פירוש על שיר השירים 5:3

I have removed my robe. I.e., I have already accustomed myself to other ways;¹⁵According to Metzudas Dovid, it refers to the exiles living in Bavel who became accustomed to life there and were not interested in returning to Eretz Yisroel. I can no longer return to You, as the matter is stated, “But ever since we stopped burning incense to the ruling queen of the heavens, etc.,”¹⁶Yirmiyahu 44:18. for these ways were proper in their eyes. The expression, “I have removed my robe ... I have washed my feet,” is the language of the reply of an adulterous wife, who does not want to open the door for her husband. And since the verse began with the expression, “I slept...a sound! My beloved knocks,” it concludes with an expression of a reply that is apropos to the expression of knocking on the door at the time of retiring to sleep at night.

The people Israel says “I had taken off my robe; was I to don it again?”: I had stripped myself of my adornments. The parable refers to the Glory which had dwelled within me and had departed.

“I had bathed my feet; was I to soil them again?”: I have dwelled here and built houses, planted gardens and orchards. How could I depart?