Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7:9

אָמַרְתִּי אֶעֱלֶה בְתָמָר, אָמַרְתִּי שֶׁאֲנִי מִתְעַלֶּה בְּכָל הָאֻמָּה כֻּלָּה וְלֹא נִתְעַלֵּיתִי אֶלָּא בָּכֶם. אֹחֲזָה בְּסַנְסִנָּיו, בְּסַנְסַנַּיָּה הֲדָא תְּמָרְתָא כִּדְלָא עָבְדָה כְּלוּם לָא פְּחִיתָא דְּהִיא עָבְדָה מִן תְּלַת אִילָנִין אַלְבְּנִין, אָבוּן בַּר חִסְדֵּי אָמַר בְּאַתְרִין צָוְוחִין לְאַלְבְּנַיָּה סַנְסִנַּיָּהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דניאל ג, כא): בֵּאדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ כְּפִתוּ בְּסַרְבָּלֵיהוֹן, רַבִּי יוּדָן וְרַבִּי הוּנָא, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר בְּגוּלֵּיהוֹן, וְרַבִּי הוּנָא אָמַר, בְּמוֹקְסֵיהוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבְדִּימֵי דְמִן חֵיפָה, [שלשה] [ששה] נִסִּים נַעֲשׂוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, צָף הַכִּבְשָׁן, וְנִפְרַץ הַכִּבְשָׁן, וְנִשְׂרְפוּ אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת, וְנַעֲשָׂה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר אִימוֹס שֵׂירוּף, וְהִפִּילָה הָרוּחַ אֶת הַצֶּלֶם, וְהֶחֱיָה יְחֶזְקֵאל הַמֵּתִים בְּבִקְעַת דּוּרָא. צָף הַכִּבְשָׁן מִנַּיִן, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מִן הֲדָא קְרָא (דניאל ג, כד כה): אֱדַיִן נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא תְּוַהּ וְקָם בְּהִתְבְּהָלָה עֲנֵה וְאָמַר וגו' הָא אֲנָה חָזֵה גֻבְרִין אַרְבְּעָה שְׁרַיִן מַהְלְכִין בְּגוֹא נוּרָא וגו' וְרֵוֵהּ דִי רְבִיעָאָה דָּמֵה לְבַר אֱלָהִין. רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי רְאוּבֵן אָמַר בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה יָרַד מִיכָאֵל הַמַּלְאָךְ וּסְטָרוֹ עַל פִּיו, אָמַר לוֹ אִי רָשָׁע לֵחָה סְרוּחָה בַּר אִית לֵיהּ, חֲזוֹר וְיָתֵיב מִילָךְ, חֲזַר וְיָתֵיב מִילוֹי, (דניאל ג, כח): עָנֵה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר וְאָמַר בְּרִיךְ אֱלָהֲהוֹן דִּי שְׁלַח בְּרֵיהּ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא דִּי שְׁלַח מַלְאֲכֵהּ וְשֵׁיזִב לְעַבְדוֹהִי דִּי הִתְרְחִצוּ עֲלוֹהִי, אָמַר רַבִּי רְאוּבֵן פֵּרֵיטִין מִשֶּׁלּוֹ הָיוּ. נִפְרַץ הַכִּבְשָׁן מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (דניאל ג, כו): בֵּאדַיִן קְרֵב נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר לִתְרַע אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא עָנֵה וְאָמַר שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגוֹ עַבְדוֹהִי דִּי אֱלָהָא עִלָּאָה, פְּרֻקּוּ וֶאֱתוֹ, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא פֻּקוּ וֶאֱתוֹ, מִכָּאן שֶׁנִּפְרַץ הַכִּבְשָׁן. נִשְׂרְפוּ אַרְבָּעָה מַלְכֻיּוֹת מִנַּיִן, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק דִּכְתִיב (דניאל ג, ב): שְׁלַח לְמִכְנַשׁ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא אֲדַרְגָּזְרַיָּא גְדָבְרַיָּא דְּתָבְרַיָּא תִּפְתָּיֵא, אֲדַרְגָּזְרַיָּא אִיפַּרְכַיָּא, גְּדָבְרַיָּא אִיסְטְרַטְטַיָּא, דְּתָבְרַיָּא אִיסְכְּלוֹסְקוֹקֵי, הוּא קוֹרֵא לָהֶם דְּתָבְרַיָּא, שֶׁהֵם שׁוֹבְרִים אֶת הַדְּבָרִים, תִּפְתָּיֵא, מֵימְרַם, וְלָמָּה הוּא קוֹרְאָן כֵּן תִּפְתָּיֵא, שֶׁמְפַתִּין יֵצֶר הָרָע עַל זְנוּת, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת דֻּכָּסִין וְאַנְדִּיקִין וְהַהֶגְמוֹנִין, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דניאל ג, ב): וְכֹל שִׁלְטֹנֵי מְדִינָתָא, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ בִּירִידָתָן, בַּעֲלִיָּתָן מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (דניאל ג, כז): וּמִתְכַּנְּשִׁין אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא וְהַדָּבְרֵי מַלְכָּא, אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָא, רַבִּי אַחָא וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי אַחָא אָמַר אֵלּוּ הָאַרְכּוּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן נֶחְשָׁדִין וּפוֹנִין דִּין לְכָל צַד, וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי שֶׁמְהַדְּרִין פָּנִים וּפוֹנִים דִּין. סִגְנַיָּא סְכוֹלוֹסְטִיקִי, וּפַחֲוָתָא קָתָאלִיקֵי, וְהַדָּבְרֵי מַלְכָּא קְשִׁישֵׁי וְאִיטְרוֹלוֹגִיסֵי, (דניאל ג, כז): חָזַיִן לְגֻבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ. וְנַעֲשָׂה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר אִימוֹס שֵׂירוּף מִנַּיִן, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מִן הֲדָא דְּהוּא אָמְרָהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ (דניאל ג, לב): אָתַיָּא וְתִמְהַיָּא דִּי עֲבַד עִמִּי אֱלָהָא עִלָּאָה שְׁפַר קָדָמַי לְהַחֲוָיָה, עִמִּי עֲבַד בְּגוּפִי עֲבַד. הִפִּילָה הָרוּחַ אֶת הַצֶּלֶם מִנַּיִן, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מִן הֲדָא קְרָא (ישעיה מו, א): כָּרַע בֵּל קֹרֵס נְבוֹ. הֶחֱיָה יְחֶזְקֵאל אֶת הַמֵּתִים מִנַּיִן, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מִן הֲדָא קְרָא (יחזקאל לז, ט): מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בֹּאִי הָרוּחַ. אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אוֹתָהּ הָרוּחַ שֶׁהִפִּילָה אֶת הַצֶּלֶם, הָרוּחַ הַהוּא הֶחֱיָה הַמֵּתִים. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שַׁבָּת וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הָיָה. וְרַבָּנָן אוֹמְרִים כַּמָּה הֲוָה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מְפַתֵּהוּ לְדָנִיֵּאל וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ לֵית אַתְּ סָגֵיד לְצַלְמָא דְּרִידָא לֵיהּ וְאִית לֵיהּ מַמָּשָׁא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ תָּא חֲמֵי מַהוּ עָבֵיד וְאַתְּ מִן גַּרְמָךְ אַתְּ סָגֵיד לֵיהּ, מֶה עָשָׂה אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע נָטַל צִיצוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּנְתָנוֹ לְתוֹךְ פִּיו, וְכִנֵּס כָּל זְנֵי זְמָרָא וַהֲווֹ מְקַלְּסִין קֳדָמוֹהִי וְהוּא אוֹמֵר אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ, כֵּיוָן דַּחֲמָא דָּנִיֵּאל כֵּן אָמַר לֵיהּ לֵית אַתְּ יָהֵיב לִי רְשׁוּתָא לְמִסַּק וְלִמְנַשַּׁק הָדֵין צַלְמָא דִידָךְ עַל פּוּמֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלָמָּה עַל פּוּמֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ דְּהוּא טְעֵים מִשְׁתָּעֵי, מִיָּד נָתַן לֵיהּ רְשׁוּת וּסְלִק מִיסְלַק, אִישְׁתְּבַע לְצִיצָא וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ בָּשָׂר וָדָם אֲנִי וּשְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲנִי אֶלָּא הִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹא יִתְחַלֵּל בְּךָ שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם וְגוֹזֵר אֲנִי עָלֶיךָ שֶׁתָּבוֹא אַחֲרַי, בָּא לְנַשְּׁקוֹ וְהוֹצִיא בָּלְעוֹ מִתּוֹךְ פִּיו, מִן דִּנְחַת מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין כָּל זְנֵי זְמָרָא וַהֲווֹ מְקַלְּסִין קֳדָמוֹהִי וְלָא הֲוָה עָבֵיד כְּלוּם, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הִפִּיל הָרוּחַ אֶת הַצֶּלֶם. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם נִסִּים וּגְבוּרוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִם חֲנַנְיָה וַחֲבֵרָיו, הֲווֹ נָסְבִין יַת טַעֲוַתְהוֹן וּמְתַבְּרִין יַתְהוֹן וְעָבְדִין יַתְהוֹן זוֹגִין פַּעֲמוֹנִין, וְתָלָן יַתְהוֹן בְּכַלְבֵּיהוֹן וּבַחֲמוֹרֵיהוֹן, וַהֲווֹ מְקַרְקְשִׁין בְּהוֹן וְאָמְרוּן אֲתוֹן חֲמוֹן לְמָה הֲוֵינַן סָגְדִין, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: כָּרַע בֵּל קֹרֵס נְבוֹ הָיוּ עֲצַבֵּיהֶם לַחַיָּה וְלַבְּהֵמָה. וְיִהְיוּ נָא שָׁדַיִךְ כְּאֶשְׁכְּלוֹת הַגֶּפֶן, זֶה פֶּרֶץ וְזֶרַח, מַה פֶּרֶץ וְזֶרַח נִגְזְרָה עֲלֵיהֶם שְׂרֵפָה וְלֹא נִשְׂרְפוּ, אַף אֵלּוּ נִגְזְרָה עֲלֵיהֶם שְׂרֵפָה וְלֹא נִשְׂרְפוּ. וְרֵיחַ אַפֵּךְ כַּתַּפּוּחִים, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מֵאַחַר שֶׁכָּתַב בָּהֶן (דניאל ג, כז): וְרֵיחַ נוּר לָא עֲדָת בְּהוֹן, וְאַתְּ אָמַר: וְרֵיחַ אַפֵּךְ כַּתַּפּוּחִים, וּלְמָה הָיָה דּוֹמֶה רֵיחָן לְרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה שֶׁל תַּפּוּחִים. “I said: I will climb the date palm, I will grasp its branches; and may your breasts now be like clusters of the vine, and the fragrance of your face like apples” (Song of Songs 7:9).
