Avodah Zarah, Daf Kaf Daled, Part 6
Introduction
In yesterday s sugya we encountered a verse about the cattle who were on their way to Bet Shemesh while the ark was being returned to the Israelites in the beginning of I Samuel. This section continues to discuss these verses.
)שמואל א ו, יב) "וישרנה הפרות בדרך על דרך בית שמש" וגו’ מאי וישרנה א"ר יוחנן משום ר"מ שאמרו שירה
ורב זוטרא בר טוביה אמר רב שישרו פניהם כנגד ארון ואמרו שירה
And the cattle took the straight way [vayisharnah] on the way to Bet-Shemesh (I Samuel 6:12). What is the meaning of the word vayisharnah?
R. Yohanan said in the name of R. Meir: They sang.
R. Zutra b. Tobiah said in the name of Rav: They directed their faces towards the Ark and sang.
This is a midrash on the cows that sang on their way to Bet Shemesh, while accompanying the ark as the Philistines returned it to the Israelites. The word vayisharnah literally means went straight. But a similar root means to sing. So the rabbis take it to mean that the cows sang on their way to Bet Shemesh. [Definitely brings to mind some Sesame Street skits].
ומאי שירה אמרו? א"ר יוחנן משום ר"מ (שמות טו, א) אז ישיר משה ובני ישראל
ור’ יוחנן דידיה אמר (ישעיהו יב, ד) ואמרתם ביום ההוא הודו לה’ קראו בשמו וגו’
ור"ש בן לקיש אמר מזמורא יתמא (תהלים צח, א) מזמור שירו לה’ שיר חדש כי נפלאות עשה הושיעה לו ימינו וזרוע קדשו
ר’ אלעזר אמר (תהלים צט, א) ה’ מלך ירגזו עמים
ר’ שמואל בר נחמני אמר (תהלים צג, א) ה’ מלך גאות לבש
And what did they sing?
R. Yohanan said in the name of R. Meir: Then Moses and the Children of Israel sang (Exodus 15:1).
R. Yohanan himself said: And on that day you shall say, Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His doings among the peoples (Isaiah 12:4) etc.
R. Shimon b. Lakish said: [They sang] the orphaned Psalm: A Psalm. Sing unto the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand, and His holy arm, have wrought salvation for Him (Psalms 98:1).
R. Eliezer said: The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble (Psalms 99:1).
R. Shmuel b. Nahmani said: The Lord reigns; He is clothed in majesty (Psalms 93:1).
These are five different versions of what song the cows sang as they made their way to Bet Shemesh. Psalm 98 is called the orphaned Psalm because the word a Psalm (mizmor) is not dedicated to anyone, nor is it connected to any particular event.
ר’ יצחק נפחא אמר רוני רוני השיטה התנופפי ברוב הדרך המחושקת בריקמי זהב המהוללה בדביר ארמון ומפוארה בעדי עדיים
רב אשי מתני לה להא דר’ יצחק אהא (במדבר י, לה) ויהי בנסוע הארון ויאמר משה קומה ה’ ישראל מאי אמרו אמר ר’ יצחק רוני רוני השיטה וכו’
R. Yitzchak Nafha said: [They sang:] Sing, sing, acacia; ascend in all your glory; overlaid with golden embroidery, exalted by the book [devir] of the palace, and magnificent with jewels.
R. Ashi taught this statement made by R. Isaac on the following: And it came to pass, when the Ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Lord etc. What did the Israelites say? R. Yitzchak said: Sing, sing, acacia .
R. Yitzchak Nafha s version of the song is not Scripture, but rather a song composed by the rabbis (or someone else) themselves. The acacia is a reference to the ark, which was made of acacia wood.
R Ashi teaches R. Yitzchak s song in another context it refers to the song that the Israelites sang when they wandered around in the wilderness with the Ark. Maybe R. Ashi did not like the idea of singing cows.
אמר רב כמאן קרו פרסאי לספרא דביר מהכא (שופטים א, יא) ושם דביר לפנים קרית ספר
רב אשי אמר כמאן קרו פרסאי לנידה דשתנא מהכא (בראשית לא, לה) כי דרך נשים לי
Rav said: According to whom do the Persians calling a book devir ? From here: Now the name of Devir before time was Kiryat-Sefer (Judges 1:11).
R. Ashi said: According to whom do the Persians call a menstruant a Dashtana ? From here, For the way of a woman is upon me (Genesis 31:35).
Two amoraim here connect a Persian word with a Hebrew word. In the quote of R. Yitzchak Nafha the word devir is used to mean book. This connects with the word in Judges 1:11.
R. Ashi says that the Persian word for menstruant dashtana is connected with the phrase in Genesis 31 where Rachel says that she is menstruating. This is what we might term a folk etymology connecting a word in a foreign language with a familiar word in one s own language.