Humility After Spiritual Elevation
Humility · Shechinah · Spiritual Growth · Song of Songs
בפסוק בשה"ש אמרתי אעלה בתמר אחזה בסנסניו ויהיו נא שדיך כאשכלות כו'.
“In the verse in Song of Songs: ‘I said I will climb the palm tree, I will grasp its branches; and may your breasts be like clusters,’ etc.”
The Sefat Emet opens by quoting the verse whose imagery of ascent and grasping symbolizes spiritual elevation and closeness to the Divine.
וקשה דכבר כ' מקודם ושדיך לאשכולות.
“And it is difficult, for earlier it already said: ‘And your breasts are like clusters.’”
He raises a textual question: if the verse has already described them as clusters, why repeat it?
ומה ויהיו נא הענין הוא אשכולת מפורש בתרגום על הענוה להיות עיניו למטה כמ"ש אשכון את דכא ושפל רוח.
“And what is meant by ‘may they be,’ the matter is that ‘cluster’ (eshkolet) is explained in the Targum as humility — to have one’s eyes lowered, as it is written: ‘I dwell with the crushed and lowly of spirit.’”
He explains that the repeated phrase refers not to physical imagery but to humility, interpreted through the Targum and supported by the verse in Isaiah.
אכן העיקר הוא כי הבורא ית' שוכן עם מי שנשאר דכא ושפל רוח גם אחר שמשרה שכינתו עליו עומד בשפלותו.
“But the main point is that the Creator, blessed be He, dwells with one who remains crushed and lowly of spirit even after the Shekhinah rests upon him, and he remains in his humility.”
The essential teaching is that true humility persists even after attaining spiritual elevation; only such a person merits the Divine Presence.
וזה שכ' ויהיו נא שדיך כאשכלות גם אחר עליותו בתמר ואוחז בסנסניו יהי' נשאר כנס"י שדיך כאשכולת.
“And this is what is written: ‘And may your breasts be like clusters’ — meaning that even after ascending the palm and grasping its branches, one should remain, like Israel, having ‘breasts like clusters,’ that is, humble.”
Even after spiritual ascent (“climbing the palm tree”), one must maintain humility; the repetition stresses constancy of character beyond the moment of elevation.
והוא ענין עמוק למבין:
“And this is a profound matter for the discerning.”
He concludes by noting that the relationship between spiritual ascent and enduring humility is subtle and deep.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that the repeated imagery of “clusters” in Song of Songs refers to humility. Even after spiritual ascent and closeness to God, one must remain lowly of spirit, for the Divine Presence dwells only with those who maintain their humility. This is a profound spiritual principle.