Shir ha-Shirim XX Part Three: Sefirah 47

“Your name is as oil poured forth,” just as oil in its original form as an olive is bitter but afterwords becomes sweet, so, “Though your beginning was small, yet you are and should greatly increase (Job 8:7).”

Just as oil is improved only by pounding, so Israel are brought to repentance only by chastisement’s.

Just as oil will not mix with other liquids, so Israel to not mix with the other nations of the world, as it is written, “Neither shall you make marriages with them (Devarim 7:3).”

Just as oil on top of another liquid, when the cup is full, does not flow over with the other liquids, so will the words of the Torah not flow over the lyrics in combination with words of frivolity.

Just as, if you hold a cup of oil in your hand and a drop of water falls in, a drop of oil comes out to correspond, so if a word of Torah enters the heart a scoffing word goes out; and if a scoffing word goes in, a word of Torah goes out.

Just as oil brings light to the world, so Israel are light to the world, as it says, “And nations shall walk by your light (Isaiah 60:3).”

Just as oil floats above all liquids, so are Israel above all nations, as it says, “And God your Lord will set you on high (Devarim 28:1).”

Just as oil makes no noise when it is poured, so Israel make no noise in this world, but of the future world it is written, “And brought down you shall speak out of the ground (Isaiah 29:4).” (Shir Hashirim Rabbah 1.3.2.3)