I have come to my garden,59When the Tabernacle was completed, “the glory of Adonoy filled the Tabernacle.” [See Midrash to Numbers 13:2]—Rashi my sister, O bride, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice,60A reference to the incense offered at the dedication of the Tabernacle. This offering was brought by the נְשִׂיאִים , Princes of the tribes.— Rashi I have eaten my sugar cane with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk;61This refers to the נְסָכִים , wine libations.— Rashi eat [my] friends, drink and become intoxicated, [my] beloved ones.62According to Rashi, ‘Eat my friends’ refers to the kohanim who were given portions of many offerings, and the rest of the verse refers to Israel who were permitted to partake of the meat of the שְׁלָמִים , peace offerings.
I slept but my heart was awake;63Israel recalls how she neglected the service of God as if she were asleep, but nevertheless God, the Rock of her heart was wakeful to guard her.—Rashi a sound! my beloved knocks, open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfection,64God attempts to arouse Israel to repentance with words of endearment. for my head is drenched [as though] with dew, my sidelocks drip with the rains of night.65These expressions give voice to Israel’s weariness from the hardships she endures in exile. Our heads are drenched with perspiration like dew and rain.—Etz Yosef
I have removed my robe, how can I put it on? I have washed my feet, how can I soil them?66I have taken off my robe of devotion and adapted the ways of others, idolatrous peoples.—Rashi. God answers Israel, “I have washed My feet of your uncleanness, how can I soil them by returning My Presence in your midst.”
I arose to open for my beloved; and my hands dripped myrrh, and my fingers flowed with myrrh from the handles of the lock.67Israel reacts to God’s admonition. She declares that she is prepared to purify herself with precious ointments, symbolizing her repentance, thus removing the foul odor of the past.—Rashi, Alshich
I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had vanished and gone; my soul departed as he spoke, I sought him but could not find him, I called him but he would not answer.68When Israel finally repented and opened her heart to God, her repentance did not nullify the decree completely but it did help to ease the way for rebuilding the Temple when they finally returned from exile.—Rashi
The watchmen found me, those who go about the city, they struck me, they wounded me;69The watchmen refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his army who became the “the watchmen” of the city.—Rashi they stripped my ornament from me,70This refers to the brutality of the destruction. [even] the guards of the wall.
I bind you under oath, daughters of Jerusalem; when you find my beloved, what will you tell him? that I am lovesick [for him.]71Israel adjures the nations of the world who will ascend to Jerusalem in the time to come. ‘When you see the Almighty on the day of Judgment, tell Him that I endured all the sufferings of the exile, but my sickness is not physical—it is a sickness of love for Him.—Vilna Gaon
With what does your beloved excel another beloved, most beautiful among women?72The nations respond, ‘With what does your beloved God excel all others that you are ready to suffer so greatly for His Name.’—Rashi With what does your beloved excel another beloved, that you bind us under oath?
10
דּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל מֵֽרְבָבָֽה:
My beloved is pure white and ruddy, surrounded by myriads.73Israel declares, ‘My beloved God is pure and cleanses iniquity, and ruddy with vengeance to punish His enemies; He is surrounded by myriads of angels who serve Him.’—Rashi
His head is [like] finest gold,74According to Rashi ראשׁוֹ , His head, means His beginning, and refers to the beginning of the Ten Commandments which Israel heard directly from God. Those words, ‘I am Adonoy, your God’ shone and sparkled like the finest gold. his locks hang, they are raven-black.75This alludes to the tradition that the Torah was written, אֵשׁ שְׁחוֹרָה עַל גַבֵּי אֵשׁ לְבָנָה , black fire upon white fire.— Rashi
His cheeks are like a bed of spice, like towers of perfumes; his lips are like roses, dripping [with] flowing myrrh.76This refers to God’s utterances at Sinai. The Talmud says ‘With every word that went forth from the mouth of God, the whole world filled with [the fragrance of] spices.—Mesechet Shabbos 88b
His hands are like rolls of gold studded with precious gems;77The Ten Commandments are like scrolls of gold studded with gems because all 613 Commandments are alluded to therein.—Rashi his innards sparkle like ivory, overlaid with sapphires.78This refers to סֵפֶר וַיִקְרָא , Leviticus, which like the intestines, are in the midst of the body of Torah.— Rashi
בָּ֣אתִי לְגַנִּי֘ אֲחֹתִ֣י כַלָּה֒ אָרִ֤יתִי מוֹרִי֙ עִם־בְּשָׂמִ֔י אָכַ֤לְתִּי יַעְרִי֙ עִם־דִּבְשִׁ֔י שָׁתִ֥יתִי יֵינִ֖י עִם־חֲלָבִ֑י אִכְל֣וּ רֵעִ֔ים שְׁת֥וּ וְשִׁכְר֖וּ דּוֹדִֽים:
I have come to my garden,59When the Tabernacle was completed, “the glory of Adonoy filled the Tabernacle.” [See Midrash to Numbers 13:2]—Rashi my sister, O bride, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice,60A reference to the incense offered at the dedication of the Tabernacle. This offering was brought by the נְשִׂיאִים , Princes of the tribes.— Rashi I have eaten my sugar cane with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk;61This refers to the נְסָכִים , wine libations.— Rashi eat [my] friends, drink and become intoxicated, [my] beloved ones.62According to Rashi, ‘Eat my friends’ refers to the kohanim who were given portions of many offerings, and the rest of the verse refers to Israel who were permitted to partake of the meat of the שְׁלָמִים , peace offerings.
