Commentaire sur Le Cantique des Cantiques 5:10

My beloved is pure white. White, as in, “they were whiter צַחוּ than milk.”³⁷Eichah 4:1.

My beloved is clear skinned and ruddy, Our sages say in the Midrash to Canticles: “My beloved is clear skinned and ruddy: His appearance is ruddy, black, green, and white. Thus the appearance of the Holy One is like ‘the appearance of the rainbow which is within the cloud’ [Ezek. 1:28].”

And ruddy. I will first explain the entire section according to its simple meaning, as the praise of the handsomeness of a young man, when he is white and his face is ruddy.

Preeminent among ten thousand: Surrounding Him is the divine camp; myriad holy ones are about Him. He is distinguished among His hosts, is recognized among His camps. As our Sages said concerning Rabbi Akiba when he entered the Orchard: “‘What did you see?’¹⁴⁹This variant reading is found only in the printed text. Alternatively: “What is the meaning of the verse.” ‘The Lord of Hosts [tzevaot] is His name’ [Isa. 47:4]. He is distinguished [ot] amidst His Host [tzeva shelo].”¹⁵⁰b. Ḥagigah 16a.

Surrounded by myriads. He is surrounded by many armies; His armies are many. Many myriads are called ‘רְבָבָה’, as it is stated, “Myriads רְבָבָה like the vegetation of the field have I made you.”³⁸Yechezkeil 16:7.