17b (י״ז:ב׳)

And that which it says: “and her adulteries from between her breasts” (וּמַה שֶּׁאָמַר ״וְנַאֲפוּפֶיהָ מִבֵּין שָׁדֶיהָ), her breasts means the two Torahs-Written Torah and Oral Torah (שָׁדֶיהָ רוֹצֶה לוֹמַר ב׳ תּוֹרוֹת, תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְתוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה), in which Yisrael were committing harlotry (שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ עוֹשִׂים בָּהֶן זְנוּת). And the Holy One Blessed Be He was warning them to repent (וְהקב״ה הָיָה מַתְרֶה בָּהֶם שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ תְשׁוּבָה), and to separate and remove themselves from this (וְשֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִפְרָשִׁים וּנְבֻדָּלִים מִזֶּה), so that they would have strength to subdue the heavenly sarim (כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהִיֶּה בָהֶם כֹּחַ לְשַׁדֵּד שָׂרֵי מַעְלָה), and that their wars would be by way of the Torah (וְשֶׁיִּהְיוּ מִלְחָמוֹתֵיהֶם מִצַּד הַתּוֹרָה). And the Holy One Blessed Be He would say to Yisrael: Since you do not wish to use this power that I have given you (וְהָיָה אוֹמֵר הקב״ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: כְּיוָון שֶׁאֵין אַתֶּם רוֹצִים לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בַּכֹּחַ הַזֶּה שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לָכֶם), I will remove it from you (אֲנִי אָסִיר אוֹתוֹ מִכֶּם), and I will conceal from you the secrets of the Torah (וַאֲסַתֵּר מִכֶּם סוֹדוֹת הַתּוֹרָה).

And this is what it says: “lest I strip her naked and expose her as on the day she was born” (וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר: "פֶּן אַפְשִׁיטֶנָּה עֶרְוָה וְהִצַּגְתִּיהָ כְּיוֹם הִוָּלְדָהּ") (Hosea 2:5), meaning: like the day I created her, when she was entirely composed of the Names of the Holy One Blessed Be He (יִרְצֶה: כְּמוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁבְּרָאתִיהָ, שֶׁכֻּלָּהּ הָיְתָה שֵׁמוֹתָיו שֶׁל הקב״ה), which no one could understand but Him (שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה מִי שֶׁיָּבִין אוֹתָהּ אֶלָּא הוּא), since the world had not yet been created (לְפִי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם). And when it was given to Yisrael, He entrusted its secrets to Moshe Rabbeinu (וּכְשֶׁנִּתְּנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מָסַר סוֹדוֹתֶיהָ לְמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ), and Moshe to Yehoshua (וּמֹשֶׁה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ), and in it was the power to wage wars, as I said (וְהָיָה בָהּ כֹּחַ לִלְחֹם הַמִּלְחָמוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי). And not only did He expose her as on the day she was born (וְלֹא דַי שֶׁהִצִּיגָהּ כְּיוֹם הִוָּלְדָהּ), but He also concealed from her the secrets that He had given to Moshe Rabbeinu (אֶלָּא שֶׁהִסְתִּיר מִמֶּנָּה גַּם אֶת הַסוֹדוֹת שֶׁמָּסַר לְמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ), which Yisrael had already known (שֶׁכְּבָר הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹדְעִים אוֹתָם). And this is what it says: “and I will make her like a wilderness, and render her like a parched land, and kill her with thirst” (וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר: "וְשַׂמְתִּיהָ כַּמִּדְבָּר וְשַׁתֶּהָ כְּאֶרֶץ צִיָּה וְהֵמִתִּיהָ בַּצָּמָא) (Hosea 2:5).

