Song 5.1-16 tells us how Yehovah/Messiah/groom replies to his people (Israel/kahal/bride), and then Israel/kahal reminisces and has a word to the nations. The nations will respond to ask about her groom (Zech 8.23), and Israel/kahal responds.
Song 5.1 Yehovah/Messiah/groom replies.
v 1…I (Yehovah/Messiah/groom) come into my garden (Israel/kahal/bride), my sister, my bride (this was done when the Shekinah came into the Mishkan and the Temple), I have gathered my myrrh, along, with my balsam (spices and refers to the incense altar), I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey (taken notice of their Torah observance), I have drunk my wine (libations) and my milk (pure words of the Torah). Eat, friends (the priests ate portions), drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers (Israel/kahal/bride; drinking in the Temple was a type of being “Yehovah intoxicated” and part of a meal consecrated to God in the Temple-Deut 14.22-26).
Song 5.2-8 Israel/kahal/bride responds reminiscing.
v 2…I was asleep (Israel/kahal/bride asleep spiritually) but my heart was awake (with thoughts about Yehovah/Messiah/groom). A voice (the Torah and prophets)! My beloved was knocking (he is locked outside, open her desire-Jer 7.25; Rev 3.20); open to me (your affections he says) my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one (he called to her, and that was not enough for her to respond, so now he praises her). For my head is drenched with dew (like when a shepherd watches over his flock at night; he is standing at the door seeking her); my locks with the damp of night (parallelism).
v 3…I have taken off my dress (already-just an excuse), how can I put it on I have washed my feet (she was comfortable in her situation), how can I dirty them again (by getting out of bed).
v 4…My beloved (Yehovah/Messiah/groom) extended his hand (in judgment at her resistance) through the opening (portal or heaven) and my feelings (heart) was aroused for him (changed her ways).
v 5…I arose to open to my beloved and my hands dripped with myrrh (the door was anointed), on the handles of the bolt (like a love note).
v 6…I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone (she waited too long, it was too late). My heart went out (poured out, but even in prayer it was too late). I searched for him (the Shekinah had gone), but I did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer (she was going to be treated the same way she treated him-there is a separation).
v 7…The watchmen (the priests and teachers, those who carry out the will of Yehovah) who make the rounds of the city found me (as they did their duties), they struck me, and wounded me (thinking she was a thief, they only judged her outward appearance, didn’t know she was royalty); the guardsmen of the walls took away my veil from me (her outer covering).
v 8…I (Israel/kahal/bride) adjure (charge) you, O daughters of Jerusalem (the nations), if you find my beloved (thinking they had sympathy for her), as to what you may tell him (they were witnesses to the covenant), for I am lovesick
In Song 5.9 the nations respond.
v 9…What kind of beloved is your beloved (they knew the answer but wanted to hear it from her own mouth. If she is forsaken, why does she still consider him), that thus you adjure us (appeal to us about him).
In Song 5.10-16 Israel/kahal/bride responds.
v 10…My beloved is dazzling (pure, white, clear) and ruddy (red, and this is tied in with David. Messiah is the son of David and these are messianic terms and associated with the Parah Adumah, or Red Heifer. There is an allusion to Adam here also, which means, “blood of God or first blood”), outstanding among ten thousand (that surround him-Dan 7.10).
v 11…His head (beginning) is like pure gold (deity, kingly, and an allusion to the triune Godhead and the eternal nature of the Messiah-Mic 5.2). His locks are clusters of dates (he is noble from the crown of his head), black as a raven (in contrast to the white teeth and red face).
v 12…His eyes are like doves (pleasant, full, and large) beside streams of water (the Torah-Isa 55.6), bathed in milk (the word is pure-Prov 30.5-6; 1 Pet 2.2) reposed in their setting (properly set).
v 13…His cheeks (the repository for the organs of speech) are like a bed of balsam(fragrant words of Torah), banks of sweet-scented herbs (the word of God); his lips (words) are lilies (“roses” or “shoshanim” and they are shaped like trumpets, alluding to the prophets, spokesman and scholars) dripping with liquid myrrh (spreading the word of reconciliation and forgiveness and death to oneself).
v 14…His hands (arms) are rods of gold, set with jewels; his abdomen (body) is an ivory plate overlaid with sapphires (literally “his intestines” or his own person is being praised as a work of art).
V 15…His legs are pillars of alabaster (strong, powerful) set on pedestals of pure gold (his feet walk straight and they follow the Torah given by Yehovah); his appearance is like Lebanon (higher than other kings and kingdoms), choice as the cedars (tall, good for building the Temple of God).
v 16…His mouth is sweetness (his words-Psa 119.113) and he is wholly desirable (a delight, lovely). This is my beloved and this is my friend (she is confident about her relationship even after all she has been through), O daughters of Jerusalem (she tells the nations that it is for all this she is sick with love and suffers his chastisement).
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