the heights of the earth. [The mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will burst like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a slope]” (Micah 1:3–4).16Even in a place where God only ‘passes through,’ valleys burst like wax. All the more so for one in a place where the Holy One blessed be He has revealed Himself.17The stones melt and are joined together in a place where God's presence is not transient.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Those stones that Jacob placed under his head became like a bed and a feather pillow under him. What blossoming did he blossom there? “The beams of our houses are cedars, [and our rafters are junipers]” (Song of Songs 1:17) – the righteous men and women that emerged from him.
“And lay in that place” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: He lay here, but all fourteen years that he was hidden in the house of Ever, he did not lie. Rabbi Neḥemya said: He lay here, but all twenty years that he stayed in Laban’s house, he did not lie. What would he recite? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The fifteen songs of ascent in the book of Psalms.18Psalms 120–134. What is his source? “A song of ascents, by David. [If the Lord had not been with us,] Let Israel now say” (Psalms 124:1) – Israel the elder.19Jacob. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: He would say the entire book of Psalms. What is the source? “Yet You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalms 22:4) – Israel the elder.
Rabbi Neḥemya said: He took three stones. He said: ‘Abraham, the Holy One blessed be He designated His name upon him; Isaac, the Holy One blessed be He designated His name upon him; I, if these three stones join with one another, I know that He will designate His name upon me.’ When the three stones joined with one another, he knew that the Holy One blessed be He would designate His name upon him.
The Rabbis said: The minimum number of “stones” is two. Abraham, waste emerged from him – Ishmael and all the sons of Ketura. Isaac, Esau and all his chieftains emerged [from him]. I, if these two stones join with one another, I will know that waste will not emerge from me.
Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Yosei bar Zimra: He made them in the shape of a roof gutter and placed it beneath his head because he feared the beasts.
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina: It is written: “For, behold, the Lord emerges from His place, and will descend and tread on the heights of the earth. [The mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will burst like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a slope]” (Micah 1:3–4).16Even in a place where God only ‘passes through,’ valleys burst like wax. All the more so for one in a place where the Holy One blessed be He has revealed Himself.17The stones melt and are joined together in a place where God's presence is not transient.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Those stones that Jacob placed under his head became like a bed and a feather pillow under him. What blossoming did he blossom there? “The beams of our houses are cedars, [and our rafters are junipers]” (Song of Songs 1:17) – the righteous men and women that emerged from him.
“And lay in that place” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: He lay here, but all fourteen years that he was hidden in the house of Ever, he did not lie. Rabbi Neḥemya said: He lay here, but all twenty years that he stayed in Laban’s house, he did not lie. What would he recite? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The fifteen songs of ascent in the book of Psalms.18Psalms 120–134. What is his source? “A song of ascents, by David. [If the Lord had not been with us,] Let Israel now say” (Psalms 124:1) – Israel the elder.19Jacob. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: He would say the entire book of Psalms. What is the source? “Yet You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalms 22:4) – Israel the elder.