פירוש על שיר השירים 2:2

As a rose among the thorns. Which prick it, but it constantly retains its beauty and its redness, “so is my beloved among the daughters.” They³The nations torment the Bnei Yisroel. entice her [i.e., Bnei Yisroel] to pursue them, to stray, as they do, after other gods, but she remains steadfast in her faith.⁴Alternatively, just as it is difficult to pick a rose from among the thorns, so too it is difficult to redeem the Bnei Yisroel from among the nations.

As a lily among the thorns: The lily is that plant known as the lida which possesses six leaves. Thus the shekhinah has six boundaries.

The Glory is likened to an apple which possesses multiple colors: green, red, and white. Among the trees of the forest: This passage is a figure referring to the Central Column, standing in the medial position. None of the trees can produce their own fruit by their own devices since all draw their nourishment [yenikatam] from there.