פירוש על שיר השירים 5:1

I have come to my garden. In the days of the dedication of the Beis Hamikdosh.

I have plucked my myrrh and spice: The incense composed of frankincense and the frankincense added to the meal offering.

I have gathered. I gathered, and it is a term of the Mishnah, “as much space [as is required by] a gatherer אוֹרֶה and his basket.”¹Mishnayos Shvi’is 1:2. The term אורה there refers to the harvest of figs. (Sifsei Chachomim) It is also a term found in Scripture, “and all wayfarers have plucked וְאָרוּהָ its fruit.”²Tehillim 80:13. And this was stated in regard to the incense, which they burned as an individual incense offering—the tribal princes on the outside altar and it was accepted.³This incense offering was unusual in two ways. First, because it was an individual offering instead of a communal one; and because it was burned on the outer altar instead of the inner [golden] altar. This is something that does not apply to later generations. Because of this, it is stated, “I have eaten my sugar cane with my sugar.” There is honey that grows in canes, as it is stated, “into the sugar of the יַעְרַת canes ,”⁴I Shmuel 14:27. and “יַעְרַת” is a term referring to a cane, as in, “and she placed [it] among the reeds בַּסוּף,”⁵Shemos 2:3. [which Targum renders] “and she placed it in the reeds בְּיַעֲרָא.” And the sugar is sucked out and the wood is discarded. But I, out of great love, “ate my sugar cane with my sugar,” I ate the cane with the sugar, the inedible with the edible, [signifying] the freewill incense offering,⁶The incense offering is symbolized by ‘myrrh,’ because it is one of its most important ingredients. and likewise, the he-goats sin-offering that the tribal princes sacrificed, although a sin-offering is not brought as a freewill sacrifice, but I accepted them on that day.

Eaten my honey and honeycomb: The daily offerings and the additional offerings of New Moons, Sabbaths and holidays, vows and votive offerings, sin and guilt offerings, sacrifices of the firstborn and tithes.

I have drunk my wine. These are the libations.

Eat, lovers: These are the priests.

With my milk. They were sweeter and clearer than milk.⁷Alternatively, חלבי, means my fat, referring to the fat portions of the peace offerings.

And drink: Drink deep of love!: This is the community of Israel. This verse relates to the generation of King Solomon, when Israel enjoyed a peaceful respite from wars.
All of its people were saintly,
Cleansed of iniquity and sin,
Rejoicing in God’s service,
Forgiven through their sacrifices,
Amongst them dwelled shekhinah,
“A mother joyous amid her children” [Ps. 113:9].
Within this text you will find the term bride used six times.¹³⁵From Cant. 4:8 to 5:1. This corresponds to the six appearances of the name Solomon which are regarded as designating the divine within this book, alluding to the six sefirotic dimensions.
As her name so is her praise,
She is the bride
Encompassing all
Of Wisdom’s paths.
Stamped with the seal
Of the whole.

Eat [my] friends. Aharon and his sons, in the Tent of Meeting, and all the kohanim, in the eternal Temple.

Drink and become intoxicated [my] beloved ones. These are the Israelites⁸It does not refer to the kohanim because they are forbidden to drink wine or any intoxicating beverage before performing the divine service. who ate the flesh of the peace offerings that they sacrificed for the dedication of the altar.