## Rashi on Song of Songs Chapter 3

###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:1:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:1:1)

**עַל מִשְׁכָּבִי בַּלֵּילוֹת.** בַּצַּר לִי, שֶׁיָּשַׁבְתִּי אֲפֵלָה כָּל שְׁלשִׁים וּשְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נְזוּפִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**On my bed at night.** In my distress, when I lived in the darkness¹ for the entire thirty-eight years² that the [Bnei] Yisroel were under reproach.

footnotes:
¹ The Bnei Yisroel were left in darkness after the Clouds of Glory had withdrawn from them and the holy crown that had been given to them at Mt. Sinai was taken away. (Targum)
² After the sin of the spies it was declared that the Bnei Yisroel would wander in the wilderness for forty years. Since two years had already past, they had to wander for another thirty-eight years and during this time the Divine Presence was hidden from them.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:1:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:1:2)

**בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו וְלֹא מְצָאתִיו.** "כִּי לֹא אֶעֱלֶה בְּקִרְבְּךָ", "כִּי אֵינֶנִּי בְּקִרְבְּכֶם":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I sought him but did not find him.** “For I will not go up in your midst,”³ [and] “for I am not in your midst.”⁴

footnotes:
³ Shemos 33:3. This was on account of the golden calf.
⁴ Devarim 1:42. This was on account of the spies.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:2:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:2:1)

**אָקוּמָה נָּא וגו' אֲבַקְשָׁה.** "וַיְחַל משֶׁה", "אֶעֱלֶה אֶל ה'":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I will rise now ... I will seek.** “And Moshe prayed,”⁵ [and] “I will go up to the Adonoy.”⁶

footnotes:
⁵ Shemos 32:11.
⁶ Ibid. 32:30.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:3:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:3:1)

**מְצָאוּנִי הַשֹּׁמְרִים.** משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The watchmen found me.** Moshe and Aharon.⁷

footnotes:
⁷ They guarded the Bnei Yisroel from sin during the Egyptian exile. Also in reference to Ezra and Nechemyah who watched over the Bnei Yisroel during the exile of Bavel. (Alshich)


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:3:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:3:2)

**אֵת שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי רְאִיתֶם.** מַה מְּצָאתֶם בְּפִיו?

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Him whom my soul loves, have you seen him.** What [message] did you find in His mouth?


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:4:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:4:1)

**כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתִּי מֵהֶם.** קָרוֹב לִפְרִישָׁתָם מִמֶּנִּי לְסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Scarcely had I departed from them.** Shortly after their parting from me,⁸ at the end of the forty years.

footnotes:
⁸ I.e., shortly after the deaths of Moshe and Aharon.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:4:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:4:2)

**עַד שֶׁמָּצָאתִי.** שֶׁהָיָה עִמִּי בִּימֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לִכְבּשׁ שְׁלשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**When I found.** That He was with me in the days of Yehoshua to conquer the thirty-one kings.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:4:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:4:3)

**אֲחַזְתִּיו וְלֹא אַרְפֶּנּוּ.** לֹא נָתַתִּי לוֹ רִפְיוֹן עַד שֶׁהֲבִיאוֹתִיו אֶל מִשְׁכַּן שִׁילֹה בִּשְׁבִיל כָּל זֹאת שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I grasped him and would not let him go.** I did not loosen my grasp on Him until I brought Him to the Tabernacle at Shiloh because of all this that He had done for me.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:5:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:5:1)

**הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם.** הָאֻמּוֹת, בִּהְיוֹתִי גוֹלָה בֵינֵיכֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I bind you under oath.** The nations, while I was exiled among you.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:5:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:5:2)

**אִם תָּעִירוּ וְאִם תְּעוֹרְרוּ.** אַהֲבַת דּוֹדִי מִמֶּנִּי עַל יְדֵי פִתּוּי וַהֲסָתָה, לְעָזְבוֹ וְלָשׁוּב מֵאַחֲרָיו:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**That you do not cause hatred nor disturb** the love of my beloved from me through seduction or enticement, to forsake him and to turn away from following him.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:5:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:5:3)

**עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ.** בְּעוֹד שֶׁאַהֲבָתוֹ חָפֵץ עָלַי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**While it still pleases.** As long as I still desire his love.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:6:1)

**מִי זֹאת עֹלָה מִן הַמִּדְבָּר.** כְּשֶׁהָיִיתִי מְהַלֶּכֶת בַּמִּדְבָּר וְהָיָה עַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ וְהֶעָנָן הוֹלְכִים לְפָנַי וְהוֹרְגִים נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים וְשׂוֹרְפִין הַקּוֹצִים וְהַבַּרְקָנִים לַעֲשׂוֹת דֶּרֶךְ מִישׁוֹר, וְהָיָה הֶעָנָן וְהֶעָשָׁן וְרוֹאִין אוֹתָן הָאֻמּוֹת וּמַתְמִיהוֹת עַל גְּדֻלָּתִי, וְאוֹמְרוֹת: "מִי זֹאת"? כְּלוֹמַר, כַּמָּה גְדוֹלָה הִיא זֹאת הָעוֹלָה מִן הַמִּדְבָּר וגו':