For Yeshayahu the prophet compared the Torah to water (כִּי יְשַׁעְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא הִמְשִׁיל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה לְמַיִם), as it says: “Ho, all who thirst, go to the water” (שֶׁאָמַר: ״הוֹי כָּל צָמֵא לְכוּ לַמַּיִם) (Isaiah 55:1). For just as water quenches a person’s thirst (כִּי כְּמוֹ שֶׁהַמַּיִם מַרְוִים צִמְאוֹנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם), so too the Torah quenches and fulfills all of a person’s desire for the good (כָּךְ הַתּוֹרָה מַרְוָוה וּמְשַלֶּמֶת כׇּל תַּאֲוָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם לְטוֹבָה). But through our sins we have lost all this (אֲבָל בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ אִבַּדְנוּ כָּל זֶה), for not only do we not understand what is Oral [Torah] (כִּי לֹא דַי שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ מְבִינִים מַה שֶּׁהוּא בְּעַל פֶּה), but even that which is Written [Torah] we do not understand (אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ מַה שֶּׁהוּא בִּכְתָב אֵין אָנוּ מְבִינִים אוֹתוֹ), for “her breasts” have been hidden from us (לְפִי שֶׁהֻסְתְּרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ שָׁדֶיהָ).

And this is what the Shekhinah said concerning the Torah, which is now among us (וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרָה הַשְּׁכִינָה בִּשְׁבִיל הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהִיא עַתָּה בֵּינֵינוּ): “We have a little sister and she has no breasts…” etc ("אֲחוֹת לָנוּ קְטַנָּה וְשָׁדַיִם אֵין לָהּ״ וְגוֹ׳) (Song of Songs 8:8). And the Shekhinah called the Torah “sister” (וְקָרְאָה הַשְּׁכִינָה לַתּוֹרָה ״אֲחוֹת) because the Torah is the Glory of the Holy One Blessed Be He (לְפִי שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה הִיא כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל הקב״ה), since through it we attain His greatness and exaltedness, may He be blessed (כְּיוָון שֶׁמִּצִּדָּהּ אָנוּ מַשִּׂיגִים מַעֲלָתוֹ וּגְדוּלָּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ), which He has bestowed upon us (שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ).

And since the Shekhinah only rests where there is Torah (וּלְפִי שֶׁהַשְּׁכִינָה אֵינָהּ שׁוֹרָה אֶלָּא בִּמְקוֹם תּוֹרָה), therefore the Torah is called a sister to the Shekhinah (לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרֵאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲחוֹת לַשְּׁכִינָה), since from the Torah we receive from the Shekhinah (כְּיוָון שֶׁמִּצַּד הַתּוֹרָה אָנוּ מֻשְׁפָּעִים מִן הַשְּׁכִינָה). And why is it called “little”? (וְלָמָּה נִקְרֵאת ״קְטַנָּה) Because her breasts were removed (לְפִי שֶׁהֵסִירוּ מִמֶּנָּה הַשָּׁדַיִם), for the secrets that were transmitted to Moshe Rabbeinu, peace be upon him, were concealed from us (שֶׁנֶּעֶלְמוּ מִמֶּנּוּ הַסוֹדוֹת שֶׁנִּמְסְרוּ לְמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם), because of the actions of her children in Torah, who are Yisrael (מִצַּד פְּעוּלוֹת בָּנֶיהָ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שֶׁהֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל), and because of the harlotry they committed (וּמִצַּד הַזְּנוּת שֶׁזָּנוּ). This was the cause that the Shekhinah departed from each one of them (וְזֶה הָיָה הַסִּבָּה שֶׁתִּסְתַלֵּק הַשְּׁכִינָה מֵעַל כָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶם), for they had upon them the Image of Elohim (שֶׁהָיָה עֲלֵיהֶם צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים), and because of it the nations were afraid and in awe of them (שֶׁבַּעֲבוּרוֹ הָיוּ הָאֻמּוֹת נִפְחָדִים וְיִרְאִים מֵהֶם), and it departed from them due to the reason we mentioned-that they should be punished (וְנִסְתַּלֵּק מֵהֶם לַסִּבָּה שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ לְשֶׁיּוּסְּרוּ). As it says: “And her children I will not have compassion on, for they are children of harlotry, for their mother has prostituted herself” (כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר: ״וְאֶת בָּנֶיהָ לֹא אֲרַחֵם כִּי בְנֵי זְנוּנִים הֵם כִּי זָנְתָה אִמָּם) (Hosea 2:6–7).

