וָאֶתֵּ֥ן נֶ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפֵּ֔ךְ וַעֲגִילִ֖ים עַל־אָזְנָ֑יִךְ וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת בְּרֹאשֵֽׁךְ׃
Nilagyan ko ng singsing ang iyong ilong, at ng mga hikaw ang iyong mga tainga, at ng magandang korona ang iyong ulo.
Midrash Tanchuma
Then washed I thee with water indicates that you must make a laver2To be placed in the Temple courtyard for the use of the priests. for Me. I anointed thee with oil corresponds to the anointing oil (that must be available).3For anointing the High Priest. I clothed thee also with richly woven work corresponds to the embroidered garments (worn in the Temple). And shod thee with sealskin (tahash) corresponds to the tehashim that were used (for the cover of the Holy of Holies). And I wound fine linen about thy head corresponds to the twisted linen (of the priests’ garments). And covered thee with silk corresponds to the clouds of glory, as it is said: The pillar of cloud departed not from before the people (Exod. 13:22), and that corresponds to the curtains of goats’ hair. I decked thee also with ornaments alludes to the purple cloak, and that corresponds to the ark and its overlay. And I put a ring upon thy nose corresponds to the nose rings and earrings that (the women brought to donate for the gold of the Tabernacle and priestly garments). A beautiful crown upon thy head corresponds to the ark cover and the gold rim around the table. Behold, I will cause to rain bread (Exod. 16:4) corresponds to the show-bread. And the Lord went before them by day (ibid. 13:21) corresponds to His injunction that the Israelites shall burn a lamp continually.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
Another matter: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates” – this is likened to a pomegranate orchard.144The midrash interprets the term “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” to mean “your gifts [shiluḥayikh].” In the common vernacular: What did so-and-so send to his betrothed?145This is an allegory likening the relationship of God and Israel to the relationship of a man to his fiancée. Pomegranates. Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Simon: one said she146This is a reference to the Israelites. brought Him thirteen and He brought her thirteen. She brought Him thirteen that are articulated in the book of Exodus: “This is the gift [that you shall take from them:] Gold, silver, and bronze, sky blue, purple, and scarlet wool, linen, and goat hair, rams’ hides dyed red, taḥash hides, and acacia wood.… onyx stones and stones for setting” (Exodus 25:3–5, 7).
He brought her thirteen that are articulated in Ezekiel: “I clad you in embroidery” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Simi said: A purple woolen garment. Akilas translated: A multi-colored embroidered garment. “I shod you with taḥash” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the taḥash hides. “I wrapped you in linen” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the linen and goat hair. “I covered you with silk [meshi]” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Aivu said: He rendered them substantial [mamash] in the world. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: He enveloped them in clouds of glory, just as it says: “The pillar of cloud would not move” (Exodus 13:22).
“I decked you with ornaments” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are weapons. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The weapon that was given them at Ḥorev, the ineffable name was etched upon it. When they sinned it was taken from them. How was it taken? Rabbi Aivu said: It was peeled off on its own. The Rabbis say: An angel descended and peeled it off.
“I placed bracelets on your hands” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the tablets of the covenant upon which the Ten Commandments are engraved, just as it says: “The tablets were the work of God [and the script was the script of God engraved on the tablets]” (Exodus 32:16). “And a chain upon your neck” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the words of Torah, just as it says: “Bind them upon your heart always” (Proverbs 6:21).
“I put a ring” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the crown of sanctity. “And earrings in your ears” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the frontplate,147The frontplate itself is referred to as the crown of sanctity (see Exodus 39:30). They are counted separately here because the midrash considers the front part of the frontplate separate from its sides. Alternatively, it counts the gold frontplate separate from the sky blue wool threads that held it in place on the forehead, and were themselves a sort of decorative crown (Rabbi David Luria; Midrash HaMevo’ar). as we learned: The frontplate is a type of plate of gold that is two fingerbreadths wide and stretches from ear to ear (Sukka 5a). “And a crown of splendor on your head” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the Divine Presence, just as it says: “You will be a crown of splendor in the hand of the Lord” (Isaiah 62:3), and it is written: “Their king passed before them and the Lord is at their head” (Micah 2:13). What are the other three? “You were decked with gold and silver.… your renown emerged among the nations” (Ezekiel 16:13–14), “henna with nard.”148This is not included in the count. Some suggest that these words should appear before Rabbi Aḥa’s upcoming statement.
