from without and within , Bound by watchmen 22 Who would trade her and put her in a box Imprisoned by child-warriors of Solomon ’ s palanquin 23 , David ’ s children with the weapons of Goliath .
She , given as concubine to Pharaoh 24 , moans and rages at the fate of her daughters , who wandered her ramparts and citadels 25 , Dreaming of their lover ’ s hand upon the latch 26 .
The spring has come and the buds have been pruned 27 , But ungently , with swords 28 , pride , and zealotry . Her children , scattered by the scythe of violence begetting violence Left behind and cut off at the rear 29 Pining in the halls of the wisest lands Pillaged by the pundits , Gouged by their gambits
And yet , I hope … In the polyphonic sparring Of pashtanim 30 ,
22
Song of Songs 5:7
23
Song of Songs 3:9
24
See Genesis 12:15
25
Psalms 122:7
26
Song of Songs 5:4
27
Song of Songs 2:12
28
Isaiah 2:4
29
Deuteronomy 25:17
30
The string quartet of plain-contextual commentators featured prominently in our classical commentaries on the weekly Torah portion . They disagreed with one another , often and passionately , yet the contrapuntal opinions of each are preserved on each page of these parashah anthologies called Mikraot Gedolot .
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