הַצִּ֧יבִי לָ֣ךְ צִיֻּנִ֗ים שִׂ֤מִי לָךְ֙ תַּמְרוּרִ֔ים שִׁ֣תִי לִבֵּ֔ךְ לַֽמְסִלָּ֖ה דֶּ֣רֶךְ הלכתי [הָלָ֑כְתְּ] שׁ֚וּבִי בְּתוּלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֻׁ֖בִי אֶל־עָרַ֥יִךְ אֵֽלֶּה׃
Maglagay ka ng mga palatandaan para sa iyong sarili, magtayo ka ng mga tulos na panturo ng daan; ituon mo ang iyong puso sa lansangan, sa daang iyong nilakaran. Bumalik ka, O dalagang Israel, bumalik ka sa mga lunsod mong ito.
Eikhah Rabbah
“I called to my lovers, they deceived me; my priests and my elders perished in the city while they sought food for themselves to restore their souls” (Lamentations 1:19).
“I called to my lovers, they deceived me.” The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding false prophets, who would cause their idol worship to be beloved to me.205The rabbis interpret the term me’ahavai, generally translated “my lovers” to mean “those who made [idols] beloved to me.” The verse is written from the perspective of Zion. “They deceived me,” they, too, deceived me. They did not cease prophesying falsely about me until they caused me to be exiled from my place, as it is stated: “They envisioned for you prophecies of futility and deviance [umaduḥim]” (Lamentations 2:14); it is written madiḥam.206The word maduḥim is written without a yod, such that it can be read madiḥam, meaning those who have pushed them into exile.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai interpreted the verse regarding the true prophets, who would cause me to be beloved to the Holy One blessed be He. “They deceived me,” as they would deceive me and say to me: Separate teruma and tithes. But are there teruma and tithes in Babylon? Rather, it was in order to cause me to be beloved to the Holy One blessed be He. That is what Jeremiah says: “Establish signposts [tziyunim] for you” (Jeremiah 31:20). Distinguish yourself via mitzvot with which Israel was distinguished.207Therefore, separate teruma and tithes even in Babylon despite the fact that these mitzvot apply by Torah law only in the Land of Israel.
“Place landmarks for you” (Jeremiah 31:20), this is the destruction of the Temple.208A landmark serves as a marker or reminder of something. This is understood as an allusion to the destruction of the Temple, which must be remembered. Likewise it says: “If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its power” (Psalms 137:5). “Note the highway, the path that you walked [halakht]” (Jeremiah 31:20). Rabbi Ḥiyya said: “I walked [halakhti]” is written.209The verse in Jeremiah is written “the path that I walked,” but it is traditionally read as though it says “the path that you walked.” You find that when Israel was exiled to Babylon, what is written? “For your sake, I sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14).210The midrash interprets this to mean that God sent His own Divine Presence with them into exile. Alternatively, the term “I sent [shilaḥti]” can be read shulaḥti, meaning I was sent. They were exiled to Eilam; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is written: “I will place My throne in Eilam” (Jeremiah 49:38). They were exiled to Greece; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is written: “I will rouse your children, Zion, against your children, Greece” (Zechariah 9:13), and it is written thereafter: “The Lord will appear over them…” (Zechariah 9:14). That is why it is written: “The path that I walked.”
Another matter, “Note the highway, the path that you walked.” Jeremiah said to them: ‘See the paths on which you have walked, and repent, as it is written: “Return, maiden of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:20), and you will immediately return to your cities, as it is written: “Return to these, your cities” (Jeremiah 31:20).
“I called to my lovers, they deceived me.” The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding false prophets, who would cause their idol worship to be beloved to me.205The rabbis interpret the term me’ahavai, generally translated “my lovers” to mean “those who made [idols] beloved to me.” The verse is written from the perspective of Zion. “They deceived me,” they, too, deceived me. They did not cease prophesying falsely about me until they caused me to be exiled from my place, as it is stated: “They envisioned for you prophecies of futility and deviance [umaduḥim]” (Lamentations 2:14); it is written madiḥam.206The word maduḥim is written without a yod, such that it can be read madiḥam, meaning those who have pushed them into exile.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai interpreted the verse regarding the true prophets, who would cause me to be beloved to the Holy One blessed be He. “They deceived me,” as they would deceive me and say to me: Separate teruma and tithes. But are there teruma and tithes in Babylon? Rather, it was in order to cause me to be beloved to the Holy One blessed be He. That is what Jeremiah says: “Establish signposts [tziyunim] for you” (Jeremiah 31:20). Distinguish yourself via mitzvot with which Israel was distinguished.207Therefore, separate teruma and tithes even in Babylon despite the fact that these mitzvot apply by Torah law only in the Land of Israel.
“Place landmarks for you” (Jeremiah 31:20), this is the destruction of the Temple.208A landmark serves as a marker or reminder of something. This is understood as an allusion to the destruction of the Temple, which must be remembered. Likewise it says: “If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its power” (Psalms 137:5). “Note the highway, the path that you walked [halakht]” (Jeremiah 31:20). Rabbi Ḥiyya said: “I walked [halakhti]” is written.209The verse in Jeremiah is written “the path that I walked,” but it is traditionally read as though it says “the path that you walked.” You find that when Israel was exiled to Babylon, what is written? “For your sake, I sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14).210The midrash interprets this to mean that God sent His own Divine Presence with them into exile. Alternatively, the term “I sent [shilaḥti]” can be read shulaḥti, meaning I was sent. They were exiled to Eilam; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is written: “I will place My throne in Eilam” (Jeremiah 49:38). They were exiled to Greece; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is written: “I will rouse your children, Zion, against your children, Greece” (Zechariah 9:13), and it is written thereafter: “The Lord will appear over them…” (Zechariah 9:14). That is why it is written: “The path that I walked.”
Another matter, “Note the highway, the path that you walked.” Jeremiah said to them: ‘See the paths on which you have walked, and repent, as it is written: “Return, maiden of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:20), and you will immediately return to your cities, as it is written: “Return to these, your cities” (Jeremiah 31:20).
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
R. Tanchum said in the name of R. Chanilai: "Every Judaean who has no wife lives without happiness, without blessing, and without good; without happiness, as it is written (Deut. 14, 26) And thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household; without blessing, as it is written (Ez. 44, 30) To cause a blessing to rest on thy house; without good, as it is written (Ben. 2, 18) It is not good that the man should be alone." In Palestine it was said: "He [who is unmarried] is without Torah and without protection; i.e., without Torah, as it is written (Job 6, 13) Truly, am I not without my help in me, and is not Tushiya driven far away from me? Without protection, as it is written (Jer. 31, 21) The woman will go about [to protect] the husband." Raba b. Ulla said: "Also without peace, as it is written (Job 5, 24) And thou shalt know that there is peace in thy tent," etc.
Midrash Lekach Tov
And you shall place these words of Mine upon your hearts: He said to them, even though you are going into exile, accustom yourselves to Torah [study] and the commandments; such that when you return, they will not be new to you. Accordingly, Jeremiah said, Erect markers, these were markers of the commandments; set up signposts that is the destruction of the Temple; keep in mind the highway, the road that you traveled, the way of the law; return, maiden Israel. Another explanation: And you shall place these [samtem]: It is saying that the words of the Torah are compared to an elixir [sam] of life.