If only you were a brother to me, who had nursed at my mother's bosom;¹¹⁵ when I would find you outside I would kiss you, and no one would scorn me.¹¹⁶

footnotes: ¹¹⁵ Israel pleads with God to rest His Presence upon them once again. Beseeching His Divine aid and comfort, she exclaims, “If only You would comfort me in my exile as Yoseif comforted his brothers though they sinned against him.—Rashi ¹¹⁶ When I would find Your prophets speaking in Your Name, I would embrace them, and they would not scorn me.—Rashi

I would lead you, I would bring you to my mother's house that you should teach me;¹¹⁷ I would give you spiced wine to drink,¹¹⁸ of the nectar of my pomegranate.

footnotes: ¹¹⁷ I would ask You to return to the Temple and teach me as You taught Israel in the Ohel Moed, Tent of Assembly, during the years of the wilderness.—Rashi ¹¹⁸ This refers to the wine libations on the Altar.— Rashi

His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me.¹¹⁹

footnotes: ¹¹⁹ Israel now addresses the nations, saying: “Even though I complain and lament, my Beloved (God), is my support and comfort in my exile.”—Rashi

I bind you under oath daughters of Jerusalem why should you cause hatred or disturb [this] love while it still pleases?¹²⁰

footnotes: ¹²⁰ Your attempts to detract His love from me will be of no avail, for in time you will witness His love for me—when His Divine Presence will again rest upon me.—Alshich

Who is she that rises from the desert, clinging to her beloved?¹²¹ beneath the apple tree I aroused you,¹²² there your mother had birth pains there she who bore you suffered.

footnotes: ¹²¹ This refers to Israel in the wilderness. She was elevated through the giving of the Torah and her clinging to the Divine Presence.—Rashi ¹²² This refers to Mount Sinai which was suspended over the Israelites like an apple. There she manifested her love for God.— Rashi

Set me as a seal upon your heart as a seal upon your arm,¹²³ for love is as strong as death,¹²⁴ jealousy is as harsh as the grave;¹²⁵ its flashes are flashes of fire from the flame of God.

footnotes: ¹²³ The nation of Israel asks that she never be forgotten by God.—Rashi ¹²⁴ Because of our great love for You that we are able to endure death for Your sake.—Rashi ¹²⁵ This refers to the jealousies of the nations because of our special relationship to God.—Rashi

Many waters cannot quench the love, and rivers cannot drown it;¹²⁶ if a man would give all the wealth of his house for love they would surely scorn him.¹²⁷

footnotes: ¹²⁶ This refers to the attempts of the nations to force Israel to renounce her love of God.—Rashi ¹²⁷ Hearing these words of loyalty, God testifies that nothing would cause Israel to forsake her love for Him.—Rashi

We have a little sister but she has no bosom;¹²⁸ what shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?¹²⁹

footnotes: ¹²⁸ Israel in her exile is portrayed as a little sister. According to Rashi, ‘she has no bosom’ indicates that she is not yet ripe for redemption. ¹²⁹ How can we sustain her when the nations threaten her with destruction?—Rashi

If she be a wall we will build upon her a fortress of silver,¹³⁰ if she be a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.¹³¹

footnotes: ¹³⁰ According to Rashi, this verse contains the Almighty’s response. He answers, ‘If Israel will be firm in her faith and be steadfast against assimilation with the nations, we will become a fortified city for her.’ ¹³¹ But if she will be like a door which revolves on its hinges and opens whenever someone knocks indicating she is open to all their enticement, we will merely panel her doors which will be eaten away and leave her exposed.—Rashi

I am a wall and my bosom is like towers; therefore I am in his eyes as one who found peace.

Shlomo had a vineyard in Baal Hamon,¹³² he gave over the vineyard to caretakers;¹³³ each of them brought for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.¹³⁴

footnotes: ¹³² 132 שְׁלוֹמוֹ is a reference to God, Who is described as מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהַשָׁלוֹם שֶׁלוֹ , King to Whom peace belongs. The verse is thus interpreted by Rashi : God had a vineyard (Israel) who dwelled in Jerusalem (a city of הַמוֹן , of multitudes). ¹³³ God gave over His people into the hands of harsh rulers:—Babylon, Greece, and Edom. ¹³⁴ They imposed exhorbitant taxes and fines upon Israel.—Rashi

My vineyard is before me;¹³⁵ the thousand are yours, Shlomo, and two hundred are for those who guard its fruit.¹³⁶

footnotes: ¹³⁵ “Despite that Israel was given into your hands, she remains Mine,” says the Almighty.—Rashi ¹³⁶ The nations declare that they will return whatever they extorted from Israel, plus a penalty of an additional fifth.—Rashi

You who sit in the gardens, companions listen to your voice,¹³⁷ let me hear [your voice].

footnotes: ¹³⁷ God now addresses Israel: “You who are scattered in the exile, tending the gardens of others, and yet dwell in the synagogues and study-houses, the Heavenly Angels, (your companions) listen to your prayers and the sound of your Torah study.”—Rashi

Flee my beloved and be like a gazelle or a young hart¹³⁸ upon the mountains of spices.¹³⁹

footnotes: ¹³⁸ Finally, Israel pleads with God to flee from this Exile and deliver her from it. (Our Sages relate that He has been with us in all our exiles.) She beseeches Him to hasten the redemption with the swiftness of a gazelle or a young hart.—Rashi ¹³⁹ This is a reference to the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah. May it be rebuilt speedily in our days. Amen.—Rashi