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In the style of the full Eliyahu haNavi piyyuṭ recited by some communities every Havdalah, a piyyuṭ in honor of Seraḥ bat Asher, retelling the events of her life according to the midrashim. This is not the first time I’ve written a Havdalah piece on Seraḥ, the distaff counterpart to Elijah in the midrash. She also inspired this shorter song. Like the full Eliyahu haNavi piyyuṭ, this is in three-line rhyming stanzas with a repeated refrain. Unlike it, it is in a tashraq reverse alphabetical acrostic, followed by an authorial tag — this time using a matronymic.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר, שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר, שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר בִּמְהֵרָה בֵּין אָב לְבֵן, בֵּין אֵם לְבַת הִיא תְּפַשֵּׁר׃ |
Seraḥ daughter of Asher, (×3) speedily, between father and son, between mother and daughter she will reconcile. |
תּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה מַזְכִּירָתָהּ פַּעֲמַֽיִם שְׁמָהּ נִמְצֵאת בְּסֵֽפֶר בְּרִיאַת אֶֽרֶץ וְשָׁמַֽיִם רְשׁוּמָה בְּמִפְקַד פִּינְחָס כִּי הָלְכָה בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
The holy Torah mentions her twice![1] Seraḥ is mentioned in Genesis 46:17 (Genesis being the book of creation) and Numbers 26:46 (in the census in the portion of Pinḥas). From this the rabbis determine that she lived through the exile of Egypt. Her name is found in the book of creation of earth and heaven; listed in Pinḥas’ census for she went in the midst of the water. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
קָמָה מִבֶּֽטֶן אֵֽשֶׁת אָבִֽיהָ בָּרוּךְ מִבָּנִים צִדְקָנִית הָיְתָה וְנוֹדְעוּ־לָהּ כׇּל־טְמוּנִים פֵּרוּשׁ הַחֲכָמִים חַיֶּֽיהָ אֲרֻכֵּי שָׁנִים׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
She came from the womb of the wife[2] According to some midrashim (for instance, Sefer haYashar, Vayeshev 21; see also Ḥizkuni on Numbers 26:46, who cites a variant text of Targum Onkelos that we no longer have), Seraḥ was not directly the daughter of Asher, but rather the daughter of Asher’s wife who was adopted by him when she married into the family. of her father, most blessed of sons.[3] Asher — see Deuteronomy 33:24 She was righteous and all hidden things were revealed to her. The sages interpreted that her life was long of years. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
עָנְתָה לַתָּם בִּלְשׁוֹן תֵּמַהּ כִּי יוֹסֵף בְּמִצְרַֽיִם שָׂמַח בָּהּ כִּי אָמְרָה לֵאמֹר יוּלְדוּ לוֹ עַל־בִּרְכַּֽיִם נִינֶֽיךָ מְבֹרְכֵי־הָאֵל מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַֽיִם׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
She answered the pure one[4] Jacob in wondrous tone that Joseph was in Egypt.[5] One of the oldest legends about Seraḥ, found already in the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan for Numbers 26:46. This stanza’s retelling is based on that of the Midrash HaGadol on Genesis 45:26, discussed by Prof. RabbiRachel Adelman in “Serach, Jacob’s Immortal Granddaughter” (at thetorah.com, 18 January 2024). He rejoiced in her for she told him, “born to him on the knees are your grandchildren, blessed of the Deity, Manasseh and Ephraim! Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּֽעַל הוֹרִידָהּ לְאַדְמַת חַם לִרְאוֹת אֵיפֹה בַּיְאֹר קֶֽבֶר הַצַּדִּיק תֻּחַם כִּלּוּ שְׁנוֹת שִׁעְבּוּד בָּא עֵת הָעָם שֶׁיְּנֻחַם׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
The Bringer-Down-and-Up[6] God, according to another well-known Biblical woman, Ḥannah, in I Samuel 2:6 brought her down to the land of Ḥam,[7] That is, Egypt to see where in the Nile the righteous one’s grave was delineated. The years of enslavement ended, the time came for the people to be comforted. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
יָשָׁר לַאֲתַר הִדְרִיכַֽתּוּ הׇעֳלָה מֵהַסּוּף טֻבְּעוּ צִבְאוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְהִיא עָבְרָה מִתּוֹךְ יַם סוּף חָזְתָה בְּאֶמְפּוֹמָטָא כְּזֹֽהַר הַפַּרְצוּף׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
Right to the site she led him; it was raised from the reeds.[8] Joseph’s coffin, according to sources such as the Talmud Bavli, Sotah 13a, was sunk into the Nile by the Egyptians. Seraḥ pointed this out to Moshe so that the Israelites could retrieve it and fulfill Josephs’ final request that his body be taken home. The armies of Pharaoh sunk and she passed through the Reed Sea. She saw the stained-glass[9] Pesikta d-Rav Kahana 11:13 like the radiance of the Countenance. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
זָכְתָה לַעֲלוֹת לָאָֽרֶץ שֶׁמִּשָּׁם יָרְדָה לְפָנִים וְשָׁם אָבֵֽלָה בֵּית הַמַּעֲכָה פָּנְתָה פָנִים הָיְתָה חֲכָמָה בְּעִירָהּ מִכׇּל־הַמְּבִינִים׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
She merited to go up to the land from where she had previously descended, and there to Abel-Beth-Maacah she turned her face; she was wise in her city[10] According to the midrash Bereshit Rabbah 94:9, the wise woman of Abeh-Beth-Maacah mentioned in II Samuel 20 was Seraḥ. over all with understanding. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
