Song of Songs Rabbah 5:12

¹“His eyes are like doves beside streams of water; they are bathed in milk, well set” (Song of Songs 5:12). “His eyes are like doves”; “his eyes” – these are the Sanhedrin, who are the eyes of the congregation, as it is stated: “It shall be if from the eyes of the congregation [it was performed unwittingly]” (Numbers 15:24). 5b). There are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, and all of them follow the eyes. So too, Israel is unable to do anything without its Sanhedrin. “Beside streams of water” – as they are fortified by the waters of Torah, as Rabbi Ḥama bar Ukva said: Words of Torah fortify all those who engage in them with proper devotion. “They are bathed in milk” – these are the halakhot that they clarify with their teeth until they render them as clean as milk. until they have a clear understanding of them and can explain them in a lucid fashion. The reference to teeth [ shinayim ] is meant to indicate that the Sages can explain with their mouths the halakhot in a clear manner ( Etz Yosef ). Alternatively, the statement of the midrash may be translated to mean that the Sages clarify the halakhot by studying together in groups of two [ shenayim ] until they understand them clearly ( Matnot Kehuna ). “Well set [ al milet ]” – with the fullness [ mele’atah ] of Torah. ²Another matter: “Well set [ al milet ]” – with the fullness [ mele’atah ] of Jerusalem, just as it says: “[The faithful city,] full of [ mele’ati ] justice” (Isaiah 1:21). Rabbi Pinḥas [said] in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya the Great: There were four hundred and eighty synagogues in Jerusalem, the numerical value of mele’ati . – 40, lamed – 30, alef – one , tav – 400, yod – 10, equals a total of 481, corresponding to the 480 synagogues and the Temple ( Midrash HaMevo’ar ). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: “Well set [ al milet ]” – this one fills [ memaleh ] a little and that one fills a little, until the halakha emerges as though from Lebanon. , white. Together, the students clarify the matter under discussion until it is absolutely clear [ melubenet ]. As 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.