Daf 18b (דַּף י״ח ע״ב)

Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There were many forms of Avodah Zarah in Egypt (אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַרְבֵּה עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הָיוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם), and the Nile was their god (וְנִילוּס אֱלוֹהַּ שֶׁלָּהֶם הָיָה), and it was among their gods (וּבִכְלַל אֱלֹהֵיהֶם הָיָה הוּא), and Hashem brought judgments upon them all (וּבְכוּלָּם עָשָׂה יי שְׁפָטִים).

Rabbi Abba said: The words of Rabbi Yoḥanan are precise and clear (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא: הָא דְּרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן דַּיְיקָא וּפְשִׁיטָא), because their gods are stricken first, and afterward the nation (מִשּׁוּם דְּאֱלֹהֵיהֶם נִלְקִים בַּתְּחִלָּה, וְאַחַר כַּךְ הָאוּמָּה). And so too the Nile was stricken first, as well as their wooden and stone deities (וְכֵן נִילוּס נִלְקָה בַּתְּחִלָּה, וְהָעֵצִים וְהָאֲבָנִים). This is what is written (Exodus 7) “And the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt, in the wood and in the stone” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: וַיְהִי הַדָּם בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבָעֵצִים וּבָאֲבָנִים) for these were actual deities to them (שֶׁהָיוּ לָהֶם אֱלֹהוּת מַמָּשׁ). And Rabbi Yitzḥak said: “The host of the high ones on high” is what is written (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק: עַל צְבָא הַמָּרוֹם בַּמָּרוֹם כְּתִיב), but the Nile was not among the heavenly host (וְנִילוּס לֹא הָיָה בַּמָּרוֹם). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The majority of its waters were modeled on those above (אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן: רוֹב מֵימָיו כְּדוּגְמָתָן בַּמָּרוֹם). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Their minister was struck first, and afterward all their other gods (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק: שַׂר שֶׁלָּהֶם נִלְקָה בַּתְּחִלָּה, וְאַחַר כַּךְ שְׁאַר אֱלֹהֵיהֶם).

Rabbi Shim‘on son of Rabbi Yosei said: The actual striking of the nation of Egypt was only at the sea (רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרִבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: לָקוּת אוּמָה שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם מַמָּשׁ, לָא הָיָה אֶלָּא בַּיָּם), as it is written (Exodus 14) “Not one of them remained” (דִּכְתִּיב: לֹא נִשְׁאַר בָּהֶם עַד אֶחָד). And before this, judgments were executed upon their gods (וְקוֹדֶם זֶה נַעֲשָׂה שְׁפָטִים בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם). And concerning this it is written: “Come, let us deal wisely with him, lest he multiply…” (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב: הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ פֶּן יִרְבֶּה), and they prophesied about the future according to what would happen to them (וְנִתְנַבְּאוּ עַל הֶעָתִיד כְּפִי מַה שֶׁאֵירַע לָהֶם). And furthermore, they also prophesied about our enemies (וְנוֹסַף גַּם הוּא עַל שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ), concerning the supernal camps that would dwell among them (נִבְּאוּ עַל מַחֲנוֹת עֶלְיוֹנִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁרוּיִים בְּתוֹכָם), and “will fight against us”-they prophesied as it is written (Exodus 14) “Hashem will fight for you…” (וְנִלְחַם בָּנוּ נִבְּאוּ עַל מַה דִּכְתִּיב: יי יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם וְגוֹ'). “And go up from the land”-as it is said (Exodus 14) “And the children of Yisrael went out with an upraised arm” (וְעָלָה מִן הָאָרֶץ כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר: וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹצְאִים בְּיַד רָמָה). (Exodus 2) “And a man from the house of Levi went and took the daughter of Levi” (וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֵוִי וַיִּקַּח אֶת בַּת לֵוִי).

Rabbi El‘azar opened: (Song of Songs 1) “The Song of Songs, which is Shlomo’s” (רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח: שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה). It was taught: When the Holy One Blessed Be He created His world (תַּנָּא: כְּשֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ), it arose in His will (עָלָה בְּחֵפֶץ לְפָנָיו), and He created the heavens with His right hand and the earth with His left (וּבָרָא אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם בִּימִינוֹ וְהָאָרֶץ בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ), and it arose in His will to conduct day and night (וְעָלָה בְּחֵפֶץ לְפָנָיו לִנְהוֹג הַיּוֹם וְהַלַּיְלָה). And He created angels appointed over His kindness by day (וּבָרָא הַמַּלְאָכִים הַמְּמוּנִים בְּחַסְדּוֹ בַּיּוֹם) some say: to say song by day, the time of kindness (נ"א: לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בַּיּוֹם זְמַן הַחֶסֶד). And He created angels appointed to sing by night (וּבָרָא הַמְּמוּנִים לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בַלַּיְלָה). This is what is written (Psalms 42) “By day Hashem commands His kindness, and in the night His song is with me” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה יי חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירוֹ עִמִּי). These are from the right, and these from the left (אֵלּוּ מִיָּמִין וְאֵלּוּ מִשְּׂמֹאל), and these listen to the song of the day-Yisrael’s sacred song (אֵלּוּ מַקְשִׁיבִים שִׁירַת הַיּוֹם, שִׁירָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל קָדוֹשׁ). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Those who say song at night listen to the song of Yisrael by day (רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר: אוֹתָם שֶׁאוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה בַלַּיְלָה מַקְשִׁיבִים שִׁירָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּיּוֹם). This is what is written (Song of Songs 8) “Friends listen to your voice” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ).

Rabbi Shim‘on said: One group, composed of three divisions, recites song at night (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: כַּת אַחַת כְּלוּלָה מִשָּׁלֹשׁ כִּתּוֹת אוֹמֶרֶת שִׁירָה בַלַּיְלָה). This is what is written (Proverbs 31) “And she rises while it is yet night and gives prey to her household” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ).

Rabbi El‘azar said: Ten things were created on the first day (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: עֲשָׂרָה דְּבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן), some of which pertain to the measure of night and some to the measure of day (מֵהֶם מִדַּת לַיְלָה, וּמֵהֶם מִדַּת יוֹם). And about the measure of night it is written: “And she rises while it is yet night and gives prey to her household” (וְעַל מִדַּת לַיְלָה כְּתִיב: וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ). As it is said (Job 16) “With His anger He tore” (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר: אַפּוֹ טָרַף). And it is written (Micah 5): “He shall tear and none shall rescue” (וּכְתִיב: וְטָרַף וְאֵין מַצִּיל). “And a portion for her maidens”-as it is said (Exodus 15) “A statute and an ordinance” (וְחֹק לְנַעֲרוֹתֶיהָ כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר: חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט), and (Psalms 147): “His statutes and His ordinances” (חֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו), and (Psalms 81) “For it is a statute for Yisrael, a judgment…” (כִּי חֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא מִשְׁפָּט וְגוֹ'). From here we learn that the attribute of judgment governs at night (מִכָּאן שֶׁמִּדַּת הַדִּין שׁוֹלֶטֶת בַלַּיְלָה). And it is taught: Those who recite song at night are the ministers over all beings who sing (וְתָנָא: אֵלּוּ הָאוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה בַלַּיְלָה אֵלּוּ הֵם שָׂרִים עַל כָּל בַּעֲלֵי שִׁיר). And when the living beings begin song, the supernal ones add power (וּכְשֶׁפּוֹתְחִין הַחַיִּים שִׁירָה, מוֹסִיפִין הָעֶלְיוֹנִים כֹּחַ), to know, to recognize, and to attain what they had not previously attained (לָדַעַת וּלְהַכִּיר וּלְהַשִּׂיג מַה שֶּׁלֹּא הִשִּׂיגוּ). Heaven and earth increase strength through this song (שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ מוֹסִיפִין כֹּחַ בְּהַאי שִׁירָה).

