Another explanation: Thine Ointments have a goodly fragrance.[ SoS 1:3]
12th c Latin Bible: "Odes" 'O'
Rabbi Aha said in the name of Rabbi Tanhum b. Rabbi Hiyya: The reference is to the two oils of
anointment -- the oil of priesthood and the oil of kingship. The Rabbis say: The reference is to the two
Torahs, the written Torah and the oral Torah. Rabbi Judan said: Thy name is ointment poured
forth:[ SoS 1:3][2] Thy name is magnified by everyone who busies himself
with the oil of the Torah. This is the opinion of Rabbi Judan who explained: And the yoke shall be
destroyed by reason of the oil [ Isa. 10:27], to mean that the yoke of Sennacherib would be destroyed
because of Hezekiah and his followers who busied themselves with the oil of the Torah. Another
explanation: Thy name is oil poured forth: Just as oil is in its original form bitter but
afterwards becomes sweet, so though thy beginning was small, yet thy end should greatly
increase [Job 8:7]. Just as oil is improved only by pounding, so Israel are brought to repentance only
by chastisements. Just as oil will not mix with other liquids, so Israel do not mix with the other nations of
the world, as it is written: Neither shall thou make marriages with them[ Deu. 7:3]. Just as oil
on top of another liquid, when the cup is full, does not flow over with other liquids, so will the words of the
Torah not flow over [the lips] in combination with words of frivolity.
[1]H. Freedman and M. Simon, trs. eds., Midrash Rabbah (London: Socino Press, 1939), pp. 37f. [2]same passage, different reading of the text. Return to contents page
