Song of Songs Rabbah 4:15

¹“A garden spring, a well of fresh water, and flowing streams from Lebanon” (Song of Songs 4:15). “A garden spring, a well of fresh water” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Forty-eight times it is written in the Torah, “well,” “well,” corresponding to the forty-eight matters through which Torah is acquired. That is what is written: “A garden spring, a well of fresh water.” “And flowing streams from Lebanon” – Rabbi Azarya said: This one contributes a trickle toward the matter, and that one contributes a trickle toward the matter, until the halakha emerges as though from Lebanon. , white. Together, the students clarify the matter under discussion until it is absolutely clear [ melubenet ]. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: This one welds part of the matter, and that one welds part of the matter, until the halakha emerges like joined beams.