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Who is this ascending from the wilderness.** When I was traveling in the wilderness and the pillar of fire and the cloud were going before me, killing snakes and scorpions and burning the thorns and thistles to make a straight path, and [when] the cloud and the smoke were ascending, the nations saw them, and marveled at my greatness, and they would say, “Who is this?” i.e., “How great is she [Bnei Yisroel] who is ascending from the wilderness, etc.!”


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:6:2)

**כְּתִימְרוֹת עָשָׁן.** גָּבֹהַּ וְזָקוּף כְּתָמָר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**With palm-like pillars of smoke.** Tall and erect as a palm tree [=תָּמָר.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:6:3)

**מְקֻטֶּרֶת מֹר.** עַל שֵׁם עֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת שֶׁהָיָה מִתַּמֵּר מֵעַל מִזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**In a cloud of myrrh.** [It is so called] because the cloud of incense which would rise straight up from the inner altar.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:4
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:6:4)

**רוֹכֵל.** בַּשָׂם הַמּוֹכֵר כָּל מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Perfume seller.** A spice merchant who sells all types of spices.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:5
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:6:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:6:5)

**אַבְקַת.** עַל שֵׁם שֶׁכּוֹתְשִׁין אוֹתוֹ וְשׁוֹחֲקִין הָדֵק כְּאָבָק:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Powders.** [It is so called] because they crush it and pound it [until it becomes] as fine as dust.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:7:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:7:1)

**הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה.** אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְהָאָרוֹן שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹשְׂאִין בַּמִּדְבָּר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Behold the bed of Shlomo.** The Tent of Meeting and the Ark,⁹ which they carried in the wilderness.

footnotes:
⁹ This is in accordance with Rashi in 1:1 above that Shlomo refers to God, thus “the bed of Shlomo” refers to the resting place of the Divine Presence.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:7:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:7:2)

**שִׁשִּׁים גִּבֹּרִים סָבִיב לָהּ.** שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא סָבִיב לָהּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Sixty mighty men are around it.** Sixty myriads surround it.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:7:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:7:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:7:3)

**מִגִּבֹּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.** מִיּוֹצְאֵי הַצָּבָא, לְבַד פְּחוּתִים מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים וְהַיְתֵרִים עַל בְּנֵי שִׁשִּׁים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Of the mighty men of Yisroel.** Of those who went into the army, excluding those under twenty and those over sixty.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:8:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:8:1)

**מְלֻמְּדֵי מִלְחָמָה.** מִלְחַמְתָּהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, וְכֵן הַכֹּהֲנִים הַסּוֹבְבִים אוֹתָהּ הַחוֹנִים סְבִיבוֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, מְלֻמְּדֵי סֵדֶר עֲבוֹדָתָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Skilled in battle.** The battle of Torah, and likewise, the *kohanim* who surround it, who camp around the Tabernacle, are skilled in the order of their service.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:8:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:8:2)

**אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ.** כְּלֵי זֵינוֹ הֵן מְסֹרֶת וְסִימָנִים, שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִים עַל יָדָם אֶת הַגִּרְסָא וְהַמְסוֹרָה שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁתַּכַּח:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Each with his sword.** His weapons are the Masorah [i.e., tradition] and the mnemonics, by which they preserve the correct version and the traditional rendition, so that it will not be forgotten.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:8:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:8:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:8:3)

**מִפַּחַד בַּלֵּילוֹת.** פֶּן יִשְׁכָּחוּהָ, וְיָבוֹאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם צָרוֹת וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: "נַשְּׁקוּ בַר פֶּן יֶאֱנַף וְתאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For fear of the nights.** For if they forget it, and troubles will befall them. And similarly it states, “Arm yourselves with the grain lest He become angry and you lose the way.”¹⁰

footnotes:
¹⁰ I.e., study the Torah.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:9:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:9:1)

**אַפִּרְיוֹן עָשָׂה לוֹ.** זֶה אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד שֶׁנִּקְבַּע בְּמִשְׁכַּן שִׁילֹה, עָשָׂה לוֹ אַפִּרְיוֹן, חֻפַּת כֶּתֶר לְכָבוֹד:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A canopy has [King Shlomo] made.** This refers to the Tent of Meeting, which was established in the Tabernacle at Shiloh; He made for Himself a crowning canopy for [His] glory.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:10:1)