“I said: I will climb the date palm,” I said I would be exalted by the entire nation, but I was exalted only by you.⁵⁹God was exalted only by Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. “I will grasp its branches [sansinav],” its palm branches [sansinaya]. The date palm, even when it does not produce any [fruit], it produces no fewer than three palm branches.⁶⁰Similarly, although the rest of the nation was not prepared to sanctify God’s name by not bowing to the idol, Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were. Avun bar Ḥisdi said: There are places that call palm branches sansinaya.⁶¹This confirms that the unusual term sansinav in the verse means palm branches. That is what is written: “Then these men were bound in cloaks [sarbaleihon]” (Daniel 3:21).⁶²This is another expression of the commitment of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya to sanctifying the name of God – they did so in their special garments of state in order to create more of an impression on the crowd. Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Huna, Rabbi Yudan said: In their cloaks. Rabbi Huna said: In their garments of state.⁶³Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Huna disagree about the meaning of the term sarbaleihon.
Rabbi Avdimi of Haifa said: miracles were performed on that day: The furnace rose to the surface;⁶⁴It was originally built into the ground, but it rose so that everyone could see what was happening. the furnace broke; members of four kingdoms were burned; Nebuchadnezzar became half burned; the wind toppled the idol; and Ezekiel revived the dead in the Dura Valley.
From where is it derived that the furnace rose to the surface? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is from this verse: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose in haste, and spoke, saying…I see four unbound men walking in the fire, and no harm comes to them, and the fourth resembles a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:24–25). Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Reuven: At that moment Mikhael the angel descended and struck him on his mouth. He said to him, ‘Wicked one [produced] from a putrid drop, does [God] have a son? Take back your words.’ He took back his words: “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying: Blessed is their God…” (Daniel 3:28), “who sent His son” is not written here, but rather, who sent His angel, and saved His servants, who trusted in Him” (Daniel 3:28). Rabbi Reuven said: They were His servants.⁶⁵Nebuchadnezzar admitted that Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were loyal servants of God. Alternatively, he admitted that the angel was a servant of God rather than a son of God.
From where is it derived that the furnace broke? As it is written: “Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the gate of the burning fiery furnace; he spoke, saying: Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego, servants of God Most High” (Daniel 3:26) “burst through and come” is not written here, but rather, “emerge and come” (Daniel 3:26); from here [it is derived] that the furnace broke.
