"I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk"

Synopsis

Rabbi Elazar explains the title verse in the context of the prayers.

Relevance

The Sh'ma Yisrael prayer is of such vital importance that the Zohar finds it necessary to offer further insights into its purpose. For the reader, it offers us another opportunity to dip ourselves into the pristine waters of healing that nourish and regenerate the 248 parts of our body and soul.

We are told that the Praise of David takes place in the afternoon, just before Judgment arrives, because Favor and Mercy are still out in force. That is the appropriate time to ask for sustenance and blessing. Accordingly, here we receive financial sustenance and the power to create order out of chaos, two benefits associated with the Praise of David. These influences abolish poverty and chaos from the world.

Beasts Bride Briyah Darkness Honey Lebanon Light Milk Myrrh Prayer Sh'ma Yisrael Spices Wheel Wine Worlds

348. It is written: "I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk" (Shir Hashirim 5:1). The verse continues: "Eat, O dear ones." "I have eaten my honeycomb" refers to that part of the prayer service that is said seated; NAMELY FROM 'WHO FORMS LIGHT AND CREATES DARKNESS...' UNTIL THE READING OF SH'MA. "with my honey" refers to the recital of the Sh'ma. HE EXPLAINS, "I have eaten my honeycomb (Heb. ya'ar)" refers to that part of the prayer service that is said seated, BECAUSE the forest (Heb. ya'ar) of Lebanon WHICH IS THE WORLD OF BRIYAH, INCLUDES, 'Who forms light and creates darkness,' including the wheels and the holy living creatures, all of which are called 'the forest of trees' and the saplings in it. "with my honey" refers to the recital of the Sh'ma, which is the sweetest of all, with much nectar and sweetness.

348. הה"ד, בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, לְבָתַר אִכְלוּ רֵעִים. אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי, דָּא צְלוֹתָא דִּמְיוּשָׁב. עִם דִּבְשִׁי דָּא ק"ש. אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי דָּא צְלוֹתָא דִּמְיוּשָׁב, הַהוּא יַעַר לְבָנוֹן, יוֹצֵר אוֹר וְהָאוֹפַנִּים וְחַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, כָּל הָנֵי אִקְרוּן יַעַר אִילָנִין וּנְצִיבִין דְּבֵיהּ. עִם דִּבְשִׁי דָּא ק"ש, דְּאִיהוּ מְתִיקוּ דְּכֹלָּא, בְּכַמָּה צוּפִין וּמְתִיקִין.

Amidah (Standing Prayer) Angels Blessing Chassadim Food Milk Point Prayer Soul, The Standing Prayer (Amidah) Wine

349. "I have drunk my wine" is that part of the prayer service that is said standing, for it is the drawing down of the upper cellared wine, WHICH IS THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH THAT IS IN BINAH, AND IT IS THEREFORE SAID ABOUT IT "I HAVE DRUNK MY WINE." And this is in the first three OF THE EIGHTEEN blessings OF THE AMIDAH, PARALLELING CHOCHMAH, BINAH AND DA'AT. "With my milk" refers to the final three blessings OF THE AMIDAH, AND THEY PARALLEL NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. AND THE ILLUMINATION OF CHASSADIM IS TERMED MILK. And the ones are included in each other, NAMELY THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH AND OF CHASSADIM ARE INCLUDED IN EACH OTHER. To this point is the food of the King. And after the King has eaten, "Eat, O dear ones," NAMELY THE ANGELS, "drink deep, O living companions" below, NAMELY THE SOULS.

349. שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי, דָּא צְלוֹתָא, דִּמְעוּמָד, מְשִׁיכוּ דְּיֵינָא עִלָּאָה דְּאִתְנְטַר. וְדָא בְּשָׁלֹשׁ בְּרָכוֹת רִאשׁוֹנוֹת. עִם חֲלָבִי, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן שָׁלֹשׁ בְּרָכוֹת אַחֲרוֹנוֹת, וְאִתְכְּלִילָן אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין. עַד כָּען מֵיכְלָא דְּמַלְכָּא. לְבָתַר דְּאָכַל מַלְכָּא, אִכְלוּ רֵעִים לְעֵילָּא, שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דוֹדִים לְתַתָּא.

Amidah (Standing Prayer) David Food Isaac Judgment Praise Prayer Standing Prayer (Amidah)

350. And thus there is no obligation TO OFFER PRAISES for food until after the prayer, NAMELY UNTIL AFTER THE KING HAS EATEN, AS ABOVE. And what is the reason FOR THE RECITAL OF "A PRAISE OF DAVID" (TEHILIM 145) IN THE AFTERNOON SERVICE BEFORE THE AMIDAH? IT IS BECAUSE THE AFTERNOON SERVICE CORRESPONDS TO ISAAC, WHICH IS JUDGMENT. SO before there is harsh Judgment, NAMELY BEFORE THE AMIDAH, while the King's countenance is still shining WITH CHESED (ENG. 'FAVOR'), let him say "A praise of David" in that order of foodstuffs IN THE THREE ASPECTS, for after THE PRAYER when Judgment prevails and impends over the world, it is an inappropriate time for that. Rabbi Pinchas came and kissed him.

350. וע"ד לֵית חִיּוּבָא דִּמְזוֹנָא אֶלָּא לְבָתַר צְלוֹתָא. בִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה קוֹדֶם צְלוֹתָא מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּעַד לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח דִּינָא קַשְׁיָא, בְּעוֹד דְּאַנְפִּין דְּמַלְכָּא נְהִירִין, יֵימָּא תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד, בְּהַאי סִדּוּרָא דִּמְזוֹנָא. דִּלְבָתַר דְּדִינָא שַׁרְיָא וְתָלֵי עַל עָלְמָא, לָאו שַׁעֲתָא אִיהוּ. אָתָא ר' פִּנְחָס וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ.