I have come to my garden,⁵⁹ my sister, O bride, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice,⁶⁰ I have eaten my sugar cane with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk;⁶¹ eat [my] friends, drink and become intoxicated, [my] beloved ones.⁶²

footnotes: ⁵⁹ When the Tabernacle was completed, “the glory of Adonoy filled the Tabernacle.” [See Midrash to Numbers 13:2]—Rashi ⁶⁰ A reference to the incense offered at the dedication of the Tabernacle. This offering was brought by the נְשִׂיאִים , Princes of the tribes.— Rashi ⁶¹ This refers to the נְסָכִים , wine libations.— Rashi ⁶² According to Rashi, ‘Eat my friends’ refers to the kohanim who were given portions of many offerings, and the rest of the verse refers to Israel who were permitted to partake of the meat of the שְׁלָמִים , peace offerings.

I slept but my heart was awake;⁶³ a sound! my beloved knocks, open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfection,⁶⁴ for my head is drenched [as though] with dew, my sidelocks drip with the rains of night.⁶⁵

footnotes: ⁶³ Israel recalls how she neglected the service of God as if she were asleep, but nevertheless God, the Rock of her heart was wakeful to guard her.—Rashi ⁶⁴ God attempts to arouse Israel to repentance with words of endearment. ⁶⁵ These expressions give voice to Israel’s weariness from the hardships she endures in exile. Our heads are drenched with perspiration like dew and rain.—Etz Yosef

I have removed my robe, how can I put it on? I have washed my feet, how can I soil them?⁶⁶

footnotes: ⁶⁶ I have taken off my robe of devotion and adapted the ways of others, idolatrous peoples.—Rashi. God answers Israel, “I have washed My feet of your uncleanness, how can I soil them by returning My Presence in your midst.”

My beloved sent forth his hand from the portal, and my innards longed for him.

I arose to open for my beloved; and my hands dripped myrrh, and my fingers flowed with myrrh from the handles of the lock.⁶⁷

footnotes: ⁶⁷ Israel reacts to God’s admonition. She declares that she is prepared to purify herself with precious ointments, symbolizing her repentance, thus removing the foul odor of the past.—Rashi, Alshich

I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had vanished and gone; my soul departed as he spoke, I sought him but could not find him, I called him but he would not answer.⁶⁸

footnotes: ⁶⁸ When Israel finally repented and opened her heart to God, her repentance did not nullify the decree completely but it did help to ease the way for rebuilding the Temple when they finally returned from exile.—Rashi

The watchmen found me, those who go about the city, they struck me, they wounded me;⁶⁹ they stripped my ornament from me,⁷⁰ [even] the guards of the wall.

footnotes: ⁶⁹ The watchmen refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his army who became the “the watchmen” of the city.—Rashi ⁷⁰ This refers to the brutality of the destruction.

I bind you under oath, daughters of Jerusalem; when you find my beloved, what will you tell him? that I am lovesick [for him.]⁷¹

footnotes: ⁷¹ Israel adjures the nations of the world who will ascend to Jerusalem in the time to come. ‘When you see the Almighty on the day of Judgment, tell Him that I endured all the sufferings of the exile, but my sickness is not physical—it is a sickness of love for Him.—Vilna Gaon

With what does your beloved excel another beloved, most beautiful among women?⁷² With what does your beloved excel another beloved, that you bind us under oath?

footnotes: ⁷² The nations respond, ‘With what does your beloved God excel all others that you are ready to suffer so greatly for His Name.’—Rashi

My beloved is pure white and ruddy, surrounded by myriads.⁷³

footnotes: ⁷³ Israel declares, ‘My beloved God is pure and cleanses iniquity, and ruddy with vengeance to punish His enemies; He is surrounded by myriads of angels who serve Him.’—Rashi

His head is [like] finest gold,⁷⁴ his locks hang, they are raven-black.⁷⁵

footnotes: ⁷⁴ According to Rashi ראשׁוֹ , His head, means His beginning, and refers to the beginning of the Ten Commandments which Israel heard directly from God. Those words, ‘I am Adonoy, your God’ shone and sparkled like the finest gold. ⁷⁵ This alludes to the tradition that the Torah was written, אֵשׁ שְׁחוֹרָה עַל גַבֵּי אֵשׁ לְבָנָה , black fire upon white fire.— Rashi

His eyes are like doves upon brooks of water; bathed in milk, well set in their fullness.

His cheeks are like a bed of spice, like towers of perfumes; his lips are like roses, dripping [with] flowing myrrh.⁷⁶

footnotes: ⁷⁶ This refers to God’s utterances at Sinai. The Talmud says ‘With every word that went forth from the mouth of God, the whole world filled with [the fragrance of] spices.—Mesechet Shabbos 88b

His hands are like rolls of gold studded with precious gems;⁷⁷ his innards sparkle like ivory, overlaid with sapphires.⁷⁸

footnotes: ⁷⁷ The Ten Commandments are like scrolls of gold studded with gems because all 613 Commandments are alluded to therein.—Rashi ⁷⁸ This refers to סֵפֶר וַיִקְרָא , Leviticus, which like the intestines, are in the midst of the body of Torah.— Rashi

His legs are like pillars of marble set in sockets of fine gold; his appearance is like Lebanon chosen like the cedars.

[The words of] his palate are sweet, and he is all delight; this is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.