with which the song of the cock is to be connected, is frequently mentioned in later Midrashim, especially in the mystic literature; comp. Midrash Shir 42a; midrashic quotation in the anonymous commentary on Song of Songs, published in Steinschneider-Festschrift, Hebrew section, 55–56, where the song of praise of the trees in paradise is brought in connection with God’s visit; Seder Gan ‘Eden 132–133; Zohar I, 10b, 40b, 72a, 77a–77b, 82b, 92a, 92b, 178b, 218b; II, 46a, 57a, 173b, 175b, 196a; III, 22a, 22b, 23a, 52b, 193a; Zohar Hadash Bereshit 3, 17b. On the cock as the herald of light, and the one who admonishes man not to forget to chant praise to God, comp, the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch 7, and for further details, see Grünbaum, Gesammelte Aufsätze, 77, seq., and Ginzberg in Jewish Encyclopedia, s.v. “Cock”, and note 39. As to the song of praise of the vulture, comp. Hullin 63a. Concerning the song of the mouse, comp, note 171. On the hymn of the frog see vol. IV, pp. 101–102, and Löw Lurchnatnen 7 in Florilegium in honor of M, de Vogüe, 398. In connection with the Hebrew name of the first letter of the alphabet, God is made to say: “I open the tongue and mouth of all men אלף = אפתח לשון פה, so that they shall praise Me daily and recognize Me as King over the four corners of the earth. Were it not for the daily hymns and songs of praise, I should not have created the world.” The heavens, the earth, the rivers, the brooks, the mountains, and the hills, in brief, the entire order of creation, chant hymns to the Creator. Adam too intoned a hymn to the Lord saying, (comp, vol. I, 83–85): “It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praise to His name.” With these words he referred to the songs of praise intoned by the celestials and terrestrials; Alphabet R. Akiba 12–13.
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