Commentaire sur Le Cantique des Cantiques 7:12

Come, my beloved, let us go out to the field. Our Rabbis expounded in [Maseches] Eruvin, that the congregation of Yisroel said, “Master of the Universe, do not judge me like dwellers of cities, where there is robbery and immorality, but³²Below, verse 11. like the open village dwellers, who are craftsmen and are occupied in the study of Torah amidst hardship.”³³Maseches Eruvin 21b.

Come my beloved: The shekhinah said to the Glory, after the decree of Israel’s exile was enacted: “Why do you stand afar, and ascend to the uttermost heights?”

Let us lodge in the villages. Let us lodge among the disbelievers [=כּוֹפְרִים. Come and I will show You Eisav’s descendants, upon whom You have lavished prosperity, but who do not believe in You.³⁴Sifsei Chachomim amends Rashi’s text to read...“but let us go out to the field and I will show You Torah scholars who are occupied in the study of Torah amidst hardship.” (Sifsei Chachomim)

Let us go to the field: Do not remove your presence from me. Here in my exile are sages, expounders of Torah, houses of prayer and houses of study. This is the meaning of vineyards, blossoms, pomegranates and mandrakes.