Ashira k-Shirat Moshe is a brief piyyut of uncertain origin, recited in Moroccan Jewish practice as an introduction to the Song of the Sea at the end of Zemirot on Shabbat Shirah and the seventh day of Pesaḥ. It lists seven Biblical songs — those of Moses, Miriam, Joshua, Deborah, Hannah, David, and Solomon — and concludes with an eighth song, the song that Israel will sing at the the future redemption.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת מֹשֶׁה שִׁיר לֹא יִנָּשֶׁה אָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ |
Let me sing like the song of Moses, a song never to be forgotten: thus Moses would sing the words of the song.[1] Find Exodus 15 |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת מִרְיָם עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם וַתָּֽשַׁר מִרְיָם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ |
Let me sing like the song of Miriam, by the shores of the sea: and Miriam sang the words of the song.[2] Find Exodus 15:20–21 |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ בְּהַר הַגִּלְבּֽוֹעַ אָז יָשִׁיר יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ | |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת דְּבוֹרָה בְּהַר תְּבֽוֹרָה וַתָּֽשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ |
Let me sing like the song of Deborah, towards Mount Tabor: and Deborah sang the words of this song.[5] Find Judges 5 |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת חַנָּה עִם־בַּעֲלָהּ אֶלְקָנָה וַתָּֽשַׁר חַנָּה אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ |
Let me sing like the song of Hannah with her husband Elkanah: and Hannah sang the words of this song.[6] Find I Samuel 2:1–10 |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת דָּוִד מִזְמוֹרִים יַצְמִיד וַיְדַבֵּר דָּוִד אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ |
Let me sing like the song of David, he who would hitch together psalms: and David spoke the words of this song.[7] Find II Samuel 22:1 |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת שְׁלֹמֹה בָּעֲטָרָ֗ה שֶׁעִטְּרָה־לּ֤וֹ אִמּוֹ֙ שִׁ֥יר הַשִּׁירִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ | |
אָשִֽׁירָה כְּשִׁירַת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּבִיאַת הַגּוֹאֵל אָז יָשִׁיר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה׃ |
Let me sing like the song of Israel at the coming of the redeemer: thus Israel will sing the words of this song.[10] Find Numbers 21:17 |
Notes
| 1 | Find Exodus 15 |
|---|---|
| 2 | Find Exodus 15:20–21 |
| 3 | Joshua’s song was not sung on Mount Gilboa. It was sung outside the town of Gibeon, more than forty miles south. But Gilboa is a better rhyme. |
| 4 | Find Joshua 10:12–13 |
| 5 | Find Judges 5 |
| 6 | Find I Samuel 2:1–10 |
| 7 | Find II Samuel 22:1 |
| 8 | Find Song of Songs 3:11 |
| 9 | Song of Songs 1:1 |
| 10 | Find Numbers 21:17 |













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