The song of songs which is Shlomo's.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,¹ for your love is dearer than wine.

footnotes: ¹ When God gave the Torah to Israel, He spoke to them פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים , face to face. That expression of Divine love is sweeter to them than any delight. Israel has been assured by Him that He will again appear to them to explain the secrets and hidden meanings of the Torah. They beseech Him to fulfill His promise and thus they exclaim, “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth.”

Like the fragrance of good oils, your name is like flowing oil;² therefore young maidens love you.³

footnotes: ² When fragrant oil is poured, its pleasing aroma is diffused for all to enjoy.—Rashi ³ “Young maidens” refers to the nations of the world.—Rashi

Draw me, we will run after you; the king has brought me into his chambers, we will be glad and rejoice in you, we recall your love more than wine, they love you sincerely.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Israel recalls their love of God in their youth; their following Him through the desert without preparing provisions for themselves. He brought them “into His chambers” is a reference to the Clouds of Glory that hovered over them in the wilderness.—Rashi

I am black, but comely,⁵ daughters of Jerusalem; like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Shlomo.

footnotes: ⁵ Israel declares to the nations of the world, “I am black because of my sinful deeds but I am comely by virtue of the good deeds of my forefathers.—Rashi

Do not look upon me [with contempt] that I am so black, for the sun has tanned me; my mother's sons were incensed against me, they made me keeper of the vineyards, [but] my own vineyard I did not watch.⁶

footnotes: ⁶ They enticed me into idol-worship, thus I became blackened. They forced me to guard their vineyards, [their evil ways] and the vineyard which was my heritage from my ancestors, I did not guard.—Rashi

Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where do you graze your flock where do you rest your flock at noon; for why should I flit about around the flocks of your companions?⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Israel says before Him, “Where will You pasture Your sheep [Israel] among these wolves [the nations] in whose midst they are?” “And where will You give them respite in this exile which is a time of distress. Noon is a time of distress for sheep because the sun is most intense and there is no relief from the heat.—Rashi

If you do not know [you who are the] fairest of women; go forth in the footsteps of the sheep and pasture your kids near the dwellings of the shepherds.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ God speaks to Israel and tells them to reflect upon the ways of their forefathers and walk in their ways. In that manner they will be saved from the hand of their oppressors. “Shepherds” refers to the leaders of Israel, the Shepherds of God’s holy flock.

To steeds in the chariots of Pharaoh I have likened you, my beloved.

Your cheeks are comely with rows of gems your neck with [pearl] necklaces.

Circlets of gold we will make for you with spangles of silver.⁹

footnotes: ⁹ These verses recall the great wealth Israel salvaged from the בִּיזַת הַיָם , the booty of the Reed Sea, after the Egyptians were drowned.

While the king was at his table, my spikenard gave out its fragrance.

A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, between my breasts he shall lie.¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ Even though Israel betrayed God by sinning with the “golden calf,” He commanded them to build the Tabernacle so that He would dwell among them. The most sacred place in the Tabernacle was the Ark and the Divine Presence rested בֵּין שְׁנֵי בַדֵי הָאָרוֹן , between the two staves of the Ark which protruded through the Curtain like the breasts of a woman.— Rashi

A cluster of henna is my beloved to me in the vineyards of En-gedi.

Behold you are beautiful, my beloved, behold you are beautiful; your eyes are like doves.

You are handsome, my beloved, most handsome;¹¹ indeed our bed is fresh.¹²

footnotes: ¹¹ Israel was told that she was beautiful and is praised for her work in building the Tabernacle; but she says that the beauty is not hers, but God’s for he overlooked their iniquities and caused His Presence to reside in their midst.—Rashi ¹² This sentence as well as the next refers to the מִשְׁכָּן , the Tabernacle.

The beams of our houses are cedars, our panels are cypresses.