דַּבֵּר יְדַבְּרוּ רִאשֹׁנָה לֵאמֹר שָׁאוֹל וְכֵן גַּם עֵת צָרָה בָּאָה אֵלֶֽיהָ כִּי הָיָה שׁוֹכֵן בֶּן־בִּכְרִי שָׂם בָּעִיר וָאֵם אִישׁ צַר וּמְסַכֵּן׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
They would speak, speaking back then, saying “Ask[foott]II Samuel 20:18[/foot] etc.” So too, a time of stress came to her, for dwelling there in the mother city[11] Literally: “city and mother,” II Samuel 20:19 was the son of Bikhri,[12] Sheba son of Bichri, the rebel against David who fled to Abel-Beth-Maacah and who Joab was ordered to murder. an inimical and dangerous man. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
אֶת־יָדוֹ נָשָׂא בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ וְהֵעִיר שָׁם תַּבְהֵלָה אָמַר בֶּן־צְרוּיָה בְּאַפּוֹ לָצוּר בְּסוֹלְלָה אָמְרָה־לוֹ לָֽמָּה תְּמִיתֵֽנוּ אָמַר חָלִֽילָה׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… | |
יְשָׁרָה וַחֲכָמָה אַתְּ חָלִֽילָה אִם־אַשְׁחִית צָעַק יוֹאָב אֵלֶֽיהָ מְבֹרֶֽכֶת וְנִצְחִית חִזְקִי לְהַשְׁלִיךְ רֹאשׁ הַמּוֹרֵד זֽוֹהִי הֶכְרֵחִית׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
Upright and wise are you; far be it from me to destroy!” cried Joaḇ to she who is blessed and eternal. “Strongly throw down the rebel’s head; this is what is necessary!” Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
קָמָה וְעָשְׂתָה זֹאת הִצִּילָה עִיר בְּחׇכְמָתָהּ בִּזְכוּת כׇּל־חׇכְמוֹת פִּֽיהָ עוֹד דָּבָר שֶׁהִיא זָכְתָה נְוֵה הַגַּן וְהַפַּרְדֵּס בַּחַיִּים רָאֲתָה׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
She rose and did this, saving the city in her wisdom. By merit of all the wisdom of her mouth, another matter that she merited: the abode of the Garden and paradise she saw in her life.[15] Find Derekh Eretz Zuta 1:18, where she is the ninth person listed who entered the Garden of Eden alive. Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
יָשְׁבוּ הָרַבָּנִים בְּבֵית מִדְרָשׁ לָדַֽעַת מָה עָמְדוּ מֵימֵי הַיָּם לִפְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּחוֹמָה לָמְדוּ כְּאֶמְפּוֹמָטָא כִּי הִיא הָיְתָה שָֽׁמָּה׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
The rabbis sat in the study hall to know how the waters of the sea stood before Israel like a wall. They learned, “like stained-glass,” for she was there![16] Pesikta d-Rav Kahana 11:13 Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
חֲכָמַת הַחֲכָמוֹת אַתְּ וְתַחְזְרִי בְּשִׁירָה זָקַנְתְּ אַרְבַּֽעַת אֲלָפִים עַל־יַד אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָא קֽוּמִי קַבְּצִי עַמֵּךְ בִּירוּשָׁלַֽיִם הַבִּירָה׃ שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר… |
The wisest of wise women are you, and you will return in song; you have aged four thousand years by the hand of the One who created you. Rise, gather your people in Jerusalem the capital! Seraḥ daughter of Asher… |
Notes
| 1 | Seraḥ is mentioned in Genesis 46:17 (Genesis being the book of creation) and Numbers 26:46 (in the census in the portion of Pinḥas). From this the rabbis determine that she lived through the exile of Egypt. |
|---|---|
| 2 | According to some midrashim (for instance, Sefer haYashar, Vayeshev 21; see also Ḥizkuni on Numbers 26:46, who cites a variant text of Targum Onkelos that we no longer have), Seraḥ was not directly the daughter of Asher, but rather the daughter of Asher’s wife who was adopted by him when she married into the family. |
| 3 | Asher — see Deuteronomy 33:24 |
| 4 | Jacob |
| 5 | One of the oldest legends about Seraḥ, found already in the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan for Numbers 26:46. This stanza’s retelling is based on that of the Midrash HaGadol on Genesis 45:26, discussed by Prof. RabbiRachel Adelman in “Serach, Jacob’s Immortal Granddaughter” (at thetorah.com, 18 January 2024). |
| 6 | God, according to another well-known Biblical woman, Ḥannah, in I Samuel 2:6 |
| 7 | That is, Egypt |
| 8 | Joseph’s coffin, according to sources such as the Talmud Bavli, Sotah 13a, was sunk into the Nile by the Egyptians. Seraḥ pointed this out to Moshe so that the Israelites could retrieve it and fulfill Josephs’ final request that his body be taken home. |
| 9 | Pesikta d-Rav Kahana 11:13 |
| 10 | According to the midrash Bereshit Rabbah 94:9, the wise woman of Abeh-Beth-Maacah mentioned in II Samuel 20 was Seraḥ. |
| 11 | Literally: “city and mother,” II Samuel 20:19 |
| 12 | Sheba son of Bichri, the rebel against David who fled to Abel-Beth-Maacah and who Joab was ordered to murder. |
| 13 | Joaḇ. Find II Samuel 20:15 |
| 14 | Find II Samuel 20:20–21 |
| 15 | Find Derekh Eretz Zuta 1:18, where she is the ninth person listed who entered the Garden of Eden alive. |
| 16 | Pesikta d-Rav Kahana 11:13 |
“שֶֽׂרַח בַּת־אָשֵׁר | Seraḥ bat Asher — a havdalah piyyuṭ by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license.
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