My beloved is pure white – White, as in, "they were whiter צַחוּ than milk."1
And ruddy – I will first explain the entire section according to its simple meaning, as the praise of the handsomeness of a young man, when he is white and his face is ruddy.
Surrounded by myriads – He is surrounded by many armies; His armies are many. Many myriads are called 'רְבָבָה', as it is stated, "Myriads רְבָבָה like the vegetation of the field have I made you."2
(10-16) The allegorical meaning, regarding the Holy One, Blessed Is He, is as follows:
My beloved is pure white – And white, [anxious] to whiten my iniquities. [He is] clear and white, when He appeared at Sinai, He appeared as an old man, teaching instructions, and similarly, when He sits in judgment, "His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like clean wool."3
And ruddy – To exact punishment from His enemies, as the matter is stated, "Why is Your clothing red?"4
Surrounded by myriads – Many armies5 surround Him.
His head is [like] finest gold – The beginning of His words shone like finest gold, and similarly it says, "The introduction of Your words illuminates."6 He began, "I am Adonoy your God."7 He showed them first that He has the right of sovereignty over them, and He then issued His decrees upon them.
His locks hang – Upon every point [=קוֹץ are heaps [=תִּלִּים and heaps of laws.8
They are raven-black – Because it [the Torah] was written before Him in black fire on white fire.9 Another explanation, "His locks hang," when He appeared on the sea, He appeared like a young man mightily waging war.
His eyes are like doves upon brooks of water – Like doves, whose eyes gaze toward their windows, so His eyes [gaze] upon the synagogues and study halls, for over there are the sources of Torah, which is compared to water.10
Bathed in milk – When they look into the judgment, they clarify the law truthfully, to justify the just, to give him what he deserves, and to condemn the guilty, to repay his [evil] way upon his head.
Well set in their fullness – In the fullness of the world. They wander over the entire earth,11 gazing upon the good and the evil.12 Another explanation, עֵינָיו symbolizes] Torah scholars,13 whom the Holy One, Blessed Is He, designates as eyes to enlighten the world, just as the eyes enlighten man. "Like doves" that wander from dovecote to dovecote to seek their food, so do they [Torah scholars] go from the study hall of one sage to the study hall of another sage, to seek out explanations of Torah.
Upon brooks of water – Upon study halls, which are the sources of the water of Torah.
Bathed in milk – Since he calls them [Torah scholars] eyes, and the eye is a feminine noun, "bathed" רוֹחֲצוֹת is in the feminine conjugation. They cleanse themselves with the milk of Torah and whiten14 its secrets and mysteries.
Well set in their fullness – They resolve the matters appropriately. Another explanation, "His eyes," [means] "its contents" עִנְיָנָיו=עֵינָיו; the sections of the Torah, the laws, and Mishnayos, are "like doves" which are beautiful in their walk, "upon brooks of water," [i.e.,] in the study halls, "bathed in milk," they are made clear as milk, as I have explained.
His cheeks – The commandments at Mount Sinai, where He showed them a friendly and smiling demeanor.
His lips are like roses – The commandments that He spoke in the Tent of Meeting, which were for appeasement and for atonement and for a pleasant fragrance; [these are] the law of the sin offering, the guilt offering, the meal offering,15 the burnt offering, and the peace offering.
His hands – The Tablets, which He gave with His right hand, and are His handiwork.16
Rolls of gold – These are the commandments, about which it is said, "They are more desirable than gold, than even much fine gold."17 Rabbi Yehoshua the son of Nechemyah said, "They [i.e., the Tablets] were made miraculously; they were of sapphire, yet they were rolled גְּלִילֵי." Another explanation [of 'גְּלִילֵי'], because they [i.e., the Tablets] bring about מְגַלְגְּלוֹת much good to the world.
Studded with precious gems – For He included in the Ten Commandments the six hundred and thirteen commandments.18
His innards sparkle like ivory – This is [Chumash] Vayikra which was placed in the center of the five books [i.e., the Pentateuch], like the intestines, which are set in the center of the body.
Sparkle like ivory overlaid with sapphires – It [Chumash Vayikra] appears as smooth as a block of ivory, and is arranged with many details, [e.g.] similar wordings, general principles, and inferences drawn from minor premises to major ones.
Set in sockets of fine gold – Rabbi Elazar Hakapar said, "This pillar has a capital above and a base below." Rabbi Shemuel the son of Gada said, "The sections of the Torah have a capital above and a base below, and they are connected [to the sections] preceding them and [to the sections] after them, e.g., the sections of the Sabbatical Year and the Jubilee are [connected to] 'And if you sell something,'19 to inform you how severe a minor infraction of the Sabbatical year is,"20 as it appears in Tractates Sukkah21 and Arachin.22 Also, for example [the section], "May Adonoy ... appoint a man over the assembly,"23 is [connected to] "Command... My offering, My food."24 Before you command Me about My children,25 command them about Me [i.e., My offering], and similarly, there are many. Therefore, it is stated, 'His legs are like pillars of marble set in, etc.'"
His appearance is like Levanon – Whoever reflects and ponders over His words finds in them blossoms and sprouts, like a blooming forest. So are the words of Torah, whoever meditates over them constantly discovers new explanations in them.
Chosen – Selected, like the cedars, which are chosen for building and for strength and for height.26
[The words of] his palate are sweet – His words are pleasant, [as in,] "And an incision for the dead you shall not make in your flesh ... I am Adonoy,"27 faithful to pay reward. Is there a palate sweeter than this? Do not wound yourselves, and you will receive reward. [In addition,] "And when a wicked man repents from his wickedness and performs justice and righteousness, he shall live because of them."28 Iniquities are accounted to him as merits [after he repents]. Is there a palate sweeter than this?
1. Eikhah 4:1.
2. Yechezkel 16:7.
3. Daniel 7:9.
4. Yeshayahu 63:2.
5. I.e., angels, as it is written "a thousand thousands served Him, and myriad myriads stood before Him," in Daniel 7:10. (Metzudat David)
6. Tehillim 119:130.
7. Shemot 20:2.
8. See Maseches Eiruvin 21b.
9. See Rashi Devarim 33:2.
10. See Maseches Bava Kama 17a.
11. See Zecharyah 4:10.
12. See Mishlei 15:3.
13. See Rashi in Maseches Ta'anis 24a.
14. I.e., clarify.
15. Alternatively, "his lips" represent His prophets who spread His word like the fragrance of spices. (Metzudat David)
16. See Shemot 32:16. The Tablets are symbolized by hands, each one with five fingers, corresponding to the five commandments on each Tablet. (Melo Haomer)
17. Tehillim 19:11.
18. See Rashi in Shemot 24:12. There he quotes Rav Sa'adia Gaon's Sefer Hamitzvos wherein he connects the 613 mitzvos to the Ten Commandments.
19. Vayikra 25:14.
20. If one does business with produce during the Sabbatical year, he will eventually be forced to sell all his property.
21. 40b.
22. 30b.
23. Bemidbar 27:16.
24. Ibid. 28:2.
25. To appoint a leader over the congregation of Yisroel.
26. Alternatively, referring to Bnei Yisroel, who became His "chosen" people at Mount Sinai when He gave us the Torah, as Scripture states in Shemot 19:5-6.
27. Vayikra 19:28.
28. Yechezkel 33:19.