Rabbi Huna said: She brought Him thirteen and He brought her twenty-six, just as it is the way of a bridegroom to double the dowry of the bride. Rabbi Aḥa said: She brought Him vessels and spices149These are the vessels of the Tabernacle and the spices of the incense offered in the Tabernacle. and He brought her vessels and spices, vessels by means of Moses150The holy vessels that the Israelites took with them in their victorious war against Midian (see Numbers 31:6) (Maharzu). and spices by means of Solomon; that is what is written: “She then gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, very many spices, and precious stones; there has never again come like that spice in terms of quantity like what the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon” (I Kings 10:10). Rabbi Simon said: She brought Him a limited quantity of vessels and spices, but He brought her vessels and spices without limit. Solomon came and articulated: “Henna with nard.”
He brought her thirteen that are articulated in Ezekiel: “I clad you in embroidery” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Simi said: A purple woolen garment. Akilas translated: A multi-colored embroidered garment. “I shod you with taḥash” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the taḥash hides. “I wrapped you in linen” (Ezekiel 16:10), corresponding to the linen and goat hair. “I covered you with silk [meshi]” (Ezekiel 16:10). Rabbi Aivu said: He rendered them substantial [mamash] in the world. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: He enveloped them in clouds of glory, just as it says: “The pillar of cloud would not move” (Exodus 13:22).
“I decked you with ornaments” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are weapons. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The weapon that was given them at Ḥorev, the ineffable name was etched upon it. When they sinned it was taken from them. How was it taken? Rabbi Aivu said: It was peeled off on its own. The Rabbis say: An angel descended and peeled it off.
“I placed bracelets on your hands” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the tablets of the covenant upon which the Ten Commandments are engraved, just as it says: “The tablets were the work of God [and the script was the script of God engraved on the tablets]” (Exodus 32:16). “And a chain upon your neck” (Ezekiel 16:11) – these are the words of Torah, just as it says: “Bind them upon your heart always” (Proverbs 6:21).
“I put a ring” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the crown of sanctity. “And earrings in your ears” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the frontplate,147The frontplate itself is referred to as the crown of sanctity (see Exodus 39:30). They are counted separately here because the midrash considers the front part of the frontplate separate from its sides. Alternatively, it counts the gold frontplate separate from the sky blue wool threads that held it in place on the forehead, and were themselves a sort of decorative crown (Rabbi David Luria; Midrash HaMevo’ar). as we learned: The frontplate is a type of plate of gold that is two fingerbreadths wide and stretches from ear to ear (Sukka 5a). “And a crown of splendor on your head” (Ezekiel 16:12) – this is the Divine Presence, just as it says: “You will be a crown of splendor in the hand of the Lord” (Isaiah 62:3), and it is written: “Their king passed before them and the Lord is at their head” (Micah 2:13). What are the other three? “You were decked with gold and silver.… your renown emerged among the nations” (Ezekiel 16:13–14), “henna with nard.”148This is not included in the count. Some suggest that these words should appear before Rabbi Aḥa’s upcoming statement.
Rabbi Huna said: She brought Him thirteen and He brought her twenty-six, just as it is the way of a bridegroom to double the dowry of the bride. Rabbi Aḥa said: She brought Him vessels and spices149These are the vessels of the Tabernacle and the spices of the incense offered in the Tabernacle. and He brought her vessels and spices, vessels by means of Moses150The holy vessels that the Israelites took with them in their victorious war against Midian (see Numbers 31:6) (Maharzu). and spices by means of Solomon; that is what is written: “She then gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, very many spices, and precious stones; there has never again come like that spice in terms of quantity like what the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon” (I Kings 10:10). Rabbi Simon said: She brought Him a limited quantity of vessels and spices, but He brought her vessels and spices without limit. Solomon came and articulated: “Henna with nard.”
