Midrash sur Le Cantique des Cantiques 2:5

(Fol. 21) R. Iviah, the senior, asked R. Huna: "What is the law in reference to slaughtering on a festival an animal, half of which belongs to a Gentile and half to an Israelite?" "It may be slaughtered," was his answer. "And what is the difference between this and voluntary or vow-offerings [that are prohibited on a festival]?" Whereupon R. Huna said: "A raven hew by." When R. Iviah was gone, Rabba, his son, said to him: "Was this not R. Iviah, the scholar, whom you praised to me as a great man?" "What could I have done with him?" replied R. Huna. "To-day I am weak, because of my lecture, and need [as Solomon says] (Songs 2, 5) [something to] strengthen me with flagons of wine, refresh me with apples; yet he asked me a thing of which the reason must be explained at length."

“Support me with raisin cakes, cushion me with apples, for I am lovesick” (Song of Songs 2:5).
“Support me with raisin cakes [ba’ashishot],” with two fires [ishot], a heavenly fire and an earthly fire. Alternatively, “support me with raisin cakes [ba’ashishot],” with two fires [ishot], the written Torah and the oral Torah.⁵¹The word of God is analogized to fire (see Deuteronomy 33:2 and Jeremiah 23:29). Alternatively, “support me with raisin cakes [ba’ashishot],” with many fires [ishot]; with the fire of Abraham,⁵²This is a reference to the fiery furnace into which Nimrod cast Abraham; see Bereshit Rabba 38:13. of Moriah,⁵³Abraham took materials with which to make a fire at the binding of Isaac, which took place on Mount Moriah; see Genesis 22:7. of the bush, of Elijah,⁵⁴On Mount Carmel; see I Kings 18:38. and of Ḥanaya Mishael and Azarya.⁵⁵See Daniel chapter 3. Another matter, “support me with raisin cakes [ba’ashishot],” these are the halakhot, which are well-founded [hame’ushahshot].⁵⁶These are halakhot that resulted from a rigorous process of deliberation. “Cushion me with apples,” these are the aggadot, whose fragrance and taste are like apples.
“For I am lovesick,” the congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, all the maladies that you inflict upon me are in order to make me beloved to You.’⁵⁷They are designed to cause me to return me to the path of righteousness. Alternatively, “for I am lovesick,” the congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, all the maladies that the nations of the world afflict upon us are due to the fact that I love You.’ Alternatively, “for I am lovesick,” even though I am ill,⁵⁸Sinful. I am beloved to Him.
It is taught: Until a person becomes ill, he eats whatever he finds. When he becomes ill, he seeks to eat all sorts of delicacies.⁵⁹Food that is easier for him to chew and digest while he is ill, or food that tastes good and provides him with some enjoyment to counteract the discomfort of his illness. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: In the past, the Torah was accessible, and [people] would seek to hear a passage of the Mishna and a passage from the Talmud. Now that the Torah is not accessible, they seek to hear a passage from the Bible or a passage from aggada. Rabbi Levi said: In the past, money was available and a person desired to hear a passage from Mishna, halakha, and the Talmud. Today that money is not available, and especially because they are ill due to subjugation, they seek to hear only words of blessing and consolation.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: When the Israelites departed from Egypt, to what were they comparable? To the son of a king who recovered from his illness. His caretaker said to him: ‘Let your son go to the academy.’ The king said to him: ‘My son has not yet regained his radiance, which changed due to his illness. Rather, let my son be pampered and enjoy himself for three months with food and drink, and then he will go to the academy.’ So too, when the Israelites departed from Egypt, there were those among them who were marred from subjugation with mortar and bricks. The ministering angels said to Him: ‘This is the time, give them the Torah.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘My children have not yet regained their radiance as a result of mortar and bricks. Let them be pampered up to three months with spring water, manna, and quail, and thereafter I will give them the Torah.’ When? “In the third month” (Exodus 19:1).