**רְפִידָתוֹ.** מִשְׁכָּבוֹ וּמִשְׁכָּנוֹ עַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת שֶׁהוּא זָהָב:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Its covering.** His resting place and His dwelling were on the Ark cover, which is gold.¹¹

footnotes:
¹¹ See Shemos 25:17, 22.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:10:2)

**מֶרְכָּבוֹ אַרְגָּמָן.** זֶה הַפָּרֹכֶת, שֶׁהָיָה תָלוּי וְ'רוֹכֵב' עַל כְּלוֹנְסָאוֹת מֵעַמּוּד לְעַמּוּד:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Its curtain of purple wool.** This is the dividing curtain,¹² which hangs and “rides” on poles from pillar to pillar.

footnotes:
¹² Separating the “Holy Place” from the “Holy of Holies,” See Shemos 26:31,33.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:10:3)

**תּוֹכוֹ רָצוּף.** סָדוּר בְּרִצְפַּת אַהֲבָה, אָרוֹן וְכַפֹּרֶת וּכְרוּבִים וְלוּחוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Its interior bedecked.** It was arranged with a floor [displaying] love;¹³ the Ark and its cover, cherubim and Tablets.

footnotes:
¹³ Alternatively, “its interior filled with burning love.” In Yeshayahu 6:6, “רצפה” means “burning coal.” (Tzror Hamor)


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:4
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:10:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:10:4)

**מִבְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם.** אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְרֵאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**From the daughters of Yerusholayim.** These are the [Bnei] Yisroel, who fear and are wholehearted toward the Holy One, Blessed Is He.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:1
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:11:1)

**בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן.** בָּנִים שֶׁמְּצֻיָּנִין לוֹ בְמִילָה וּבִתְפִלִּין וּבְצִיצִית:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Daughters of Tzion.** Children who are distinguished מְצוּיָנִים=צֻיָּן as His, through circumcision, phylacteries, and ritual fringes. Upon the crown


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:2
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:11:2)

**בַּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לּוֹ אִמּוֹ.** אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד שֶׁהוּא מְעֻטָּר בְּגַוָּנִין: תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי נְחוּנְיָא: שָׁאַל רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אֶת רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי: אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁשָּׁמַעְתָּ מֵאָבִיךָ מַהוּ: "בַּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ"? אָמַר לוֹ: מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַת יְחִידָה וְהָיָה אוֹהֲבָהּ בְּיוֹתֵר. לֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָהּ עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָהּ בִּתִּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "שִׁמְעִי בַת וּרְאִי". לֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָהּ עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָהּ אֲחוֹתִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "פִּתְחִי לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי". לֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָהּ עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָהּ אִמִּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "הַקְשִׁיבוּ אֵלַי עַמִּי וּלְאֻמִּי אֵלַי הַאֲזִינוּ". "וּלְאִמִּי" כְּתִיב. עָמַד רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי וּנְשָׁקוֹ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וכו':

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**with which his mother adorned him.** The Tent of Meeting, which was adorned with hues of blue, purple, and scarlet. Rabbi Nechunya said, “Rabbi Shimon son of Yochai asked Rabbi Elazar the son of Rabbi Yose, ‘Perhaps you heard from your father what is meaning of “upon the crown with which his mother adorned him”?’ He replied, “This is a parable of a king who had an only daughter of whom he was very fond. He could not stop loving her until he called her “my daughter,” as it is stated, “listen daughter and see.”¹⁴ He could not stop loving her until he called her “my sister,” as it is stated, “Open for me, my sister, my love.”¹⁵ He could not stop loving her until he called her “my mother,” as it is stated, “Listen to Me, My people, and My nation וּלְאֻמִּי give ear to Me.”¹⁶ “וּלְאֻמִּי” is written [without a *vav* and can be read as “וּלְאִמִּי” “and to my mother”]. Thereupon Rabbi Shimon son Yochai stood up and kissed him on his head, etc.

footnotes:
¹⁴ Tehillim 45:11.
¹⁵ Below 5:2.
¹⁶ Yeshayahu 51:4.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:3
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:11:3)

**בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ.** יוֹם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה, שֶׁעִטְּרוּהוּ לָהֶם לְמֶלֶךְ וְקִבְּלוּ עֻלּוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**On the day of his wedding.** The day of the giving of the Torah,¹⁷ when they crowned Him as their King and accepted His yoke.

footnotes:
¹⁷ See Mishnayos Ta’anis 4:8.


###### Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:4
[Rashi on Song of Songs 3:11:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Song%20of%20Songs/r/3:11:4)

**וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ.** זֶה שְׁמִינִי לְמִלּוּאִים, שֶׁנִּתְחַנֵּךְ בּוֹ הַמִּשְׁכָּן בַּמִּדְבָּר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And on the day his heart rejoiced.** This is the eighth day of the installation,¹⁸ on which the Tabernacle was dedicated in the wilderness.

footnotes:
¹⁸ See Vayikra 9:1.