Shemot Rabbah
Another interpretation: “Why are you crying out to Me?” – that is what is written: “Hearer of prayer, to You all flesh will come” (Psalms 65:3). What is “Hearer of prayer?” Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Meir, and Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: When Israel prays, you do not find that they all pray as one, but rather, each congregation prays on its own. This congregation begins, and then the other congregation. After all the congregations have finished their prayers, the angel appointed over prayers takes all the prayers that they prayed in all the congregations and crafts them into crowns and places them on the head of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “To you [adekha] all flesh will come,” and adekha means nothing other than crown, as it is stated: “You shall clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament [ke’adi]” (Isaiah 49:18). So, it says: “Israel, in whom I will be glorified'” (Isaiah 49:3), as the Holy One blessed be He adorns Himself with the prayers of Israel, as it is stated: “And a beautiful crown upon your head” (Ezekiel 16:12).
Another interpretation: “Hearer of prayer…” (Psalms 65:3) – you find that flesh and blood is unable to hear the speech of two [different people] simultaneously, but the Holy One blessed be He is not like that; everyone prays before Him and He hears and accepts their prayers.
Another interpretation: “Hearer of prayer” (Psalms 65:3) – Rabbi Yehuda bar Shalom in the name of Rabbi Elazar said: [A person of] flesh and blood, if a poor person comes to say something before him, he does heed him; if a wealthy person comes to say something, he immediately hears it and accepts it. However, the Holy One blessed be He is not so; rather, everyone is equal before Him: Women, slaves, the poor, and the wealthy. Know that, about Moses, master of all the prophets, is written what is written about the poor. About Moses, it is written: “A prayer of Moses the man of God” (Psalms 90:1). Regarding the poor it is written: “A prayer of the poor man when he suffers, and pours forth his words before the Lord” (Psalms 102:1). This is prayer and that is prayer, to inform you that everyone is equal in prayer before the Omnipresent. Know that when Israel departed from Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them, as it is stated: “And Pharaoh drew near” (Exodus 14:10), and it is written: “[The children of Israel] cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10). Moses also began praying before the Omnipresent. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Why are you standing and praying? My children have already prayed and I have heard their prayer,’ as it is stated: “Why are you crying out to Me?”
Another interpretation: “Hearer of prayer…” (Psalms 65:3) – you find that flesh and blood is unable to hear the speech of two [different people] simultaneously, but the Holy One blessed be He is not like that; everyone prays before Him and He hears and accepts their prayers.
Another interpretation: “Hearer of prayer” (Psalms 65:3) – Rabbi Yehuda bar Shalom in the name of Rabbi Elazar said: [A person of] flesh and blood, if a poor person comes to say something before him, he does heed him; if a wealthy person comes to say something, he immediately hears it and accepts it. However, the Holy One blessed be He is not so; rather, everyone is equal before Him: Women, slaves, the poor, and the wealthy. Know that, about Moses, master of all the prophets, is written what is written about the poor. About Moses, it is written: “A prayer of Moses the man of God” (Psalms 90:1). Regarding the poor it is written: “A prayer of the poor man when he suffers, and pours forth his words before the Lord” (Psalms 102:1). This is prayer and that is prayer, to inform you that everyone is equal in prayer before the Omnipresent. Know that when Israel departed from Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them, as it is stated: “And Pharaoh drew near” (Exodus 14:10), and it is written: “[The children of Israel] cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10). Moses also began praying before the Omnipresent. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Why are you standing and praying? My children have already prayed and I have heard their prayer,’ as it is stated: “Why are you crying out to Me?”