That is: the Torah which used to instruct them in the path they should go (יִרְצֶה: הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהָיְתָה מוֹרָה לָהֶם אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ בָהּ), is now disgraced and shamed among the nations (שֶׁהִיא נֶחְפֶּרֶת וּבְזוּיָה בֵּין הָאֻמּוֹת). And by what cause did all this come upon her? (וּבְאֵיזוֹ סִיבָּה הִגִּיעַ לָהּ כָּל זֶה) By the cause of her children, who are the Israelite nation (בְּסִיבַּת בָּנֶיהָ שֶׁהֵם הָאֻמָּה הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית): “For she said, I will go after my lovers…” etc (כִּי אָמְרָה: ״אֵלְכָה אַחֲרֵי מְאַהֲבַי״ וְגוֹ׳) (Hosea 2:7).

That is, Yisrael removed their trust from the Holy One Blessed Be He (שֶׁהֵסִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל הַבִּטָּחוֹן מִן הקב״ה), and went after idolatry (וְהָלַךְ אַחַר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה), thinking that all the blessings the verse lists were coming from the idolatry to them (וּבְחָשְׁבָם שֶׁכָּל אוֹתָן הַטּוֹבוֹת שֶׁאוֹמֵר הַכָּתוּב הָיוּ בָאוֹת מֵהָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אֵלֵיהֶם). But it was not so-for all came from Him, may He be blessed (וְלֹא הָיָה כֵן אֶלָּא הַכֹּל בָּא מֵאִתּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ). What did the Holy One Blessed Be He do to Yisrael when they made love with idolatry? (וּמַה עָשָׂה הקב״ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשֶׁלָּקְחוּ אַהֲבָה עִם הָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה)

He hid His ways from them (הִסְתִּיר מֵהֶם דְּרָכָיו), so that they would recognize and understand that He rules over all heavenly sarim (כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ וְיָבִינוּ שֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל עַל כׇּל שָׂרֵי מַעְלָה), and that all goodness flows from Him, may He be blessed (וְכׇל הַטּוֹבוֹת נִמְשָׁכִים מֵאִתּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ). As it says: “Behold, I will hedge your way with thorns…” etc. “And she shall pursue her lovers…” etc (כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר: ״הִנְנִי שַׂךְ אֶת דַּרְכֵּךְ בַּסְּרִים״ וְגוֹ׳, ״וְרָדְפָה אֶת מְאַהֲבֶיהָ״ וְגוֹ׳) (Hosea 2:8). That is: since all blessings came from Me (יִרְצֶה: כְּיוָון שֶׁכָּל הַטּוֹבוֹת הָיוּ נִמְשָׁכוֹת מִמֶּנִּי), and they thought they came from idolatry (וְהֵם חָשְׁבוּ שֶׁנִּמְשְׁכוּ מֵהָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה), now that they realize that no heavenly sar has power (עַתָּה שֶׁהֵם מַכִּירִים שֶׁאֵין כֹּחַ בְּכׇל שָׂרֵי מַעְלָה), and they want to return to Me (וְרוֹצִים לָשׁוּב אֵלַי), I do not desire them except to afflict and reprove them (אֵינִי רוֹצֶה אֶלָּא לְיַסֵּר וּלְהוֹכִיחָם).

And this is what it says: “And now I will uncover her shame…” etc (וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר: ״וְעַתָּה אֲגַלֶּה אֶת נַבְלָתָהּ״ וְגוֹ׳) (Hosea 2:12), that is-those sarim that they used to worship, none of them will save her from My hand (יִרְצֶה: שֶׁאוֹתָם הַשָּׂרִים שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדִים לָהֶם, שׁוּם אֶחָד מֵהֶם "לֹא יַצִּילֶנָה מִיָּדִי). And not only that-but all evil will flow to them from those sarim (וְלֹא דַי זֶה, אֶלָּא שֶׁכָּל הָרָע יִימָּשֵׁךְ לָהֶם מֵאוֹתָם הַשָּׂרִים), as the verse says: “She has no comforter from among all her lovers…” etc (כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: ״אֵין לָהּ מְנַחֵם מִכָּל אֹהֲבֶיהָ״ וְגוֹ׳) (Lamentations 1:2).