Commentary for Avodah Zarah 69:6
השיאו לדבר אחר וכו': מאי (שיר השירים א, ב) כי טובים דודיך מיין כי אתא רב דימי אמר אמרה כנסת ישראל לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע עריבים עלי דברי דודיך יותר מיינה של תורה
He diverted him to another matter etc. What is the meaning of the words, “For your love is better than wine?” (Song of Songs 1:2). When R. Dimi came [from Eretz Yisrael] he said: The Congregation of Israel declared to the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe! The words of your beloved ones are more pleasant to me than the wine of the Torah.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The verse from Song of Songs seems to be interpreted here in the context of written Torah versus Oral Torah. God says to Israel, your words, i.e. the oral Torah, are more precious than even the words of the written Torah. This was an important message/belief of the rabbis living during this period, for the authority of the oral Torah was an issue of great contention.
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