Rabbi Neḥemyah said: Blessed is the one who merits to know that song (אָמַר רִבִּי נְחֶמְיָה: אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לָדַעַת בְּאוֹתוֹ שִׁיר). It is taught: One who merits that song knows the matters of Torah and wisdom (דְּתַנְיָא: הַזּוֹכֶה בְּאוֹתוֹ שִׁיר יָדַע בְּעִנְיָנֵי הַתּוֹרָה וְהַחָכְמָה), and listens, and investigates, and increases strength and might (וְיַאֲזִין וְיַחֲקוֹר וְיוֹסִיף כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה), in what was and in what will be (בַּמֶּה שֶׁהָיָה וּבַמֶּה שֶׁעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת), and through this Shlomo merited knowledge (וּבָזֶה זָכָה שְׁלֹמֹה לָדַעַת). As Rabbi Shim‘on taught: David, peace be upon him, understood this (דְּתָנֵי רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: דָּוִד עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם יָדַע בָּזֶה), and composed many songs and praises (וְתִקֵּן שִׁירִים וּתְשֻׁבָּחוֹת הַרְבֵּה), and he hinted in them at things yet to come (וְרָמַז בָּהֶם הָעֲתִידוֹת לָבוֹא), and increased power and might through the Holy Spirit (וְהוֹסִיף כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ).

He understood the matters of Torah and wisdom (יָדַע בְּעִנְיְנֵי הַתּוֹרָה וְהַחָכְמָה), and weighed, and explored, and increased strength and might in Lashon haKodesh (וְאִזֵּן וְחִקֵּר וְהוֹסִיף כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה בְּלָשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ). And Shlomo merited even more through that song (וּשְׁלֹמֹה זָכָה יוֹתֵר בְּאוֹתוֹ הַשִּׁיר), and knew wisdom, and weighed, and explored, and composed many parables (וְיָדַע חָכְמָה וְאִזֵּן וְחִקֵּר וְתִקֵּן מְשָׁלִים הַרְבֵּה), and made a book from that very song (וְעָשָׂה סֵפֶר מֵאוֹתוֹ הַשִּׁיר מַמָּשׁ). And this is what is written (Ecclesiastes 2) “I made for myself male and female singers” (וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב: עָשִׂיתִי לִי שָׁרִים וְשָׁרוֹת), meaning: I acquired for myself the knowledge of song, from those supernal songs and those below (כְּלוֹמַר: קָנִיתִי לִי לָדַעַת שִׁיר מֵאוֹתָן הַשִּׁירִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים וַאֲשֶׁר תַּחְתָּם). And this is what is written: “The Song of Songs” (וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב: שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים), meaning a song of those supernal singers (כְּלוֹמַר: שִׁיר שֶׁל אוֹתָם שָׁרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה) a song that encompasses all matters of Torah and wisdom and strength and might (שִׁיר שֶׁכוֹלֵל כָּל עִנְיְנֵי הַתּוֹרָה וְהַחָכְמָה וְכֹחַ וּגְבוּרָה), in what was and what is to come (בַּמֶּה שֶׁהָיָה וְעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת). The Shir haShirim that is sung by the supernal beings (שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה מְשׁוֹרְרִים).

Rabbi El‘azar said: These singers stood until Levi was born (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אֵלּוּ הַשָּׁרִים עָמְדוּ עַד שֶׁנּוֹלַד לֵוִי), but from when Levi was born onward they sang song (אֲבָל מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד לֵוִי וָאֵילָךְ אָמְרוּ שִׁיר). Once Moshe was born and Aharon was anointed, and the Leviyim were sanctified (כֵּיוָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד מֹשֶׁה וְנִמְשַׁח אַהֲרֹן וְנִתְקַדְּשׁוּ הַלְּוִיִּים), the song was completed and they stood upon their appointed charges (נִשְׁלַם הַשִּׁיר וְעָמְדוּ עַל מִשְׁמְרוֹתָם).