From where is it derived that members of four kingdoms were burned? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “King Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, the governors, adargezaraya, gedavraya, detavraya, tiftaye” (Daniel 3:2); adargezaraya – treasurers, gedavraya – commanders, detavraya – scholars. Why does he call them detavraya? It is because they break down the matters.⁶⁶Tavar means break in Aramaic. The scholars analyze a topic at hand and arrive at a conclusion. Tiftaye – jesters, why does he call them tiftaye? It is because they arouse [mefatin] the evil inclination of licentiousness. I have ascertained only these; from where is it derived to include ministers, agents, and princes? The verse states: “And all the rulers of the provinces” (Daniel 3:2).
I have ascertained only that these were there when they descended;⁶⁷They were present when Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego (Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya) descended into the fiery furnace. from where is it derived [that these officials were all present] when they ascended? As it is written: “Aḥashdarpenaya, signaya, upaḥvata, vehadavrei malka assembled” (Daniel 3:27). Aḥashdarpenaya, Rabbi Aḥa and the Rabbis, Rabbi Aḥa said: These are the judges who are suspected [neḥshadim] of perverting [ufonin] justice in favor of any of the parties. The Rabbis say: They favor one party [mehadrin panim] and pervert [ufonin] justice; signaya – scholars; upaḥvata – treasurers, vehadavrei malka – elders and astrologers. “And saw these men” (Daniel 3:27).
From where is it derived that Nebuchadnezzar became half burned? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From what he said with his own mouth: “It is pleasing for me to relate the signs and the wonders that God Most High has performed with me” (Daniel 3:32). “Performed with me,” performed with my body.
From where is it derived that the wind toppled the idol? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From this verse: “Bel bows, Nevo collapses” (Isaiah 46:1).
From where is it derived that Ezekiel revived the dead? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From this verse: “From the four directions, come, wind” (Ezekiel 37:9). Rabbi Pinḥas said: The very wind that toppled the idol was the wind that revived the dead. Rabbi Elazar said: That day was Shabbat and Yom Kippur.
The Rabbis say: Nebuchadnezzar was enticing Daniel very much and saying to him: ‘Will you not prostrate yourself to the idol that is dominant and real?’ He said to him: ‘Come see what it can do, and you will prostrate yourself to it of your own volition.’ What did that wicked one do? He took the frontplate of the High Priest and placed it in its mouth. He assembled all kinds of musicians and they were playing hymns before it, and [the idol] was saying: ‘I am the Lord your God.’ When Daniel saw this, he said to him: ‘Do you not give me permission to ascend and kiss your idol on its mouth?’ He said: ‘Why on its mouth?’ He said to him: ‘Because it is speaking sensible matters.’ Immediately, he granted him permission and he climbed. He adjured the frontplate, saying to it: ‘I am flesh and blood and I am an emissary of the Holy One blessed be He. Make certain that the Name of Heaven will not be desecrated through you. I decree upon you that you follow me.’ He came to kiss [the idol] and took what it had swallowed from its mouth.⁶⁸He took out the High Priest’s frontplate. After he descended, all the types of musicians reassembled and played hymns before it, but it would not do anything. At that moment, the wind toppled the idol. When the nations of the world saw the miracles and the mighty deeds that the Holy One blessed be He had performed on behalf of Ḥananya and his cohorts,⁶⁹Mishael, Azarya, Daniel, and Ezekiel. they took their idols and smashed them and crafted them into bells that they hung on their dogs and on their donkeys. They would ring them and say: ‘Come and see to what we were prostrating ourselves,’ to fulfill what is stated: “Bel kneels, Nevo collapses; their idols were for the beast and for the animal” (Isaiah 46:1).
“And may your breasts now be like clusters of the vine,” this is Peretz and Zeraḥ. Just as it was decreed that Peretz and Zeraḥ would be burned, but they were not burned, so, too, these,⁷⁰Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. it was degreed that they be burned but they were not burned. “And the fragrance of your face like apples,” Rabbi Elazar said: Since it wrote in their regard: “The odor of fire did not cover them,” and it says “and the fragrance of your face like apples,” to what was their odor comparable? To an apple orchard. ⁷¹Rabbi Elazar understands the verse in Daniel to indicate that Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya smelled when they emerged from the furnace, but they did not smell like fire. On the basis of the verse here in Song of Songs, he concludes that they emerged smelling like an apple orchard.