אֲנִ֥י יְשֵׁנָ֖ה וְלִבִּ֣י עֵ֑ר ק֣וֹל | דּוֹדִ֣י דוֹפֵ֗ק פִּתְחִי־לִ֞י אֲחֹתִ֤י רַעְיָתִי֙ יֽוֹנָתִ֣י תַמָּתִ֔י שֶׁרֹֹּאשִׁי֙ נִמְלָא־טָ֔ל קְוֻצּוֹתַ֖י רְסִ֥יסֵי לָֽיְלָה:
I slept but my heart was awake;63Israel recalls how she neglected the service of God as if she were asleep, but nevertheless God, the Rock of her heart was wakeful to guard her.—Rashi a sound! my beloved knocks, open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfection,64God attempts to arouse Israel to repentance with words of endearment. for my head is drenched [as though] with dew, my sidelocks drip with the rains of night.65These expressions give voice to Israel’s weariness from the hardships she endures in exile. Our heads are drenched with perspiration like dew and rain.—Etz Yosef
פָּשַׁ֨טְתִּי֙ אֶת־כֻּתָּנְתִּ֔י אֵיכָ֖כָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֑נָּה רָחַ֥צְתִּי אֶת־רַגְלַ֖י אֵיכָ֥כָה אֲטַנְּפֵֽם:
I have removed my robe, how can I put it on? I have washed my feet, how can I soil them?66I have taken off my robe of devotion and adapted the ways of others, idolatrous peoples.—Rashi. God answers Israel, “I have washed My feet of your uncleanness, how can I soil them by returning My Presence in your midst.”
דּוֹדִ֗י שָׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ מִן־הַח֔וֹר וּמֵעַ֖י הָמ֥וּ עָלָֽיו:
My beloved sent forth his hand from the portal, and my innards longed for him.
קַ֥מְתִּי אֲנִ֖י לִפְתֹּ֣חַ לְדוֹדִ֑י וְיָדַ֣י נָֽטְפוּ־מ֗וֹר וְאֶצְבְּעֹתַי֙ מ֣וֹר עֹבֵ֔ר עַ֖ל כַּפּ֥וֹת הַמַּנְעֽוּל:
I arose to open for my beloved; and my hands dripped myrrh, and my fingers flowed with myrrh from the handles of the lock.67Israel reacts to God’s admonition. She declares that she is prepared to purify herself with precious ointments, symbolizing her repentance, thus removing the foul odor of the past.—Rashi, Alshich
פָּתַ֤חְתִּי אֲנִי֙ לְדוֹדִ֔י וְדוֹדִ֖י חָמַ֣ק עָבָ֑ר נַפְשִׁי֙ יָֽצְאָ֣ה בְדַבְּר֔וֹ בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֨יהוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מְצָאתִ֔יהוּ קְרָאתִ֖יו וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽנִי:
I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had vanished and gone; my soul departed as he spoke, I sought him but could not find him, I called him but he would not answer.68When Israel finally repented and opened her heart to God, her repentance did not nullify the decree completely but it did help to ease the way for rebuilding the Temple when they finally returned from exile.—Rashi
מְצָאֻ֧נִי הַשֹּֽׁמְרִ֛ים הַסֹּֽבְבִ֥ים בָּעִ֖יר הִכּ֣וּנִי פְצָע֑וּנִי נָֽשְׂא֤וּ אֶת־רְדִידִי֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י שֹֽׁמְרֵ֖י הַֽחֹמֽוֹת:
The watchmen found me, those who go about the city, they struck me, they wounded me;69The watchmen refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his army who became the “the watchmen” of the city.—Rashi they stripped my ornament from me,70This refers to the brutality of the destruction. [even] the guards of the wall.
הִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּנ֣וֹת יְרֽוּשָׁלָ֑םִ אִֽם־תִּמְצְאוּ֙ אֶת־דּוֹדִ֔י מַה־תַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁחוֹלַ֥ת אַֽהֲבָ֖ה אָֽנִי:
I bind you under oath, daughters of Jerusalem; when you find my beloved, what will you tell him? that I am lovesick [for him.]71Israel adjures the nations of the world who will ascend to Jerusalem in the time to come. ‘When you see the Almighty on the day of Judgment, tell Him that I endured all the sufferings of the exile, but my sickness is not physical—it is a sickness of love for Him.—Vilna Gaon
מַה־דּוֹדֵ֣ךְ מִדּ֔וֹד הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים מַה־דּוֹדֵ֣ךְ מִדּ֔וֹד שֶׁכָּ֖כָה הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ:
With what does your beloved excel another beloved, most beautiful among women?72The nations respond, ‘With what does your beloved God excel all others that you are ready to suffer so greatly for His Name.’—Rashi With what does your beloved excel another beloved, that you bind us under oath?
דּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל מֵֽרְבָבָֽה:
My beloved is pure white and ruddy, surrounded by myriads.73Israel declares, ‘My beloved God is pure and cleanses iniquity, and ruddy with vengeance to punish His enemies; He is surrounded by myriads of angels who serve Him.’—Rashi
רֹאשׁ֖וֹ כֶּ֣תֶם פָּ֑ז קְוֻצּוֹתָיו֙ תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים שְׁחֹר֖וֹת כָּֽעוֹרֵֽב:
His head is [like] finest gold,74According to Rashi ראשׁוֹ , His head, means His beginning, and refers to the beginning of the Ten Commandments which Israel heard directly from God. Those words, ‘I am Adonoy, your God’ shone and sparkled like the finest gold. his locks hang, they are raven-black.75This alludes to the tradition that the Torah was written, אֵשׁ שְׁחוֹרָה עַל גַבֵּי אֵשׁ לְבָנָה , black fire upon white fire.— Rashi
עֵינָ֕יו כְּיוֹנִ֖ים עַל־אֲפִ֣יקֵי מָ֑יִם רֹֽחֲצוֹת֙ בֶּֽחָלָ֔ב יֽשְׁב֖וֹת עַל־מִלֵּֽאת:
His eyes are like doves upon brooks of water; bathed in milk, well set in their fullness.
לְחָיָו֙ כַּֽעֲרוּגַ֣ת הַבֹּ֔שֶׂם מִגְדְּל֖וֹת מֶרְקָחִ֑ים שִׂפְתוֹתָיו֙ שֽׁוֹשַׁנִּ֔ים נֹֽטְפ֖וֹת מ֥וֹר עֹבֵֽר:
His cheeks are like a bed of spice, like towers of perfumes; his lips are like roses, dripping [with] flowing myrrh.76This refers to God’s utterances at Sinai. The Talmud says ‘With every word that went forth from the mouth of God, the whole world filled with [the fragrance of] spices.—Mesechet Shabbos 88b
יָדָיו֙ גְּלִילֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב מְמֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּתַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ מֵעָיו֙ עֶ֣שֶׁת שֵׁ֔ן מְעֻלֶּ֖פֶת סַפִּירִֽים:
His hands are like rolls of gold studded with precious gems;77The Ten Commandments are like scrolls of gold studded with gems because all 613 Commandments are alluded to therein.—Rashi his innards sparkle like ivory, overlaid with sapphires.78This refers to סֵפֶר וַיִקְרָא , Leviticus, which like the intestines, are in the midst of the body of Torah.— Rashi
שׁוֹקָיו֙ עַמּ֣וּדֵי שֵׁ֔שׁ מְיֻסָּדִ֖ים עַל־אַדְנֵי־פָ֑ז מַרְאֵ֨הוּ֙ כַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן בָּח֖וּר כָּֽאֲרָזִֽים:
His legs are like pillars of marble set in sockets of fine gold; his appearance is like Lebanon chosen like the cedars.
חִכּוֹ מַֽמְתַקִּ֔ים וְכֻלּ֖וֹ מַֽחֲמַדִּ֑ים זֶ֤ה דוֹדִי֙ וְזֶ֣ה רֵעִ֔י בְּנ֖וֹת יְרֽוּשָׁלָֽםִ:
[The words of] his palate are sweet, and he is all delight; this is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.